Dragon Models has released an early version of the famous Kettenkrad, this time with an Infanteriekarren. Kevin Brant has a look at this newing boxing from Dragon Models.

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Kevin, just wanted to let you know that the Infanteriekarren is actually a very old Dragon component from the mid '90s. It was included in one kit with a Kubelwagen and kit 6104.

Now if they only included a picnic basket .

Even some load for the infanteriekarren ... jerry cans or ammo. Im actually quite dissapointed with this one, to tell the truth. Dont like the one length tracks and both vehicle and trailer appear to be a re-release of previous offereings. Theres not much to jump up and down about?

allow me for asking this but what is the difference between an early kettenkrad and a late kettenkrad? Thanks

About ten minutes.

I'm working from memory -- my book on the Kettenkrad is at home and I'm at work, so I may have this backward -- but my impression from the parts is that this is actually a late Kettenkrad, not an early one. The difference is in the rear handrails and the shape of the rear air intake/taillight frame. The early Kettenkrader had the bar handrails in the rear, and the 'box' at the rear of the vehicle that covered the air intake had a pyramidal upper section; the later Kettenkrader had a sheet-metal plate blocking the lower gaps in the handrails, and the 'box' over the air intake had a rounded top (compare http://images.crestock.com/1050000-1059999/1053068-xs.jpg to http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/NSU_Kettenkrad_Typ_HK_101_1.jpg).

Of course, to be a really early-production Kettenkrad -- and I don't think there were more than a few made before the design change -- the three spoked road and idler wheels on each side as well as the front wheel were wire-spoked like a motorcycle wheel. The spoked wheels were replaced by a solid front wheel and the six-spoke road/idler wheels that continued through the production run.

Hmmmm Dragon reboxing their old Kettenkrad #6114 with the addition of some extra bits and DS tracks.

@ Sean
You are correct. The Early and Mid batches of Kettenkrads all had open armrests in the back. The pyramidical shape of the rearlight box at least went to the second early batch but from my reference I can't really see when it changed to the round version. In addition. Early vehicles had tow hooks mounted high on the front of the body. But as Dragon never included those in their kit it is not really easy to distinguish what version it was exactly. Also all the early variants had the signalling lights on the frontfenders which some batches of the "mid" and late versions did not have. The Dragon vehicle does have the correct wheels for second batch early to final production batch since they did not change in between. Only "Null" serie and 1st early batch did have different wheels as you mentioned. So at best you can make a Mid Kettenkrad out of this kit... And the earliest could be called a third batch early (or "late early" if that makes any sense.)

I don't really see how the DS tracks are a big improvement on what the kit already came with. Sure they were fiddly but they were correct in all aspects and looked great already. Also looking at the instruction sheet I see Dragon shows you to cut out the plates between the handrails... good luck with not damaging that during cutting. Quite some intensive surgery for the most delicate part on the whole vehicle.
The inclusion of the trailer is nice though.

Nice review but I give this kit 50% not 85%
The build of it is rubbish parts don't fit properly, you have to cut the rails out and the engine mesh to put the PE in. The center engine part tab does not fit in the middle properly. Its really is a pain to build. Shame the Tamiya kit is so old as I really enjoyed building it. Tamiya needs to bring out a new one.
I don't recommend this kit not for the price it is now that's for sure.