The Kanonenwagen came into existence due to the need for additional infantry close support and with the Panzer IV switching to the longer barrelled guns this left many of the short L/24 guns available. The initial vehicles had a cut out in the front right superstructure for the gun with additional ammunition racks in place of the first two crew seats. The later version had the gun mounted higher inside an additional superstructure with from gun shield and is the subject of this kit.
The kit itself as you would imagine is the same as the first 251/1 Ausf.D with the only difference being there is only one of sprue X (weapons) plus a new sprue S with 48 parts for the 251/9, a new decal sheet and a small 7.5cm metal barrel.
The First Edition of the kit will also include a bonus resin crew figure by Hobby Fan at no extra cost and I’m not sure how many of the first kits will include this figure but it is an incentive to pick the kit up early.
The suspension/tracks and hull assembly is as mentioned the same as the first kit with all the alterations on the inside and the upper superstructure.
The new upper front hull plate has a separate part for the underside with additional details while the two superstructure sides has detail on both sides an no pin parks to be seen while on the inside the right side vision block is eliminated and the visor cover fixed in place with the radio moved to the left hull wall.
The 7.5cm gun and mounting is very nicely detailed being made up of 23 parts
which includes a separate breech block, main sight, traverse wheels, the large
gun guard (which has a good sink mark to be filled) and the mounting for the
co-ax MG-42 plus the metal 7.5cm barrel which has a hollowed out muzzle but
no rifling which is quite common on metal barrels these days.
The gun can elevate and traverse if you are careful with the glue during assembly
and there are ammo racks on the right cabin wall with separate 7.5cm rounds
plus the large ammo storage box at the back of the compartment which has a
separate door to show open if you wish.
Decals:
The decal sheet is well printed with thin carrier film and provides markings
for two 20th Pz.Div vehicles;
A. Eastern Front, Summer 1944, 20th Pz.Div. in three colour Red Brown, Dark
Green and Dark Yellow scheme.
B. Eastern Front, Summer 1944, 20th Pz.Div in three colour Red Brown, Dark
Green and Dark Yellow scheme.
Conclusion:
This is an excellent representation of the late model Kanonenwagon and with
all the excellent details from the first 251/1 kit will build into a good
looking model and certainly wets the appetite for the next four kits in the
series to follow later
Highly recommended.
Also see reviews of the two track sets AF35069 Sd.Kfz.251 Track Late model and AF35070 Sd.Kfz.251 Track Latest model and the Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.D
The Sprues:
Sd.Kfz. 251/9 - Kanonenwagen Nuts & Bolts Volume 21 |
Sd.Kfz.251/1 in detail Special Museum Line No.37 Wings & Wheels Publications ISBN 80-86416-50-X |
Sdkfz251 Ausf.C & D Panzer Tracts N0.15-3 ISBN 0-9771643-5-7 |
Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.D Model Detail Photo Monograph No.22 RossaGraph ISBN : 83-89717-60-3 |
Sd Kfz 251 Tank Power Vol.VI Wydawnictwo Militaria No.215 ISBN: 83-7219-215-4 |
Sd Kfz 251 Tank Power Vol.X Wydawnictwo Militaria No.224 ISBN: 83-7219-224-3 |
Schutzenpanzer (Armored Personnel Carrier) Ryton Publications ISBN: 1930571291 |
Sdkfz251 Osprey New Vanguard 25 |
SdKfz251 in action Squadron Signal #2021 |
Thanks to AFV Club and the Australian distributors J.B Wholesalers for the review kit,
Page Created 21 June 2004