Darren Baker takes a look at the third release of the Sd.Kfz. 251 Ausf A from ICM, this time it is the Sd.Kfz. 251/6 Ausf A WW2 German Armoured Command Vehicle in 1/35th scale.

Read the Review

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Thanks for the comprehensive review Darren! I am interested in this kit and was pleased to see it hit the shelves, as compared to Dragon's promised release over a decade ago that never did.

Great review! I have a quick question because this has been a great interest of mine to build a 1/35 Ausf A for a long time. How is the interior? The A (and B) versions had a different setup from the rest of the series, and the previous ICM kit did not take them into account.

Andras: I have looked through my books and online reference and have not been able to find a guaranteed image of the interior of the 251 A version. What I can say is that it appears to match the reference I have and so I believe it to be as correct as far I can see.

Awesome. Thank you. It's not as if I was a rivet counter (there is nothing wrong with that, but I'm way too lazy for that), but it is nice to have a different (and accurate...) interior for the X+1th Sd.Kfz251 I have... (Or will have, in this case.)

(In theory it should not be difficult to convert a C or D interior -benches, different place for the radio, simpler seats for the driver/radio operator-, but then again... I do lack the devotion -and skills- for a scratchbuilding project of this magnitude.)

ICM have put themselves in a bit of a quandary with this /6 version. Two of the markings sets are for Guderian's 251, but the kit has no Enigma machine, the tires have the wrong tread (needs Fulda rather than Continental), the radio set-up is incomplete beyond having no headset (or wiring diagram, a common omission), and the conduit for the wire from the radio to the frame aerial is missing. It also needs an additional "A" mount for the front MG (no shield), and the driver and assistant driver's viewports need to be lowered 1+ mm.
I think that MR Modellbau's MR-35600 "upgrade & stowage Sd.Kfz.251 Ausf.A (ICM)" is an expensive but essential addition for all the ICM kits.
The best source for the 251 variants is the old GroundPower Special, long out of print, but David Doyle's more recent book on the SdKfz 251 has some essential photos of Guderian's vehicle. There was also a 3-part article in the old IPMS Quarterly by Bruce Culver that can help if you have other sources to clear up a few errors and omissions. For example, I see the Enigma machine sitting on the front passenger seat with its pad removed rather than a specially built table based on the location of the operator's knees. It is VERY hard to find interior photos that show the details as clearly as we modeler's require.

Google "Giderian's Command Vehicle" and eliminate any photos of his "Greif" SdKfz 250. Almost all that's left will be of his SdKfz 251 Ausf A. There are, I think, 5 different photos, maybe 6, interior and exterior. HTH.