To complement their long list of German halftracks Dragon bring us their newest addition
to their kit – the up armoured and up gunned 3.7cm FlaK 43 auf Sd.Kfz.7/2 kit
which will fill in a lot of people’s collections – and now you can shelve that
Trumpeter kit you have been avoiding making….
1/35th
scale
Box Size: 9.8" x
15" x 3.1"
Dragon has released several members of the Sd.Kfz.7 8-ton
halftrack family, but up till now one variant has been absent. Dragon is thus
pleased to announce a 1/35 scale kit of an Sd.Kfz.7 with 3.7cm Flak 43
antiaircraft gun. The range already includes halftracks with 3.7cm Flak 36 and
Flak 37 cannons, so this one is a little more unique. It is essentially an
Sd.Kfz.7/2 type and includes the armoured cab with 8mm-thick plates as seen on
previous kits.
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The newer gun can be traversed 360 degrees by hand, and the Flak
43 had an elevation range of -10 degrees to +90 degrees. The crew comprised
seven men – the commander, driver and five gunners. Some 120 rounds of
ammunition were carried on the vehicle, while another 432 rounds could be
stowed in a special trailer. Sd.Kfz.7/2 systems were produced by Germany
beginning in 1942, and from late 1943, instead of the usual open cab, a number
of antiaircraft halftracks were supplied with a cab protected by 8mm-thick
armor plate. These vehicles served in Luftwaffe flak units.
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This kit includes the armoured cab as well as a magnificently
detailed 3.7cm Flak 43 cannon. The associated gun shield of the weapon is made
out of metal so as to achieve true scale thickness. The brackets by which the
shield attaches to the gun are also brand new. Moreover the gun mount of this
anti-aircraft gun is also new!
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The drop-sides on the rear fighting platform can
be modelled upright for transport, or folded down for an in-action diorama. The
halftrack and cannon are of the highest quality, so this vehicle with armoured
cab and new weapon is indeed a welcome addition to Dragon’s Sd.Kfz.7 family.
Model Features:
Armoured shield on
gun can be assembled for travel/combat
Dropsides and
tailgate can be folded down for better crew access
Gun can traverse 360
degrees
Detailed photo-etched
catcher for spent shells
Slide-moulded
one-piece gun barrel w/hollow muzzle
Newly designed gun
shield can be assembled in combat or travel mode
Ammunition box can be
erected/ stowed
Newly tooled
photo-etched gun shield w/support brackets
Gunner’s sight cover
on photo-etched shield can be raised/lowered
Newly designed gun
mount w/well-defined detail
Newly designed gun
mount locks for 3.7cm Flak
Detailed gearbox has
multipart assembly
Brake drums have
detail on both sides
6-cylinder engine
represented by multiple parts
Delicate engine
housing
Intricately detailed
internal mechanical components: engine, gearbox, fuel tank, compressed-air
tank, suspension, exhaust and winch
Slide moulds enable
one-piece chassis frame w/support-brace detail
Two options provided
for customization – one-piece angled plate or overhanging cab armour plate
Front window armour
plates w/photo-etched parts can be assembled open/closed
Driver’s and vehicle
commander’s hatches can be assembled open/closed
Detailed winch spool
has bolt and rib detail
Rear crossbeam
w/roller and trailer coupling depicted like the real one
Two types of front armour
plates provided as options
Sharply reproduced
on-vehicle tools
Full detailed steering
mechanism
Suspension system as
per the real vehicle; slide-molded suspension arms and springs w/delicate
detail
Accurately shaped
front fenders made from 2-directional slide molds
Different road wheels
rendered w/delicate detail on both sides
Front wheels made
from DS have authentic tire tread pattern
Sprocket w/realistic
ribbed detail
Photo-etched flange
around sprocket wheel hub
Wing mirror
realistically presented
Final-drive housing
made from separate parts with bolt and rib detail
Optional headlamps
provided
Magic Tracks for
German halftrack reproduced
Reinforced track
links
For more info on this
kit and others – head on over to Dragon’s
site to read up on what’s going on..