Sd.Kfz.234/4
Panzerspähwagen
Lion Roar 1:35 set #LE35066
Review by Terry Ashley
Images of set from Lion Roar
The quality of the etching is again excellent with very cleanly etched parts with well defined details that feature relief etching and the usual engraved bending lines to aid with this.
On the inside are the rear seat springs, driver’s foot pedals, the radio rack and equipment boxes and latches as well as hatch hinges and handles plus the hull side flanges between the hull panels.
All the tool clips and brackets are in etched parts which will require you trim the moulded on tool clips from the kit parts plus parts for the tail lights and numerous smaller fittings around the hull.
The upper superstructure sides are replaced with etched panels for a more uniform thickness with additional smaller brackets and attachment strips as well as the large storage locker on the right fender.
One of the main features are the rear engine deck louvers which are supplied as etched parts that simply replace the kit parts and allow the louvers to be positioned at any angle due to the way each louver clips into the side mountings. Also included is the mesh screen for underneath the louvers to eliminate the see through look when showing the louvers in the open position.
Moving to the 75mm gun there are small detail parts such as the barrel retaining collar on the cradle which is actually missing from the kit plus the full gun shields.
These are in two parts with small brass shield bolts to join them together plus additional inside brackets and fittings that improve on the plastic shields supplied in the kit as these simply butt join together with bevelled edges to simulate the thin shield sides.
Added as a bonus are four 75mm brass rounds with separate etched base plates with engraved stencilling and a further six brass shell casings which are hollowed out and also include the etched end plates.
Conclusion:
This is nicely detailed set for the Dragon kit which has many nice details
to begin with and the items in this set add to the finesse of the kit. The
major items of the superstructure sides, engine deck louvers and gun shields
improve on the kit parts that while moulded about as thin as you can get
in injected plastic certainly benefit from the upgrade.
The bonus brass rounds add another nice feature to the update set for those wanting to add the finishing touches to their 234.
Highly recommended.
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Thanks to Lion Roar for the review set.
Page created July 30, 2006