The Modelling News: Sd.Kfz.234/1 Schwerer Panzerspähwagen. Early Mod. Interior Kit

MiniArt fill another needed space in their 8-wheeled armoured car niche with this - the 35th scale Sd.Kfz.234/1 Schwerer Panzerspähwagen - early modification, with that 20mm cannon & partially open turret. Check out the real thing & the CADs in our preview...

Sd.Kfz.234/1 Schwerer Panzerspähwagen. Early Mod. Interior Kit

From MiniArt

Kit No #35410

1/35th scale

The kit contains six marking choices in the box.

Photo-etch & clear parts are included

Product Link on the MiniArt Website

The Subject: Sd.Kfz.234/1 Schwerer Panzerspähwagen.

The Sd.Kfz. 234 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 234 - or Special Purpose Vehicle 234) was a family of armored cars designed and built in Germany during World War II. These vehicles featured light armor, were armed with 20, 50, or 75 mm main guns, and were powered by a Tatra V12 diesel engine. The Sd.Kfz. 234 closely resembled the appearance of the Sd.Kfz. 231 (8 rad).

The "cover girl" of this boxing, this Sd.Kfz.234/1 Schwerer Panzerspähwagen was photographed near Lippstadt in April 1945.

Development of armored wheeled vehicles began in Germany after World War I, as they were not subject to the restrictions of the Versailles Treaty. The Sd.Kfz. 234 belonged to the ARK series (chassis type designation) and succeeded the earlier Sd.Kfz. 231/232/233/263 (8-Rad), which were part of the GS series.

A canvas cover over the turret area of this vehicle is of not also...

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. In response, a new armored car project was initiated in August 1940, incorporating lessons from the Wehrmacht’s external operations. The Sd.Kfz. 234, based on the Büssing-NAG Sd.Kfz. 232 variant, featured a monocoque chassis with eight wheels and an air-cooled engine suitable for North African conditions.

An Sd.Kfz. 234/1 reconnaissance vehicle in a town square during WWII

Chassis construction took place at Büssing-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.

After the action, this vehicle was captured in a photograph, note the damage at the rear of the vehicle.

This vehicle is (stated) to be seen in or around Paris. Of note are the canvas covers over the partially opened turret and the headlights on the front of this vehicle.

The prototype trials began around July 1942. Due to excessive noise from the initial engine, a second model—the Tatra 103—was developed. The Sd.Kfz. 234 became the first and only German armored vehicle to use an air-cooled diesel engine. Although originally intended as a temporary solution until a better engine design for harsh tropical climates could be developed, the Tatra 103 remained in use until the end of production. The vehicle featured eight-wheel steering and a second, rear-facing driver’s seat, allowing for quick changes in direction. Its transmission had six forward and reverse gears, providing traction across all eight wheels

Sd.Kfz. 234/1 reconnaissance vehicle with its 20mm armament at maximum elevation.

This Sd.Kfz.234/1 Schwerer Panzerspähwagen was the second version of the Sd.Kfz. 234. It was in production from mid-1944 until the end of World War II. Similar to early reconnaissance vehicles, it featured a turret capable of 360-degree rotation, housing a 2 cm KwK 38 cannon and a coaxial 7.92 mm MG 42. The turret that could also be elevated up to +70° for anti-aircraft use. Protective grilles on the left and right guarded against thrown explosive devices. Unlike the early Sd.Kfz. 222 and Sd.Kfz. 250/9, this turret lacked a base. The 2 cm KwK 38, known as the ‘Hängelafette 38,’ had been developed in April 1940. The silhouette of the vehicle was lowered due to the use of the 2 cm turret. Initially, half of the new vehicles were to be armed with the 2 cm gun, while the other half would carry the 7.5 cm armament (Sd.Kfz. 234/3) starting in April 1944. However, the ratio changed to 13 Sd.Kfz. 234/1 to three Sd.Kfz. 234/3 in March 1944. Production delays pushed the start date to June 1944, and by October, the ratio was adjusted to seven Sd.Kfz. 234/3 and nine Sd.Kfz. 234/1. Sd.Kfz. 234/1 production continued until the war’s end, resulting in approximately 200 to 230 completed vehicles by March, 1945.

These photos were used in the research of this kit...

The kit: MiniArt's Sd.Kfz.234/1 Schwerer Panzerspähwagen. Early Mod. Interior Kit

This kit is a continuation on of the Sdkfz 234/1 line with this full interiror kit. The main changes being the gun and turret that houses it, along with the interior ammo storage changes.

We have some nice CADs of this kit providing some details of the makeup of the model. A walk around of the whole armoured car, with the golden parts representing the photo-etch.

The open turret of the Sd.Kfz.234/1 Schwerer Panzerspähwagen with the simpler, open turret (Hängelafette 38) armed with a 2 cm KwK 38 gun

The turret is enclosed with the mesh grille for keeping not only the elements (and some hand grenades) out, but to give partial coverage for the weather. The only thing one would need to add to this (if they desired) would be a canvas cover.

The underside of the gun and turret.

The vehicle from the front and rear. You can see the full engine bay including etch that replicates the wiring. This comes as standard, with no aftermarket really needed to depict the complete bay.

The interior of the vehicle is offered with this kit, the full engine and twin steering positions are of note.

A view of the lower hull, tyres and suspension, showing the complex running gear of this vehicle and the independent, turntable axles.

From the inside of the hull you can see the realistically represented hatches that open and close

You can also show the engine fully removed of course, but with heaps of internals fully formed such as the fuel tanks and radiator etc. Every compartment is filled out neatly, radios & crew compartment add to the full 4,825 cc (905 in3) Tatra 103 V12 diesel with 157 kW (211 hp) engine. It shows the ignition and wiring harnesses, you can see that MiniArt has supplied all of this inside the box.