| The
vehicle depicted in this kit model kit is of the WW2 era; a light,
four-wheel drive armored communications and command car.
This car differs externally from the very similar Sd.Kfz.261 armored
car in that the 261 has a frame antenna while the 260 has a rod antenna.
If you have DML’s Sd.Kfz 222 or 223
kits you are already familiar with many of the parts in this kit.
-
In the very nice box art Dragon shows us an accurate representation
of an Sd.Kfz.260 armored car finished in a dark panzer gray color.
There is a license plate on the front but no other markings.
- On
the turret roof we see a wire mesh anti-grenade screen where a turret
would be on the related Sd.Kfz 223
armored car; this car has neither turret nor armament other than
crew weapons. Forward and left of the mesh screen is an antenna
mount and rod (I’ve read that German antennas were hollow
copper tubes and not flexible whip antennas such as on allied vehicles).
- Around
the hull are various storage boxes, a shovel, and a Gerry can apparently
magnetically stuck to the left side. I presume this fuel can is
tied to a bracket that we cannot see.
- On
the four wheels are three armored hub protectors that are not seen
on all vehicles of this series.
- Standard
of DML kits is the multi-color parts diagram and painting guide.
- At
right is the parts diagram for three sprues. Sprue A is common to
the DML 1/72-scale Sd.Kfz. 222 model kit and Sprue B is common to
their Sd.Kfz.223 kit. We get a plethora
of extra parts (shaded in blue) including turrets and armament for
the Sd.Kfz. 222 and the Sd.Kfz.223
armored cars, fuel cans, and a frame antenna used with the DML Sd.Kfz.
223 and the DML Sd.Kfz. 261 cars.
- You
may have noticed that there are parts for only one model
kit in this box, not two as with the Dragon’s Sd.Kfz.
222 and the Sd.Kfz.223 kits!
- Left
of center is the small water slide decal sheet. The directions do
not show where the crosses go. The license plates are the make-your
own kind which I despise. I do not have the patience and steady
hand to place and align all those individual numbers, three times
for three identical plates! DML should have offered some pre-made
alternatives like with their Sd.Kfz.222 and Sd.Kfz.223
kits. [The ICM Sd.Kfz 260
and 261 kits offer spare
markings.]
The
Parts
- The
kit contains about 52 light gray, injection molded, styrene plastic
parts. There are no etched brass parts with this model kit as there
are with DML’s Sd.Kfz.222 and Sd.Kfz.223
armored car kits.
- Molding
is top notch good. (BTW: many comments and reviews on the related
DML Sd.Kfz. 222 and the Sd.Kfz.223
kits can also apply to this kit and vice versa.)
- This
scan compares the tan colored ICM Sd.Kfz.260/261 hull with the comparable
DML ICM Sd.Kfz.260 hull.
- You
will notice a distinct difference in roof openings; ICM has a
diamond shape opening while DML has a round opening like for a turret.
At first I thought DML gave us the wrong roof and that DML just
recycled the upper hull from their Sd.Kfz.223
kit, till I compared their Sd.Kfz.260 with their Sd.Kfz.223
hulls and found notable differences. Without good enough references
I cannot say whether DML or ICM is correct, or if both are correct
and they just represent production variations. [Ed. note: according
to Panzer Tracts 13-1, the opening should be diamond shaped.] With
the solid plastic handgrenade screen we won’t be able to see
this hole anyway!
- The
DML hull (part G) is a tad broader at the nose and rear top plates
but otherwise dimensions are pretty close to each other. Detail
is pretty good on both manufacturer’s kits.
- A
kit design problem with the rear side engine DML Sd.Kfz.223
kit is not present in this kit. [Ed.note: neither with the DML Sd.Kfz.222. Note, however, that the incorrect backslant between the upper hull plates to the sides of the turret is there, as it is in the Sd.Kfz.223 kit.]
- A
new problem appears to be missing hatch detail on the rear
engine deck of the DML kit; the small hinges are there but no
raised hatch plate like on the correct ICM hull!
- There
are indentations on the upper sides of the DML hull which look to
be mounting points for the frame antenna (parts B12 through B16)
which would make this an Sd.Kfz.261 car.
- Here
is a comparison of the gray plastic DML wheels (parts 1,2,3 &
4) at the bottom and the tan ICM kit wheels above; I feel both are
pretty equal in detail. The DML wheels are on Sprue-A, which is
also a common sprue to the DML Sd.Kfz.222 and Sd.Kfz.223
kits.
- This
DML kit sprue-D is particular to the Sd.Kfz.260 kit and contains
fenders, the rod antenna (part D14), storage box (D4), and at far
right the four solid parts (D1 through D3) representing
the mesh screen on the vehicle roof. This last part I am deeply
disappointed with, ICM and the earlier DML kits in this series give
us etched brass screens. For a fine display model this prohibits
us from displaying the screens open, and harks back to the days
of the Airfix Sd.Kfz.222 armored car kit.
- At
bottom right is the fine etched brass handgrenade screen fret from
the ICM Sd.Kfz.260 kit for comparison.
- At
far left is a small Sprue F holding a single small storage box not
shown on the sprue diagram and apparently not used.
Assembly
Instructions
- The
assembly directions are the common exploded-view type broken down
into four steps and are clear and well done.
- Like
the DML Sd.Kfz.222 and Sd.Kfz.223 kits,
and the ICM kits, the side doors can be modeled open but there is
negligible interior detail, just some seats common to the Sd.Kfz
222 (parts A33, A34 and A37). There is not interior detail included
in the ICM model kit either.
Conclusion
- Molding
and detail are very good and typical of DML kits. Overall quality
mostly appears comparable to the ICM kits so I cannot recommend
one over the other until I build them and compare the fit of the
parts.
- The
missing hatch on the engine deck concerns me in that it looks like
DML’s quality control is slipping and they are rushing the
kits onto the market.
- The
solid plastic overhead anti-handgrenade screen may appeal more to
wargamers than to display modelers. This may be a cost saving move
but detracts from DML’s general reputation for having superior
model kits.
- Though
otherwise an excellent plastic model I am disappointed by the lack
of etched brass parts like with DML’s related Sd.Kfz.222 and
Sd.Kfz.223 kits. I am also disappointed
with there being only one kit in the box rather than two kits.
- For
additional opinions on this series and related vehicles in 1/72-scale
please go to:
http://www.onthewaymodels.com/reviews/Dragon/Dragon7420.htm,
and
http://www.onthewaymodels.com/reviews/ICM/ICM_72431_review.htm
and
http://www.onthewaymodels.com/articles/SdKfz222_variants.htm
and
http://www.onthewaymodels.com/reviews/ICM/ICM_72421_72441.htm.
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