Italeri 1/35th Sd.Kfz 10 Demag D7 By Vic Mattes

Background

The Sd.Kfz 10 D7 is a 8-seater half-track gun tractor. They were build between 1939 and 1944 by a variety of companies. The Italeri version was built by Demag. A highly versatile vehicle, over 25000 were built and used in a variety of forms in every theater of the Second World War. Aside from the general purpose personnel carrier, the D7 was used as a chemical vehicle, loudspeaker vehicle and as an antiaircraft gun vehicle with either a 2-cm, 3.7cm or 5cm AA gun mounted in the back.

The Kit

The Italeri Sd.Kfz 10 D7 is presented in the general purpose configuration. The kit consists of 3 tan sprues of 108 pieces plus two clear windshields. Pieces are nicely detailed with little flash. [The only flash I noticed was on the supports for the canvas roof.] Assembly directions are well laid out and readable. The canvas roof can be used either up or rolled at back of the vehicle if used at all. The tracks are neither one-piece vinyl or such nor are they independent tracks but actually in between. There are various lengths of track that should make it less frustrating to assemble. However, if you intend to use the vehicle in a diorama and wish to emulate movement of the suspension, you will have your work cut out for you. Painting schemes and decals provided for either an ‘Unknown Fallschirmager – Rome, early 1944’ and ‘1st Gebirgsjager Division – Russia, winter 1941/2’. A quick web search did not reveal any aftermarket items for this kit.

Conclusion

The kit looks like a nice weekend build and I look forward to doing so. For those looking for some build hints, I recommend "Detail a Demag Feature". Some excellent era photographs of the vehicle can be found at the "Oldtimer Gallery".

Thanks to Testors for the review sample.