1:35 SD.KFZ.234/4 Panzerspähwagen TEN Carson 776772 500776772

Germany created a number of successful schwerer Panzerspahwagen (“heavy armored reconnaissance vehicles”). An important family of vehicles in this class was the Sd.Kfz.234. Design work commenced in August 1940 and the Sd.Kfz.234 had four distinct variants, the last of which was the Sd.Kfz.234/4. It is this 8-wheeled vehicle that is the subject of Dragon’s newest 1/35 scale plastic kit. Reflecting the state of the war by that stage, this 6m-long vehicle was more of a tank hunter than a reconnaissance vehicle. It boasted a complete 7.5cm PaK 40 L/46 anti-tank gun installed in the open-topped fighting compartment, though the gun’s traverse was limited to 12° either side. Only 89 vehicles were produced by Büssing-NAG between December 1944 and March 1945, but they were employed on both the Eastern and Western Fronts.

Some time ago, Dragon released a 1/35 scale kit of the Sd.Kfz.234/4 (Item No.6221), but it has now received the royal Premium Edition treatment. Upgrades include the addition of driveshafts and tie rods that allow all the wheels to be steered/angled, just like on the original vehicle. It also has two different kinds of road wheels for selection. This kit accurately replicates the unique shape of this hard-hitting German 8x8 armored vehicle, and the Premium Edition version makes it even more appealing and up to date.