Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.B

Published on
Review Author(s)
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$75.99
Product / Stock #
35106
Company: ICM - Website: Visit Site
Provided by: ICM - Website: Visit Site

The Sd.Kfz.251 half-track armored personnel carrier was the primary-armored transport vehicle of the German Wehrmacht. It was developed by the company Hanomag in 1938, based on the artillery tractor Sd.Kfz.11, with serial production starting in the summer of the following year. The Sd.Kfz.251 armored personnel carriers were produced in four main variants—Ausf. A, B, C, and D—and there were 23 different versions for various army needs, differentiated by their armament and equipment. The 251/1 variant was the standard transport vehicle for the German motorized infantry, capable of carrying one squad of soldiers. These combat vehicles were in service with the German Army throughout World War II and were used in all theaters of combat, with a total of 15,252 units produced in various series and modifications. Among other armored personnel carriers produced during World War II, they were second only to the American M3 in terms of quantity.

The Sd.Kfz.251 Ausf. B was the second variant in the line of these armored personnel carriers, with production beginning in the second half of 1939. Several changes were made to the vehicle’s design, mostly related to technological improvements, with the primary modification being the removal of observation slits on the side walls. Production of the Sd.Kfz.251 Ausf. B continued until the end of 1940. Notable operations in which they participated include "the occupation of the Balkans, Operation Barbarossa, and combat operations in North Africa.”

The Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf B (Kit No. 35106) is a new tool kit just released. It is based on the Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf A (Kit No. 35101) first released in 2018 and released in various guises as the Ausf A with crew (Kit No. 35103), radio variants (Kit No. 35102 and Kit No. 35104), Krankenpanzerwagen (ambulance) (Kit No. 35113) and with crew (Kit No. 35114), the Battle of France, Spring 1940 (DS 3515), the Beobachtungspanzerwagen Sd.Kfz. 251/18 Ausf A (Kit No. 35105) also reviewed by Eric Christianson. The Ausf B kit is a reboxing of the Ausf A kit (No. 35106) with a new hull reflecting the changes from the deletion of four observation slits in the rear hull.

Upon opening the cover, there is a reinforced white inner box that does a good job of protecting the kit’s five gray plastic sprues, clear sprue for headlights (from Kit No. 35537, Type 320 (W142 Saloon), where only two parts are used), vinyl tires, one-piece vinyl tracks, and decal sheet. This kit is well detailed and is an excellent representation of the new quality and detail that are ICM’s trademark. Take care of small pieces (grab handles, etc.) as the plastic is fragile and can break when removed from the sprue gates.

The model builds straightforwardly, and the sequence is logical. There are minor notes that are identified here by their instruction step:

  • Pre-Step: The Ausf B is on its own Sprue H, along with two front wheel fender stiffeners (Parts Nos. H2 and H3).
  • Step 11: Hollow out the end of the exhaust E31
  • Step 29: ICM corrected their instructions from the Ausf A (No. 35101) and Part E17 is correct – Good job, ICM!
  • Step 35: Part B40 doesn’t fit as shown. The molded rivets should be on the outside of the engine compartment, not the inside. I had to cut and flip the part to fit properly.
  • Step 38: Five large knockout marks need to be filled in as they will be visible after construction.
  • Steps 39 and 98: The MG-34 is nicely done with separate folding legs (C42) and feed tray cover (C41).
  • Step 42: It is easier to paint A25 before installing E26, then E40; otherwise, there will be a small gap that will be hard to paint.
  • Step 54: Attach Part E14 before E55; ask me how I found out.
  • Steps 64 and 66: Paint and add the Kar98 rifles now to avoid difficulty attaching them after the upper hull is joined to the lower hull.
  • Steps 87 and 90: Pay attention to the tracks; G2 in Step 87 are the left tracks, and G1 in Step 90 are the right tracks. They look the same, but one side will be very tight, the other very loose if not installed properly.
  • Step 100: Recommend leaving the antenna E7 off until completion as it is really fragile.
  • Step 103: Recommend leaving width indicators E19 and E20, and rearview mirrors C37(x2) off until completion due to their fragile nature.

The Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf. B has four marking options, all Wehrmacht:

  • 9th Panzer Division, Balkans, 1941 in overall dunkelgrau
  • 5th Panzer Division, Romania, 1941 in dunkelgrau with dunkelbraun camouflage
  • Unknown Unit, Russia, late 1941 in dunkelgrau and whitewash camouflage
  • 15th or 21st Panzer Division, North Africa, 1942 in dark yellow

I painted the Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf B in the markings of the 5th Panzer Division in Romania as I like the dunkelbraun over dunkelgrau scheme. The decals are delicate and conform well to the model, have no silvering and really look the part, but be careful during application as both Balkan crosses folded over on each other. The tire pressure decals are delicate and look incredible on the model.

The Sd.Kfz. 251 was produced in large numbers and served in all theaters where the German army fought. Possibilities are almost endless for camouflage and marking options, and this is a great base kit for intermediate and advanced modelers (due to parts count and small, delicate parts) to detail further and create a vignette or diorama in a theater of choosing. One of the best aspects of this kit is that it can be made as either an Ausf A or B version as both hull tops are provided, along with the front fender stiffeners. ICM has done it again with a beautiful kit about a popular subject.

Slava Ukraini!

Profuse thanks to ICM and IPMS/USA for providing the review sample.

Boxer

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