21st Century Toys 1/32 SdKfz 4 Halftrack
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
History
When the invasion of Russia went from summer into autumn and then winter, the German supply vehicles found themselves bogged down in the Russian mud and snow. To counter this challenge, the Germans developed the SdKfz 4 Gleissketten-Lastkraftwagen halftrack vehicle. Based on an Opel Blitz 3-ton truck, the SdKfz 4 used British Carden-Lloyd running gear for the track portion. Over 22,000 were produced during the war, including some fitted with 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 rocket launchers.
The Kit
This is an interesting change of pace for a model. First off, the scale is not a typo, this is in fact a 1/32 kit, not 1/35. That means that this truck will fit in beautifully with 1/32 aviation kits (picture it with a DB 601 engine in the back, for instance, or perhaps a set of Bf 109 wings). Second, although it is a kit that needs assembly, it is also pre-finished, with camouflage and markings. Finally, this is a
mixed media kit, including plastic, vinyl, and metal.
So, diving right into the box, just what comes in this kit? First up you will notice that the cab is quite heavy. Understandable, considering that it is metal rather than plastic. The detailing on the cab is quite nice, and includes an interior and functioning doors and hood. There are some extra pieces to add to this assembly though, as the headlights and shovel are separate. A simple press-fit, though, and they’re in place (the headlights are a bit loose and could probably benefit from some adhesive).
Moving on to the truck bed, this is molded in plastic and for the most part, is complete. There are three accessory boxes that fit on the underside, and three benches for inside the bed. Do note that the boxtop photo is not a photo of this kit, as there is no canvas cover provided in this kit (other details on the cover photo that are not in the kit include slotted headlights, grill details, and to-scale hinges for the hood and doors; details included in the kit that are not on the boxtop photo include the shovel, fender stanchions, and a cab roof fixture). The truck bed has a functional rear lift gate as well.
The chassis is probably the most complex piece to assemble in this kit, but even this will go together remarkably fast. The main assembly is mostly complete, with an engine in place, the front wheels on, and the rear suspension added. All the wheels are moveable, although the front wheels are not steerable, so it will only go forward and backward. There is a separate spare tire, separate support racks, and separate drive wheels. The transmission housing and drive axle are also separate, as is the tow hitch. The instructions are quite clear, and with some press fitting and four screws, all that is left is to stretch the vinyl tracks in place and this halftrack is finished.
The painting and markings, for the most part, is quite good, with accurate unit markings and stenciling. There is a slight color shift between the metal cab and the plastic parts, most noticeable in the tan base coat, but that is a minor issue. Now, for those who do not want to go through the trouble(?) of assembling this kit, 21st Century also has an overall gray SdKfz 4 in their prefinished, preassembled line as well.
Conclusion
This is a really fun little project to throw together in an afternoon, and the 1/32 scale really opens up some great possibilities for aircraft modelers wanting to add some extra flair to their latest Luftwaffe creation. My thanks to 21st Century Toys for the review sample.