SKP Model
Maybach HL42
Engine set for AFV Club Sd.Kfz.11

SKP Model 1:35 Kit #SKP 056

Review by Terry Ashley

AFV ClubAFV Club
The Kit:
SKP Model have followed their previous resin Maybach HL 42 engine for the Sd.Kfz.251 (set #SKP054) with the similar resin Maybach HL 42 water cooled 6-cyl. engine as fitted to the Sd.Kfz.11 3 ton half track series of vehicles. This is basically the same engine as for the Sd.Kfz.251 but with different radiator setup, chassis frame and other smaller variations.

This set is designed for the AFV Club Sd.Kfz.11 3 Ton Halftrack (kit #AF35040), Sd.Kfz.11/4 Nebelkraftwagen (kit #AF35051 and #AF35s36). It can also be used with the Sd.Kfz.11 3 Ton Halftrack Late Type (kit#AF35047) although the engine bulkheads are slightly different and some additional modification would be needed.

The set consists of 34 parts in a blue/gray resin which are cleanly cast without any blemishes such as air holes or warping with only minor resin film inside the manifolds to be removed along with a small A5 sized 7 page instruction booklet to aid in assembly.

Resin parts
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The resin used is quite hard and a little on the brittle side and this means care is needed when removing the casting plugs which are quite substantial on some of the larger parts. Due to this brittleness it is not advisable to use clippers to remove the plugs as this could crack the parts but using a good razor saw is the best option especially on the larger parts as mentioned. The etched razor saw from Lion Roar (set #LT0026) made short work of the plugs on the chassis, engine block and radiator parts as well as the smaller parts with final clean up using a sharp #11 blade.

Detail on the parts is very crisp and well defined with excellent detail parts such as the engine block, radiator fans and the many smaller accessory parts. There are many very small and delicate parts with some having small pins to locate into corresponding locating holes to aid in assembly but there were a few issues due to the finesses of the parts during assembly which we'll get to shortly.

The detail on the parts match the engine photos in the references listed below with just the additional plumbing and wiring that needs to be added to the resin engine.

There are some modifications required on the AFV Club kit parts before fitting the resin parts that are quite straightforward for anyone with moderate experience. These are to cut away the front lower section of the engine included with the fenders (kit part D27) ensuring you leave the locating slots for the side engine compartment panels intact.

The engine bulkhead (kit part C18) and not C22 as indicated in the instructions, requires minor alterations with the transmission recess cut away and the engine side spacing opened up slightly. The main chassis frames have the entire front sections cut away to take the new resin parts with the instructions having illustrations clearly showing the modifications required.

Modifications to the AFV Club 3ton kit parts
Minor firewall alterations
SKP Model
Lower section of the engine removed, note slots for compartment side panels still remain
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Lower chassis frames modified, can be done before or after chassis assembly
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After cleanup of the resin parts and surgery on the kit parts assembly is quite straightforward following the very clear instruction steps provided with the position of the most parts clearly indicated on the resin parts themselves and in the instructions.

The lower chassis parts have the chassis cross member and forward chassis frame that fit very precisely to the modified kit chassis taking any real guesswork out of the assembly. The large front radiator has excellent inner coaming and mesh detail on the rear side and this fits precisely to the chassis frame with the aid of a large locating pin.

Basic SKP chassis frame and radiator added to the modified kit chassis
SKP Model

Moving the engine, this has the main engine block lower oil sump as one part with all accessories such as the intake/exhaust manifolds, dynamo, oil cooler/filter, carburetor, forward fan pulleys and the large air filter as separate parts. The detail on the engine parts is extremely well done but there is a lot of piping/wiring as well as the fan belts that will have to be added to really complete the engine.

Assembly of the engine parts is very good due to the precise locating points for most parts and following the instruction sequences shouldn't pose any problems. The only issues I found were the mounting pins on parts such as the fan belt pulleys and smaller parts are quite fragile and broke often during assembly and handling while test fitting the engine into the lower chassis and kit hull.

To help strengthen these joins I drilled small 0.5mm holes in the parts and inserted short wire pins and this ensured the parts doesn't came apart after assembly.

Engine assembled
SKP Model


Fitting the assembled engine to the lower chassis frame is very precise due to the rear engine mounts being included with the lower chassis cross member meaning they are perfectly aligned as they come. The engine mounting pins fit into these mounts with the front supports sitting on the small tabs inside the chassis frame. The fit of the fan blades inside the radiator coaming was also spot on making for a very good appearance after assembly. Once you have fully assembled and painted the engine the rear mountings could be securely glued to ensure nothing moves once installed in the kit hull.

Engine fitted into the lower chassis frame showing the
excellent fit not requiring any trimming at all

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Attached to the kit floor (part #C22) are the two resin floor plates and you could temporarily fit the floor to the kit to get the right angles for the floor plates but don't glue the kit floor in place until the engine has been permanently attached as you will have problems fitting the engine with the floor in place.

Resin floor plates added to kit cab floor
Do not glue this to the kit until after the engine has been installed

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Attaching the fully assembled engine/chassis to the kit lower body is again very straightforward due to the precise location of the parts, the only issues may be some minor trimming when finally fitting the floor and engine bulkhead and test fitting will determine if any is needed on your kit.

Engine fitted into the AFV Club kit hull
note good fit into radiator coaming.

SKP Model

The kit front axle and other suspension parts are added to the resin mountings included on the lower chassis frame with the suspension is assembled as per kit instructions. The fit of the kit suspension to the resin parts is superb and didn't require any trimming with the only adjustment being the left side steering arm where I separated the rear linkage and added two small wire pins allowing proper alignment.

Easy fitting of the kit front suspension and steering arms due to the good fit of the resin/plastic parts.
Note kit exhaust pipe added to engine manifold

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To illustrate the good resin to plastic fit none of the plastic suspension parts are
glued to the resin parts in these images. The steering arms and exhaust pipe are held
with small wire pins and the rest due to the good snug fit.
The plastic to plastic suspension parts are glued together obviously.

SKP Model

The instruction booklet has very clear line drawings of the assembly sequences with all the parts clearly numbered (apart from one error as mentioned above) and the position indicated with shaded areas on the drawings as well as the usual arrows, these arrows are also in red to give a good contrast to the black lines of the parts drawings which further adds to the clarity.

There is also a full parts layout diagram with the parts numbered and 6 view plan drawings of the assembled engine/chassis which helps locate any parts that may need additional clarification.

Conclusion:
This is an excellent representation of the Maybach HL42 Engine for the AFV Club Sd.Kfz.11 kits and while there is some substantial cleanup of the casting plugs needing care the assembly is quite straightforward due to the high standard of resin casting and superb fit of the parts. The very clear instructions also help get things together correctly with the fit of the assembled engine/chassis to the kit chassis/hull also very good due to the well thought out location of the respective parts.

If you want to add an engine to your AFV Club Sd.Kfz.11 then you will do no better than this very well done set, the only additions required are additional radiator pipes, engine wiring and fan belts to really finish off the excellent resin parts.

Very highly Recommended.

References:
Leichter Zugkraftwagen 3 ton Sd.Kfz.11
Nuts & Bolts Volume 20
book
German Light Half-Tracked
Prime Movers 1934-1945

Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
book
Halftracked Vehicles
of the German Army 1909-1945

Walter J. Spielberger
book
Sd.Kfz.251 1939 to 1942
Panzer Tracts No.15-2
Covers /1 to /10
Book
Schutzenpanzer
Ryton Publications
ISBN: 1930571291
Sd.Kfz.251
SdKfz251
Ground Power Special
GALILEO Publishing Co.,Ltd
Sd.Kfz.251

Thanks to SKP Model for the review kit.


Page created May 31, 2009



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