| Now
that we have kits of the Sd.Kfz.222, or variants, from (at least)
three manufacturers (Mars, ICM,
Dragon), it might be useful
to be able to check if any of these manufacturers got the main characteristics
right. The table below might help the modeler distinguish between
different production batches, each with their own particular external
features.
While, initially, the Sd.Kfz.221 was left out, as no kit existed for
that vehicle, First to Fight
now has filled that last gap.
| Serie |
Sd.Kfz.221 |
Sd.Kfz.222 |
Sd.Kfz.223 |
Sd.Kfz.260 |
Sd.Kfz.261 |
1.
Serie
|
1935-1937
- Flat
visors all over
- 2
visors in turret
- MG13
(partially replaced from March 1938 onwards by MG34)
- Flag
staff
- Front
fenders cut out for head lights on initial models
- Big
rear mudflaps
|
1935-1937
-
Driver's roof at same level as rest of roof
- Flat
visors all over
Drawings on page 13-1-9 of [1] show the co-driver's
visor more to the rear than that of the driver; the drawing
on 13-1-25 shows them both in the same position. Pictures
confirm the forward position.
- One
big mesh behind turret
|
1935-1937
-
Driver's roof higher than rest of roof (larger area than Sd.Kfz.222)
- Flat
visors: two in front, two at the sides (co-driver's visor
more to the rear than driver's), two on the turret
- One
big mesh behind and around turret
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
2.
Serie
|
April
- November 1938
- Flat
visors all over
- 4
visors in turret
- MG34
- Flag
staff
- Front
fenders no longer cut out for head lights
- Big
rear mudflaps
- Guards
for turn signals
|
1938
- Minor
differences wrt 1. Series
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
3.
Serie
|
June
1939 - August 1940
- Domed
visors all over
- 4
visors in turret
- MG34
- No
flag staff
- Front
fenders no longer cut out for head lights
- No
rear mudflaps
- Guards
for turn signals
|
June
1939 - January 1940
-
Driver's roof higher than the rest of roof, but only at the
extreme front end
- New
domed visors instead of flat ones on the hull (co-driver's
visor smaller than driver's)
Drawings on page 13-1-37 of [1] show the co-driver's
visor more to the rear than that of the driver. Pictures confirm
this position.
- Domed
visors on turret
Drawings on page 13-1-37 of [1] show flat visors
on turret. Pictures contradict this.
- Smaller
mesh behind the turret
- Armored
cover over rear engine louvres
|
June
1939 - January 1940
-
Driver's roof higher than rest of roof (larger area than Sd.Kfz.222)
- New
domed visors: a single one in front, two
on the sides and two on the turret. Co-driver's visor more
to the rear than driver's.
(This seems to have only been partially implemented
as pictures in [1] credited to 3. Series vehicles show flat
visors on the hull. [1] also contradicts itself about the
number of turret visors: the text says 4, photo captions say
2.)
- One
big mesh behind and around turret
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
| 4.
Serie
|
N/A |
September
1940 - December 1941
-
Driver's roof higher than the rest of roof, but only at the
extreme front end
- Domed
visors overall
- Co-driver's
visor more to the rear than driver's visor
-
KwK 38 instead of KwK 30 in higher mount with higher turret
mesh (also backfitted)
- Smaller
mesh behind the turret
- Armored
cover over rear engine louvres
- Triangular
armored hubcaps omitted
|
September
1940 - December 1941
-
Driver's roof higher than rest of roof (larger area than Sd.Kfz.222)
- Domed
visors: a single one in front, two on the
sides and four on the turret. Co-driver's visor more to the
rear than driver's.
- Smaller
mesh behind the turret
- Armored
cover over rear engine louvres
- Triangular
armored hubcaps omitted
- Modified
antenna frame
|
April
1941 - July 1942
Basically
as 4. serie Sd.Kfz.222, except
-
Right side visor further forward than on Sd.Kfz.222
- Smaller
engine hatches
|
April
1941 - March 1942
Basically
as 4. serie Sd.Kfz.222, except
- Right
side visor further forward than on Sd.Kfz.222
- Smaller
engine hatches
|
5.
Serie (also called Ausf.B)
Same
hull for Sd.Kfz. 222, 223, 260, 261.
|
N/A |
May
1942 - June 1943
-
Driver's roof higher than the rest of roof, but only at the
extreme front end
- Domed
visors on the hull
- Co-driver's
visor moved forward to same position as driver's visor
- No
visors on the turret except for a flap at the rear
- KwK38
in higher mount, but redesigned lower mesh
- Turn
signals moved to front fenders and width indicators moved
forward
- Smaller
engine hatches
- Additional
stowage bin on the left of the hull
- Smaller
mesh behind the turret plus two smaller meshes
- Armored
cover over rear engine louvres
- Plates
welded over mounting points for antenna of Sd.Kfz.223 (standardized
hull)
- Triangular
armored hubcaps omitted
|
April
1942 - February 1944
-
Driver's roof higher than the rest of roof, but only at the
extreme front end, like the Sd.Kfz.222
- Domed
visors on the hull; co-driver's visor moved forward to same
position as driver's and two frontal visors
- Visors
on turret dropped during production (1943)
- Smaller
mesh behind the turret
- Turn
signals moved to front fenders and width indicators moved
forward
- Smaller
engine hatches
- Armored
cover over rear engine louvres
- Triangular
armored hubcaps omitted
- Shape
of antenna modified yet again
|
April
1942 - April 1943
Basically
as 5. serie Sd.Kfz.222.
|
April
1942 - April 1943
Basically
as 5. serie Sd.Kfz.223.
|
Note
that from February 1940 Notek lights were fitted (and backfitted)
to all vehicles.
Kits:
SdKfz
221
Sd.Kfz.
222
Sd.Kfz.
223
Sd.Kfz.
260
Sd.Kfz.
261
References
[1] Panzer
Tracts 13-1, leichter Panzerspaehwagen and kleiner Panzerfunkwagen,
T.L. Jentz & H.L. Doyle. Surprisingly, this reference is contradictory
about the style and position of the visors
[2] Panzerspähwagen Sd.Kfz.221/222/223, M. Zöllner, Tankograd
Publishing
[3] Samochody
pancerne 4x4, J. Ledwoch, Militaria.
[4] Gepanzerte Radfahrzuege, W.J. Spielberger, Militärfahrzeuge
4, Motorbuch Verlag
[5] Panzerspähwagen, Ryton
|