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First Look Review
135
Sd.Kfz.251/17 Ausf.C
1:35 '39-'45 Series - Sd.Kfz.251/17 Ausf.C
  • IMG_9727

by: Jim Starkweather [ STAFF_JIM ]

overview

Coming hotly on the heels of an AFV Club release of this same variant, this Dragon kit boasts some improvements over it's rival. For one the side fold down doors are independent parts and you are not required to cut into the top piece as you do with the AFV Club release. Additionally the tracks are interlinking plastic system (not labeled as MagicTrack). Dragon has also updated the fighting compartment (according to the information provided with the kit) so you should find some minor differences between this kit and say the 251/17 Ausf.D that was released last year. That kit of course did not have the fold down side doors.

One item that was not fixed however seems to be the undersized "dwarf" driver (see images at right with comparison to Gen2 figure parts). The included figure is made from DS100 soft vinyl. It will make it easier to fit the figure into the drivers seat of course. And after all, there are such a thing as small Germans.

The kit consists of about 700 parts so it's no lightweight in the time-to-build department. The instructions include 3 paint schemes; field gray (1942), dark yellow (East Prussia 1944), and dark yellow with khaki green Kursk pattern (Tunisia, 1943). As stated all schemes are units with the Herman Göring Division.

One item of note for box art folks is the apparent (to me anyways) use of a real image or 3D mock-up which has been Photoshop'd and re-touched to appear like a painted box-cover. The effect is actually that when seen more than a few feet away the box-art appears to be a photo. It will be interesting to see if this format catches on. It must certainly be less expensive than paying for painted pieces.

credits

The credits on this kit are attributed to Dan Graves for technical drawings and Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson for additional technical assistance.

Comparisons

For visual comparisons of the AFV Club kit you can check out Terry Ashley's review on PMMS.

Also for comparison to the 2cm Ausf.D here is Vinnie Branigan's review from December 2005

heads up

This is just a preview folks so no critical commentary from the likes of me. If anyone has a question about the images and needs some clarification though I would be happy to oblige. That is if it's before the kit is sent out to a reviewer for a more in-depth review.
SUMMARY
This is a first look of the yet unreleased Sd.Kfz.251/17 Ausf.C by Dragon Models. This Luftwaffe variant of the 251 series half-track was used exclusively by the Herman Göring Division.
  Scale: 1:35
  Mfg. ID: 6395
  Suggested Retail: $40 USD
  PUBLISHED: Apr 07, 2007
  NATIONALITY: Germany
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 89.91%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 86.16%

Our Thanks to Dragon Models!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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Photos
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  • pe3
  • decals2
  • instructions11
  • instructions21
About Jim Starkweather (staff_Jim)
FROM: NEW HAMPSHIRE, UNITED STATES

I started building models in 1971 when I was 6. My first model was a 1/32 P-40 Warhawk. Revell I believe. From there I moved onto the standard cars, Apollo spacecraft, and other kid orientated kits. I don't know what got me started on Armor. I must have seen a Monogram tank kit one day and said "Mom...

Copyright ©2021 text by Jim Starkweather [ STAFF_JIM ]. All rights reserved.



Comments

Nice to get a look at the sprues and see how it compares to the AFV offering, the new hull top design that doesn't require surgery and the DML Flak 38 make this one top of the list for adding to the stash. Has DML set a release date for this one yet?
APR 08, 2007 - 10:03 PM
Bill, Ussually we get the kits a week or so out. But they don't tell us so not really sure of an exact date of release no. Thanks, Jim
APR 09, 2007 - 08:07 PM
   
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