DML 1/72 Sd.Kfz.222 Liechte Panzerspaehwagen 1+1 Kit First Look
By Cookie Sewell
| Date of Review | January 2011 | Manufacturer | DML |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Sd.Kfz.222 Liechte Panzerspaehwagen 1+1 | Scale | 1/72 |
| Kit Number | 6351 | Primary Media | 120 parts (116 in grey styrene, 4 etched brass) |
| Pros | First new kit of this vehicle in many years; nicely broken down and etched anti-grenade screens nicely done | Cons | Perhaps a Sd.Kfz. 221 or 223 vice two 222s? |
| Skill Level | Experienced | MSRP (USD) | $17.95 |
First Look
The German light armored cars have always been popular with modelers as they are compact, nicely balanced and just tend to look “right”. As a result, there have been numerous versions in 1/35 scale but not as many in 1/72, so any release of a kit of one of them is an event.
DML is now offering a “1+1" kit which is two kits in one box, this time of the 222 variangt of the family. With nearly a thousand built it was the most widely distributed one of the group and was able to defend itself with a 2 cm cannon and 7.92mm coaxial machine gun.
The kit comes on one sprue of parts and separate one-piece upper and lower hull sections.
All parts attach to the hull and in the case of the turret it does come with a rudimentary interior (the gun attaches to a tab inside the turret, the seat and controls to the bottom of the tab; apparently DML expects the modeler will attach the grenade screen in the “closed” position over the top of the turret thus concealing its barrenness.)
The lack of an interior is understandable but a shame as DML also offers the side doors as separate parts so it could be posed with the top and sides open. The chassis is fairly complete and the entire drive line (shafts and gearboxes) comes as a single unit. The wheels have separate hub protectors.
Technical assistance was provided by Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.
Two finishing options are offered, both in Panzer Grey: Unidentified Unit, France 1940 (black and white crosses) or Unidentified Unit, Poland 1939 (white crosses). Number plates are provided along with a number jungle, all from Cartograf.
Overall this is a nicely done little kit but will take some work to create a really great model. For wargaming it’s great right out of the box.
Thanks to DML for the review sample.
Sprue Layout:
- A 54x2 Vehicle parts, turrets, armament
- B 2x2 Upper hull
- C 2x2 Lower hull
- MA 2x2 Etched brass