1:35 Pz. Kfz 234/2 Puma (italeri)

The real subject

The Sd.Kfz. 234/2, known by the nickname Puma, was among the most interesting German reconnaissance vehicles of the Second World War. Eight wheels, all of them steered, allowed an agility a tracked machine did not have, and a second driving position at the rear made it possible to reverse off a threatened road as fast as the vehicle had arrived. The low turret with sloping walls carried a 50 mm gun, so the crew could deal with a lightly armored opponent as well and did not have to rely on flight alone.

What the set contains

Photo-etched metal parts in 1:35 scale intended for the Puma kit from Italeri. The etched metal gives the right thickness to what necessarily comes out thicker in plastic: the sheet of the fenders, the grilles, the brackets, the eyes and the small hardware on the hull and on the turret.

• Photo-etched metal parts in 1:35 scale
• Intended for the Sd.Kfz. 234/2 kit from Italeri
• Thin sheets, grilles and hardware in the right thickness
• For modelers who have worked with etched metal before

Building and painting tips

The parts are held in the fret by thin tabs; cut through them with a sharp blade on a hard surface. Make the bend along the marked score; a longer sheet will only bend straight in a bending tool or between the flat jaws of a pair of pliers. Harder parts can be warmed briefly over a flame before shaping, which softens the metal so that the bend does not crack. Glue with cyanoacrylate glue in small drops, which you transfer with a piece of wire. Degrease the metal before painting and apply a base color, otherwise the shade does not hold on the smooth surface and rubs off during handling.

Who it is for

For modelers who want to take the surface details of the Puma beyond what plastic allows. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.