MiniArt’s 35th scale Sd.Kfz.234/3 Schwerer Panzerspahwagen.

Sd.Kfz.234/3 Schwerer Panzerspahwagen “Stummel” Interior Kit

From MiniArt

Kit No #53001

1/35th scale

The kit contains four marking choices in the box.

Photo-etch & clear parts are included

The Subject: Sd.Kfz.234 Schwerer Panzerspahwagen.

The Sd.Kfz. The Sd.Kfz.234 Schwerer Panzerspahwagen was designed in Germany and produced during World War II. The vehicles were equipped with light armor, had main cannons of 20, 50 or 75 millimeters, and powered by the Tatra V12 engine. Sd.Kfz. The Sd.Kfz. 231 (8 rad).

Development of armoured wheeled vehicles began in Germany after World War I, as they were not subject to the restrictions of the Versailles Treaty. Sd.Kfz. The Sd.Kfz. 231/232/233/263 (8-Rad), which were part of the GS series.

During the Wehrmacht’s early invasions of Poland and France, the combat experience with fast-moving, hard-hitting wheeled reconnaissance vehicles highlighted deficiencies in existing designs. A new project for an armoured vehicle was launched in August 1940 to incorporate lessons learned from Wehrmacht external operations. Sd.Kfz. The 7.5 cm K51 L/24 gun with a short barrel is the biggest change to this vehicle from previous models. 232 variant, featured a monocoque chassis with eight wheels and an air-cooled engine suitable for North African conditions.

The short-barrelled 7.5 cm K51 L/24 gun is the biggest change to this vehicle from previous models.

Chassis construction took place at Bussing-NAG in Leipzig-Wahren, while Deutsche Edelstahlwerke of Krefeld provided the armoured bodies and Daimler Benz in Berlin-Marienfelde and Schichau of Elbing supplied the turrets. The engines came from Ring Hoffer-Tatra-Werke AG of Nesselsdorf.

Two types of the heavily armed reconnaissance vehicles are seen in this 1944 photograph, the turreted Sd.Kfz 234/2 in the foreground and behind it–the open-topped Sd.Kfz 234/3 armed with a short-barrel howitzer.

The prototype trials began around July 1942. Sd.Kfz.234 was the only German armored vehicle with an air-cooled engine. The Tatra 103 was originally designed as a temporary measure until a more suitable engine for tropical climates can be created. However, it remained in production until its end. It had eight-wheel steering, and an additional rear-facing seat for the driver, which allowed quick direction changes. Its transmission had six forward and reverse gears, providing traction across all eight wheels

Sd.Kfz. The Bovington Tank museum in UK has a Sd.Kfz. The Sd.Kfz.234/3 Schwerer Panzerspahwagen was tested against modern vehicles after the war. The 234/3 was produced at the same time as the 234/1 and served to support the reconnaissance vehicles. The open-topped top of the superstructure was fitted with a 7.5 cm short-barrel K51 L/24. The gun’s penetration was greater than the L/60 5 cm gun when it used hollow-charge shells. It is intended to be used against soft targets. The kit includes CADs of the inside and outside, as well as the new gun & complete interior & exterior.

The Kit:

Following on the Sd.Kfz family of eight-wheeled armoured AFVs from MiniArt in 35th scale, this kit includes the base we have already seen, with the main difference the short-barrelled 7.5 cm K51 L/24 gun.

Jerry cans, a spare pivot mounted MG42 is also included for self defence on the rear of the crew area.

You can see there is some photo-etch on this kit, used mainly for straps and grilles.

You can see the insides of the hull roof with radio and other accessories here.

The internals of this kit are of course supplied, with both driving stations, crew positions and the different ammo storage of course included in this version

The new short-barrelled howitzer is of course a feature of this kit.

This kit is due for release in a month’s time

Source