Following the recent release of the "new" Sd.kfz.223 (Kit No.35268) Tamiya have now released an updated Sd.Kfz.222. The vehicle represents and Ausf.B as indicated by the cast hull vision port doors with the right hand front port being smaller than the other three. While the kit shows the triangular wheel hub covers many Ausf. B vehicles did not have these fitted.

The kit is a straight re-release/boxing of the 1975 kit #35051 with the same parts except for one minor modification to the 2cm cannon to accept the new aluminium barrel plus a new decal sheet and an etched fret for the turret screens and also a slightly bigger box and price tag plus a sprue from the Fuel Drum Set (Kit No.35186).

There are 121 parts in dark gray plastic which are cleanly moulded but some parts show their age with fairly prominent mould seam lines to be cleaned up especially on the 2cm gun parts while the detail on other parts is still quite good such as the wheels which have nice hub details and tyre tread pattern.

The hull details are basic but all the major components are there including the engine intake grills on the rear with nice engraved mesh and all the other parts such as the side storage boxes and hull vision ports as separate parts.
The 2cm turret has a basic gun mount plus the two crew seats and the original gun (part A36) has been modified with the removal of the plastic barrel and a thin neck added which slips into the hole pre drilled in the new metal barrel for a good firm fit. The metal barrel is well detailed with the vents included just behind the flash suppressor which is hollowed out.

Metal barrel and modified 2cm gun breech

Assembled 2cm gun

The two hull side doors are also separate but you will have to modify the hinges if you wanted to show these open, but as there is no interior so they are probably best left closed.
The armoured guard over the rear radiator is also a separate part allowing you to expose the radiator grills as they were in the early war campaigns.

The etched fret has the frames and screens for the turret top and is a marked improvement over the standard Tamiya mesh included with the original kit. The bending process will be helped by the use of a bending tool as the screens can easily be distorted if bent by hand due to the harder stainless steel used by Tamiya and annealing would also help.

The inclusion of the sprue from the Fuel Drum Set (Kit No.35186) with 49 parts in light gray plastic gives you some extras for use in a diorama with a selection of fuel drums and some Jerry cans with nice details included.

The instructions are new and better detailed than the original kit and also show the bending and fitting of the etched screens.

The decals are new for this kit but have the usual thick carrier film with a selection of vehicle and divisional markings with number plates and tac markings for three vehicles from;

• 10th Panzer Division, Tunisia 1943.
• 24th Panzer Division, South Russia, 1942
• 5th Light Division, North Africa, 1941

Overall this is still a good basic kit with some nice details and will build into a nice model of the 222 with scope for additional detailing.
The inclusion of the metal parts adds nice details to the original kit.

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	Toadman's Sd.Kfz.222 Photo Detail CD toadmanstankpictures.com Detailed photo walk around on the Sd.Kfz.222
	Sd.Kfz.222 & 223 Nuts & Bolts Vol.04 Soft cover 39 pages black & white. Currently out of print but excellent reference if you can find a copy.
	Panzerspähwagen Uwe Feist and Robert Johnson Ryton Publications ISBN: 1-930571-30-5 Hard Cover 150 pages
	German Light Reconnaissance Vehicles By Horst Scheibert Schiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-88740-522-3 Soft cover 48 pages black & white.
	Panzerspähwagen in Action By Jim Mesko. Squadron Signal Publications No. 2004. ISBN 0-89747-037-0 Soft cover 48 pages black & white.

Thanks to my credit card and for the review kit.