DML 1/72
Sd.Kfz.251/10 Ausf.C w/3.7 cm Pak

After a pause of about a year DML has returned to their small scale family of German C model halftracks with the "Stroke 10" platoon commander's vehicle. The idea was that by giving the platoon leader his own direct engagement firepower he could eliminate threats to his platoon.

This kit uses the same basic moldings as the previous C kits but with a new set of G sprues for the gun and its assorted new fittings. The upper hull is the regular welded Ausf. C one. The lower hull is a single piece pan, less the rear area, and the axles are molded on the lower hull. The running gear for each side consists of a rear (inside) wheel section, a center wheel section, three outer road wheels, and drivers. Once installed the connectors between the individual wheels on the inside and the center are not visible, so it helps speed up assembly while making it easier to get things aligned. Tracks are the gluable DS plastic, so you can also get them to settle down on top of the road wheels with some care.

Interior bits include the various control levers, rifles, MP submachine guns, and other items. The hinge mechanisms for the doors are single pieces, but are non-operating types. They cement to the lower rear section, as the upper hull has the rear angular parts of the hull attached to it. The four front viewers are separate parts and can be cemented either open or closed as well, as is the hood assembly with two flaps. No engine or interior is provided for the engine bay.

The fenders are one-piece units, but the stowage bins are only offered as closed parts. The front MG 34 shield is offered as either a single piece of styrene or a three-piece etched brass option. Other RP parts include the "Notek" headlight and mount and the drum magazines for the two MG 34 machine guns. The weapons appear to be very close to scale, something I don't recall from other manufacturers in the past!

The Pak 36/37 gun is very neatly done with a "slide molded" open bore so it is up to speed with the larger kits. The gun and mount consist of 9 parts but an optional brass gun shield is also provided in the kit. Inside the hull the modeler has a choice of a single piece stryrene ammo rack or a combination styrene and brass ammo rack on each side of the hull, with the ammo cans provided separately and a single brass frame to be bent and fitted over them. 

Directions are standard DML fare, but due to the fewer parts in their 1/72 series kits they are not as busy and much easier to read. These have some of the detail painting colors shown which breaks up the monotony of black and white with blue trim for the directions.

The model comes with but one offering for finishing, the ubiquitous "Unidentified Unit" on the Eastern Front 1942, in Panzerbraun. However it comes with two nice sheets, one being a "number jungle" for the hull and the other being generic license plates, so the modeler with good references may choose his own subject.

Overall, again DML has another nice offering to small scale modelers.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.