Sd.Kfz. 260

German Radio Communication Vehicle

Disclaimer:
This review previously appeared, in slightly different form, on the Henk of Holland website.

1. Packaging:

Side opening cardboard box with 3-view painting guide on the backside (for one marking option).

2. Type of kit:

Injection plastic kit with small photo-etch fret. Decals provided.

3. Quality:

As this kit is based on the Sd.Kfz.222 from ICM, I refer to the review of that kit. Again, there is no interior provided, and given the scarce resources on this vehicle, you're basically on your own. The photo-etch part, on the other hand, is finely done, but the three-part assembly fits difficultly. The main difference with the 222 is the lack of turret, the new hull top and a nice rod antenna.

I originally wrote:
" The main issue with this kit is that, according to my references, most Sd.Kfz.260s were based on the Sd.Kfz.221 hull (the 261 being based on the 222). Photographic evidence shows at least one Sd.Kfz.260 with the Sd.Kfz.222 hull. As there are many subtle and less subtle differences between the 221 and 222, there are basically only two choices: assume that this vehicle was not alone, or change the complete hull and be admired by many !"

Well, we can now go for the "assume that this vehicle was not alone" option, as the recently released Tankograd book [16] on the Sd.Kfz.222 family shows that these hulls were not that rare as I originally assumed and the new Panzer Tracts book [17] even goes as far as stating that all Sd.Kfz.260s and 261s were based on the Sd.Kfz.222/223 chassis.

Post scriptum:
I only discovered, years later, that the front fender bins are missing, while they can be vaguely seen on the boxtop.

Pictures by Stephen Brezinski.

4. Instruction sheet:

The instructions are in Russian (Ukrainian ?) and English. They are of the drawing type and are very clear. Five parts are not for use, and marked as such.

Pictures from Henk of Holland website, used with permission.

5. Assembly:

This kit assembles like a breeze, just like its sibling the Sd.Kfz.222. The only troublesome part is the cage mesh, which is difficult to bend in the right places and does not quite seem to fit the hull top.

6. Decals and painting options:

Picture from Henk of Holland website, used with permission

The decals are very, very good. They are thin, sharp and in excellent register. This decal sheet is the same as for the 223,260 and 261, so you get a LOT of spares.
Unfortunately enough, in some kits (I have 6 of this kit and its variants) the SS licence plates are removed by the censor (which in one example was overly enthusiastic and damaged others). These are meant to represent vehicle SS163240 from LSSAH [7] in the SdKfz 261 kits.

On one sheet, one of the DAK palm trees was not printed completely and a very small trace of a stray decal was found. This is, however, no problem at all, as the decals are plentiful, and give you too many items. For instance, you get 4 DAK palm trees, while you can maximally put 2 on the vehicle, according to the manual.

Painting options for this kit are

• Grossdeutschland, Don Area, July 1942 in overall “Gunship Gray” (read RAL 7021 Dunkelgrau). This vehicle is shown in 3-view on the backside of the box.
• s.Pz.Jg.Abt.653, Kursk Area, July 1943 in “Flat Tan” (read RAL 7028 Dunkelgelb) and “European Green” (read RAL 6003 Olivgrun)

Color references are for Model Master.

Picture by Stephen Brezinski.

Something peculiar is that the decals react with Revell Matt varnish (and probably also with other enamels). They actually dissolve to a paint-like substance, which means you will get no silvering and perfect adhesion, as the carrier film also dissolves. That is, if you take care. If you don't, you might VERY easily ruin the decal.

7. General Impression:

I am a great fan of this kit. The best thing about it is the great ease of construction (apart from the mesh, which is quite difficult to assemble) and the retail price. It is also dimensionally accurate.

The worst is the complete lack of interior. The detail is also not as crisp as on the MarS kit of the Sd.Kfz. 222 and 223.

Model finished in markings of Grossdeutschland division with AB figures.

8. Further information

Also check Stephen Brezinski's previews of the ICM Sd.Kfz.223 and 261 and the article about the evolution of the Sd.Kfz.222 and its variants.

9. References

[1] Samochody pancerne 4x4, J. Ledwoch, Militaria.

[2] Missing-Lynx website (http://www.missing-lynx.com) . Discussions on forum, e.g. Robert Johnson, 27/02/05

[3]  AFV Interior, http://afvinteriors.hobbyvista.com/ (Currently closed)

[4]  DAK SdKfz 222 http://members.verizon.net/~blu.skink/blueskink/222_interior/222_interior.htm (Currently off-line)

[5]  Littelfield collection pictures, http://russiannavy.net/photos/littlefield (/Sept_2004/Sdkfz222)

[6]  Petr Vanek, private communication.

[7]  SS Armor, R.C. Stern, Squadron/Signal

[8]  Panzer Colors I, B. Culver & B. Murphy, Squadron/Signal

[9]  Panzer Colors II, B. Culver, Squadron/Signal

[10]  Panzer Colors III, B. Culver, Squadron/Signal

[11]  Gepanzerte Radfahrzuege, W.J. Spielberger, Militärfahrzeuge 4, Motorbuch Verlag

[12]  Panzer Tracts N°13, Panzerspaehwaegen, T.L.Jentz, Panzer Tracts

[13]  Panzerspähwagen, Ryton

[14]  Steelmasters 53, “Les automitrailleuses SdKfz 222 et 223”, October 2002

[15]  SdKfz 253, 252 & early 250, Archive Part 1, M. Kögel, Total Detail

[16] Panzerspähwagen Sd.Kfz.221/222/223, Tankograd Wehrmacht Special N°4014

[17] Panzer Tracts N°13-1, leichter Panzerspaehwaegen and kleiner Panzerfunkwagen, T.L.Jentz & H.L. Doyle, Panzer Tracts

Article Updated:
30 December 2009
11 August 2010