DML Dragon 1/35 Sd.Kfz. 2/2 Kleines Kettenkrad w/Sch.
Feldkable
Kit no. 6128
MSRP: $19.95
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History
The Kleines Kettenkrad (little chain-cycle) was a German half-tracked
motorcycle. The name of it was the popular name for this machine developed
by the NSU Company and officially designated as the HK101 or Sd.Kfz. 2.
Most of the German half-track and three-quarter tracked vehicles were
designed by private companies in the mid-1930s, but in 1939 a range of
standardized vehicles was proposed, and the smallest of these was the
HK101. It consisted of a small tracked unit, between which was the engine
and what amounted to the front half of a motorcycle. The driver sat on
a motorcycle saddle and steered the front by handlebars. These were linked
to the transmission to control differerntial movements of the tracks as
in conventional tracked vehicles.
There was a torsion-bar suspension and the drive was through a six-speed
gearbox. A load of 450kg (992 lbs) could be towed, and the Kettenkrad
was often used for towing recoiless guns in airborne formations. Two passengers,
facing rearward, could be carried in the rear or various small loads could
be carried in the same space.
Two versions were made; the HK101 appeared in 1939-40 and was superseded
by the HK102, produced in 1941-42. This differed form its predecessor
in having a larger engine and almost twice the power, but apart from a
slightly longer track there was no significant other physical external
difference.
What's in the box?
The kit comes in a tray and lid type box. The box art shows a Kettenkrad
in a winter setting with a driver aboard and two infantrymen kneeling
behind it playing out cable.
There are nine medium gray trees of parts, in six cello bags, a tiny
decal sheet, a length of black string and the instruction sheet as the
contents of this kit.
The single sheet instructions accordian folds out into six pages.
Page one of the instructions begins with a black and white repeat of
the box art, followed by parts tree drawings. Some parts on these drawings
are shown shaded in blue. This indicates that they are EXCESS and not
needed to complete the model.
There is no history of the Kettenkrad provided and this is a thing
that DML really needs to start adding to their armor kits.
Page two begins with general cautions, followed by international assembly
symbol interpretations and a listing of Gunze Sangyo brand hobby paints
needed to finish the model. The bottom of the page gives us the first
assembly step.
Pages 3 through 5 give us the balance of a total of 14 assembly steps.
Page 6 shows two painting and marking schemes:
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A Heer vehicle on the Eastern Front, 1942-43.
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A Kettenkrad of an unknown unit, Caucasus 1942.
The bottom of the page has instructions for applying the decals.
The decals are primarily just different license plate numbers, all
for the Wehrmacht and a tactical sign for a signals unit. There is also
the yellow numeral '08'. No division insignias are given.
Tree letter 'A' holds: the vehicle's body, chassis and engine parts
(22 parts).
There are three identical letter 'B' trees. They hold individual links.
Each link is molded as two parts: the metal part and the separate rubber
blocks. (64 parts per tree).
There are two more identical trees also marked as being letter 'B'.
These hold some of the road wheels, drive sprockets, idler wheels and
suspension arms etc. (24 parts per tree).
Letter 'C' tree holds: the driver's seat and his compartment parts,
undercarraige yoke, a rolled tarp, handlebars, front wheel, tow hook,
tail light, rear cowling piece, notek lamp, front motorcycle fork, one
of the kneeling figures arms and legs and some tools (32 parts)
There is no letter 'D' parts tree in the kit.
Letter 'E' tree holds: the cable reel parts and their frame mounting
pieces (20 parts).
Letter 'F' tree holds: More road wheels, two long-handled tools and
the parts of the seated driver figure (18 parts).
Letter 'G' refers to the length of black string provided. This is to
be used to replicate cable that is played out from the reels.
There is a large tree of parts that are shown on the parts tree drawings,
but they are not allocated an alphabetic designation.. This tree of parts
has kit no. 6190 and the words 'Frozen Winter Battleground 1941' molded
into the sprue. DML sells this kit tree, by itself, as a separate other
kit. It holds: four figures in winter greatcoats. They have separate heads,
torsos, arms and legs. Their greatcoats have separate lower half pieces.
Also on this tree are four steel helmets, four bread bags, four folded
shovels in pouches, four bayonets in scabbards, four canteens, a pair
of binoculars, MP40 machine pistol ammo pouches, six carbine ammo pouches,
four gas mask canisters and four mess kits (75 parts). 22 parts are blued
out on the parts drawings as being excess. This amounts to two of the
figures and some of their equipment.
There is also another small parts tree included, that IS pictured on
the parts tree drawings..but not given an alphabetical letter designation.
It has the kit no. 6070 molded into the sprue. This is from DML's earlier
kit of 'German Fallschirmjagers (Crete 1941)'. It holds: three carbine
rifles, an MP40 machine pistol with a separate folding stock and a panzerfaust
(6 parts).
Finally, there is the postage stamp sized decal sheet. It has two license
plate numbers, the yellow numerals '08' and a white tactical sign for
a signals unit. No division marks are given.
Conclusion
The box art will surely spark a winter diorama or two amongst us I'm
sure. This is the second Kettenkrad kit I have by DML. The first one being
kit no. 6114 which included a 'Puppchin' anti-tank weapon for it to tow.
Parts in this kit are sharp and well detailed. There is no flash visible.
I highly recommend this kit. My only gripe is the lack of any history
of the vehicle on the instruction sheet.
I bought my kit at the local hobby shop.
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