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- German Sd.Kfz. 251/2 Ausf. C -
Schützenpanzerwagen (schwerer Granatwerfer)
World War II
Image: SdKfz 251/2 Ausf. C

The Kit:

    
This 1/72nd scale model kit is molded in a gray styrene plastic by Dragon LTD., kit no. 7308 and is part of their Armor Pro series. It represents the riveted version of this vehicle.
Image: SdKfz 251/2 Kit Contents The box contains 146 parts. Styrene makes up the majority of parts and also includes 12 photo-etched and one metal part. Extra parts are included in this kit that are not required to assemble this version.
Image: SdKfz 251/2 Kit Contents For the most part, the castings are excellent with the exception of some softness in the headlight covers as well as with some detail of the inner surfaces to a few of the road wheels. Scale seems to be in order with the exception of the crew personal weapons. I.E. the rifles seem to be underscale and the two MP-40's seem to be over scale.
Image: SdKfz 251/2 Ausf. C The instruction sheet is manageable but not very clear in some areas. The mortar mounting is not specific, is lacking and is suspect, having been unable to find any reference material to help in this area of the build. I had difficulties aligning the upper hull to the lower hull and I assembled the ammo rack upside down by mistake and discovered too late to correct.
Image: SdKfz 251/2 Ausf. C Decals provided are numerous however; the only placement being specified are for three unidentified units on the Eastern Front. I combined tactical markings shown for one of the Unidentified units with 5th Panzer Div insignia. The "WH" numbers are applied to the white as individual decals. An acrylic floor wax was airbrushed on prior to and after decal application.
   
Image: SdKfz 251/2 Ausf. C The Added Details:
I built my representation basically out of the box (OOB). The only added items were the tarps made out of soft paper towel saturated in white glue and water mix and then painted. The antenna is .010in (.25mm) diameter brass rod.
Image: SdKfz 251/2 Painted Details

Image: SdKfz 251/2 Painted Details

Image: SdKfz 251/2 kit contents

Image: SdKfz 251/2 kit contents
Image: SdKfz 251/2 Painted Details Image: SdKfz 251/2 Painted Details Image: SdKfz 251/2 Painted Details Image: SdKfz 251/2 Painted Details
       

Painting, Weathering and Finishing:

Acrylic paints were used throughout this project along with artist oils thinned with an odorless brush cleaner. A light overcoat of acrylic flat was then applied, followed by an acrylic gloss coat applied to the 'glass' areas.
Image: SdKfz 251/2 Ausf. C

Image: SdKfz 251/2 Ausf. C

Image: SdKfz 251/2 Ausf. C

Image: SdKfz 251/2 Ausf. C
Image: SdKfz 251/2 Ausf. C

Image: SdKfz 251/2 Ausf. C

Image: SdKfz 251/2 Ausf. C

Image: SdKfz 251/2 Ausf. C
Image: SdKfz 251/2 Ausf. C Image: SdKfz 251/2 Ausf. C Image: SdKfz 251/2 Ausf. C Image: SdKfz 251/2 Ausf. C
Image: SdKfz 251/2 Ausf. C Image: SdKfz 251/2 Ausf. C Image: SdKfz 251/2 Ausf. C Image: SdKfz 251/2 Ausf. C

Base and Groundwork:

    

The base is scrap pine and is cut to 76x102x20mm (3x4x3/4in) and the edges have been routered. It is stained and sealed with an oil based stain and multiple coats of polyurethane.
Image: SdKfz 251/2 Bare Groundwork

The groundwork is a mix of Sculptamold, white glue and water. Fine sifted dirt and kitty litter 'rocks' were added in prior to the Sculptamold setting up. Static grass, 'forest litter' and dried flowers were used for the 'vegetation' . When all was dry, multiple acrylic paints were applied for the ground colors.

All of the components to this vignette were fixed into position with white glue.

The nameplate was created in photoshop then printed on gloss photo paper. Backed with double sided tape and trimmed to size, it was fixed into position on the base. There are four felt pads on the underside, the base was dated (Feb '11) and this project was completed.
General Vehicle Info:    
The Sd.Kfz. (Sonderkraftfahrzeug - special purpose vehicle or special ordnance vehicle) 251/2 was one of 23 official variations (as well as an unknown amount of unofficial variations) of the basic Sd.Kfz. 251 series of medium halftrack armored personnel carrier (Sd.Kfz. 251/1). This variation mounted the 8cm Granatwerfer 34 mortar. The vehicle provided basic protection from small arms fire as well as from shrapnel. The mortar could be fired from within the vehicle or dismounted.
Initial production of the 251 series commenced in 1938 and was used in the invasion of Poland in 1939. It proved to be reliable and robust in performance being hindered only by the lack of sufficient numbers available during the start of the war. Eventually, the 251 series would become the definitive German WWII Halftrack. There were four models of each variation i.e.; Ausf. (Ausfuhrung) A, B, C and D. Production of the Ausf. C ended in 1943.
This vehicle was issued to the heavy weapons platoons of armored infantry companies.
Actual Data:    
Weight: 7.81 tonnes (8.61 short tons) Armor Thickness (Min - Max): 6mm - 14.5mm (.24 - .57in)
Length: 5.80m (19ft) Engine: Maybach HL 42 TUKRM 6 cylinder in-line gasoline, water-cooled engine providing 100hp (74.6kW)
Width: 2.10m (6ft 11in) Power to Weight Ratio: 12.8hp/tonne
Height: 1.75m (5ft 9in) Suspension: Wheels: Trans Leaf Spring
Tracks: Torsion Bar
Crew: 2 + 4 mortar crew Operational Range: 300km (186mi)
    Speed (Maximum): 52.5km/h (32.5mph)
    Transmission: 4.2 forward, 1x2 reverse
    Tires: 2
    Track Width: 28cm (9.25in)
    Track Centers per tread: 2.78m (9.12ft)
    Turning Radius: 13.5m (14.8yds)
    Fording Depth: .6m (2ft)
    Trench Crossing: 2m (6ft 7in)
Armor Thickness (by plates):
Hull, Front, Upper: 10mm (.39in) @33° Hull, Rear: 8mm (.32in) @30° & 8mm (.32in) @40°
Hull, Front, Lower: 14.5mm (.57in) @21° Hull, Top: Open
Hull, Sides, Upper: 8mm (.32in) @35° Hull, Bottom: 6mm (.24in) @90°
Hull, Sides, Lower: 8mm (.32in) @35°    
Armament:      
Primary: 1x 8cm Granatwerfer 34 Mortar with 66 rounds
Secondary: 1x MG34 or MG42 (Maschinengewehr) 7.92mm Machine Gun with 2,010 rounds
Vehicle Crew: 2x MP40 (Maschinenpistole), 9x19mm Parabellum
Mortar Crew: 4x Kar98k, K98, or K98k (Karabiner 98 Kurz), 8x57mm IS (Infanterie, Spitz).
Sources:      
Mr. Mike Pruett - United States

 
The SdKfz 251  

 
Germany's SdKfz 251 mittlerer Schutzenpanzerwagen half tracks
The Military Factory
SdKfz 251 Half-Track 1939-45, New Vanguard #25 (2nd ed.) Culver, Bruce; Laurier, Jim (Illustrator) (November 1998), Osprey Publishing, ISBN 1855328461
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Mortars in Miniature, Created and Maintained by Kevin Robert Keefe, Copyright © 2012.
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