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AFV Club arguably produces some of the best kits on the market today, but in some countries such as the US they are among the most expensive. Therefore, this kit was something of a surprise when it showed up, as you essentially get three and one-half AFV Club kits in one box for a much lower price than the kits are separately.
This box contains the complete AF 35063 Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf. D kit, the complete set of AF 35044 "Early Model" single link tracks, the complete AF 35071 7.5 cm PaK 40 Antitank Gun, and half of the AF 35075 7.5 cm PaK 40 ammunition set. While the box top illustrators indicated that this is a "Limited Value" kit, I think they really meant "Limited Time Offer" as it is QUITE a value!
I strongly recommend that you only open the bags as needed, as there are a lot of very confusing sprues and that minimizes confusion. Note that the kit ships with bags within bags, and some dissimilar items may be packaged together in a larger bag.
THE SDKFZ 251HALF-TRACK
Addressing the kits one at a time, the Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf. D is based on their earlier Sd.Kfz. 11 series kits and combines the running gear of the latter with a new hull and interior set. The model thus combines 94 parts from the Sd.Kfz. 11 with another 136 new parts and 22 weapons parts to create this kit.
The parts breakdown and layout of the AFV Club kit is totally different to the DML kits. It has the hull come in three basic parts (sides with road wheel mounts and top) and a stock set of base parts for the center of the hull (belly and floor) rather than the separate lower chassis favored by DML. Details are pretty similar, other than how they are formed from smaller pieces. The hinges for the dismount compartment doors are somewhat thicker than the DML ones, but as these work and the others do not, it is more a case of "overengineering" for durability.
The model comes with single-piece vinyl tracks, which will be well received in some areas. They are handed with one track being one link longer than the other to compensate for the torsion bar layout. But it also comes with the complete single-link version of the same track. This seems a bit puzzling, as the D models came out much later and most are shown with later style tracks; considering AFV Club makes four different types, one would have thought they would have provided different sets. While the single-piece are quite mediocre, the single-links are gorgeous and even come with a black "rubber" pad and an oxidized manganese brown colored shoe.
The stock halftrack kit markings are provided and cover markings for five different vehicles: 2nd SS Panzer Division, July 1944 (e.g. France); 1st Ski-Jaeger Division, Russia 1944; U/I unit, Eastern Front 1944; 27th SS Panzergrenadier Division, Warsaw 1944-1945; and U/I unit, Eastern Front 1943. Five different sets of license plates are provided, but the sheet looks short. No decals are provided for either the PaK 40 or the ammunition set.
PAK 40 AT GUN
The PaK 40 gun is another piece of craftsmanship by AFV Club, comprising some 158 parts on its own. Most are new but the tools and some minutiae come from the le FH 18 series kits. The tiniest details are replicated on this weapon, and it comes with rubber tires for the carriage. A pair of stamped eight-spoke wheels are provided for it.
Lastly the kit provides one sprue from the ammunition kit to go with the 7.5 cm PaK 40 gun. This provides eight full rounds (2 each of four different projectile types), four empty casings, six packing tubes and three packing crates.
SUMMARY
Overall, this kit appears to be one of the best bargains offered, but as the boxtop indicates there shall only be 3000 released (ergo the "S" or "Special Kit" tag in its factory control number.) If you want one, I suggest you hurry!
Thanks to Miin Herng Tseung of AFV Club for the review sample.
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