DML 1/35 Sd.Kfz.7 8t Typ HL m11 1943 Production Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

The Sonderkraftfahrzeug (Sd.Kfz.) 7 was an eight-ton-class German half-track designed in the mid-1930s to serve as the prime mover for artillery pieces like the 8.8cm FlaK and 15cm sFH.18 howitzer. The vehicle was designed to provide the capability to move its gun, gun crew, and a supply of ammunition wherever needed on the battlefield.

Designed and built by Krauss-Maffei, the Sd.Kfz.7 was powered by a six-cylinder 140 horsepower engine and could move its payload up to 250 kilometers with its 215 liter fuel capacity. In addition to its standard prime mover role, the chassis was adapted to meet a variety of missions. For example:

• Sd.Kfz.7/1 - mobile quad 2cm FlaK gun mount
• Sd.Kfz.7/2 - mobile 3.7cm FlaK gun mount
• Sd.Kfz.7/6 - FlaK survey party motor vehicle
• Sd.Kfz.7/9 - V-2 armored fire control vehicle

In order to increase production of this widely used vehicle, the Germans arranged for co-production between Krauss-Maffei and Borgward, with the latter making a few changes to the body while employing mostl common parts for the chassis and drive train.

To the best of my knowledge, DML is the first to release the Borgward version of the Sd.Kfz.7 featuring new-tooled parts to represent the differences in the vehicle sides and rear deck. The kit is molded in light gray styrene and presented on nine parts trees (duplicate parts trees not shown) plus two bags of MagicTrack links, three tires molded in tan, and one fret of photo-etched details (also not shown).

Among the features and options in this kit:

• Detailed six cylinder Maybach petrol engine
• Detailed engine compartment
• Positionable hood
• Detailed power train
• Detailed chassis and suspension
• Detailed winch system
• Nice crew seating
• New rear deck storage baskets
• Positionable rear storage compartment doors
• Partioned storage bays ready for detailing

While the instructions provide color profiles for two examples, neither one have any marking layouts. The decal sheet included in the set provide generic German license plates with prefixes for Wehrmacht (WH) or Luftwaffe (WL) operators and generic numbers to replicate virtually any plate.

This release provides a nice basis for a vignette or diorama with the various detail options and will pair up nicely with your favorite artillery piece (Wehrmacht) or with an anti-aircraft 8,8cm Flak gun (Luftwaffe). DML has also produced a nice set of half-track rider figures that will provide a full crew for this kit. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

My sincere thanks to DML for this review sample!