1:35 Sd. Kfz. 234/2 (dragon)

The real subject

The Sd.Kfz. 234/2 was a German heavy reconnaissance armored car on an eight-wheeled chassis with drive to all wheels. It had a driving position at the rear as well, so it reversed as fast as it went forward, which on reconnaissance decided whether it came back from an awkward encounter. It differs from the other vehicles of the 234 family in its enclosed rotating turret with a cannon; for this version the designation Puma has taken hold.

What the set contains

This is a set of photo-etched parts for a model of the Sd.Kfz. 234/2 in 1:35 scale, prepared for the kit from the Dragon brand. Photo-etch is used where injection-molded plastic is necessarily thicker than the real subject would warrant and where the thickness of a part is visible on the finished model. Which parts the set replaces and in what order they are fitted is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

Cut the parts out of the fret with a sharp blade on a firm surface, not with pliers, otherwise the edge ripples. Make the bends over the edge of a metal ruler or in a bending tool, not freehand. Photo-etch is glued with cyanoacrylate glue applied on a pin, and on larger surfaces a slower-setting type helps, so that there is time to line the part up. Before painting, wash and degrease the parts and use a base color meant for metal, otherwise the finish will not hold on the smooth surface. Handle the elements you have glued on carefully, as thin sheet bends even at the touch of a finger, and leave them until the end of the build.

Who it is for

The set is for modelers who want a credible thickness of the sheet-metal parts on an armored car and do not mind working with small photo-etch. It is an accessory to a kit; the model itself, paints and glue are not in the package, unless stated otherwise.