TMN: Preview: MiniArt's 35th scale Sd.Kfz.234/3 Schwerer Panzerspähwagen "Stummel" "Late"

A second Stummel from MiniArt in 35th scale – this time the "Late" version of the Sd.Kfz.234/3. CADs, art, colours, decals, etch & features in our preview...

Preview: MiniArt's 35th scale Sd.Kfz.234/3 Schwerer Panzerspähwagen "Stummel" "Late"

Sd.Kfz.234/3 Schwerer Panzerspähwagen "Stummel" "Late"

From MiniArt

Kit No #53046

1/35th scale

The kit contains four marking choices in the box.

Photo-etch & clear parts are included

Product Link on the MiniArt Website

The Subject: Sd.Kfz.234 Schwerer Panzerspähwagen.

The Sd.Kfz. 234 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 234 – or Special Purpose Vehicle 234) was a family of armoured cars designed and built in Germany during World War II. These vehicles featured light armour, were armed with 20, 50, or 75 mm main guns, and were powered by a Tatra V12 diesel engine. The Sd.Kfz. 234 closely resembled the appearance of the Sd.Kfz. 231 (8 rad).

Development of armoured wheeled vehicles began in Germany after World War I, as they were not subject to the restrictions of the Versailles Treaty. The Sd.Kfz. 234 belonged to the ARK series (chassis type designation) and succeeded the earlier Sd.Kfz. 231/232/233/263 (8-Rad), which were part of the GS series.

During the Wehrmacht’s early invasions of Poland and France, the combat experience with fast-moving, hard-hitting wheeled reconnaissance vehicles highlighted deficiencies in existing designs. In response, a new armoured car project was initiated in August 1940, incorporating lessons from the Wehrmacht’s external operations. The Sd.Kfz. 234, based on the Büssing-NAG Sd.Kfz. 232 variant, featured a monocoque chassis with eight wheels and an air-cooled engine suitable for North African conditions.

The short-barrelled 7.5 cm K51 L/24 gun is the biggest change to this vehicle from previous models.

Chassis construction took place at Büssing-NAG in Leipzig-Wahren, while Deutsche Edelstahlwerke of Krefeld provided the armoured bodies and Daimler Benz in Berlin-Marienfelde and Schichau of Elbing supplied the turrets. The engines came from Ring Hoffer-Tatra-Werke AG of Nesselsdorf.

Two types of the heavily armed reconnaissance vehicles are seen in this 1944 photograph: the turreted Sd.Kfz 234/2 in the foreground and, behind it, the open-topped Sd.Kfz 234/3 armed with a short-barrel howitzer.

The prototype trials began around July 1942. The Sd.Kfz.234 became the first and only German armoured vehicle to use an air-cooled diesel engine. Although originally intended as a temporary solution until a better engine design for harsh tropical climates could be developed, the Tatra 103 remained in use until the end of production. The vehicle featured eight-wheel steering and a second, rear-facing driver’s seat, allowing for quick changes in direction. Its transmission had six forward and reverse gears, providing traction across all eight wheels

Sd.Kfz. 234/3, at the Bovington Tank Museum in the UK. This Sd.Kfz.234/3 was used after the war to be used in mobility tests against more modern vehicles

The Sd.Kfz.234/3 Schwerer Panzerspähwagen

The Sd.Kfz. 234/3, produced simultaneously with the 234/1, served as a support vehicle for the reconnaissance vehicles. It had an open-topped superstructure, in which a short-barrelled 7.5 cm K51 L/24 gun was installed. This gun was intended for use against "soft" targets; however, when using a hollow charge shell, the penetration power exceeded that of the 5 cm L/60 gun.

Selected from this boxing, this Stummel is seen next to a halftrack, also with a short-nosed large-calibre gun. This Stummel looks abandoned, as it is under new management.

This variant was produced from mid-1944 to the end of 1944, before switching production to the 234/4, the final variant, which replaced the L/24 gun with the 7.5 cm L/46 PaK 40 for improved offensive performance.

Another of the Stummels from this boxing, seen in cold weather late in the war.

The Kit:

Following on from the Sd.Kfz family of eight-wheeled armoured AFVs from MiniArt in 35th scale, this kit includes the base we have already seen, with the main difference being the short-barrelled 7.5 cm K51 L/24 gun.

Jerry cans: a spare pivot-mounted MG42 is also included for self-defence in the rear of the crew area.
You can see there is some photo-etch on this kit, used mainly for straps and grilles.
You can see the insides of the hull roof with the radio and other accessories here.
The internals of this kit are, of course, supplied, with both driving stations and crew positions and the different ammo storage is included in this version
The new short-barrelled howitzer is a feature of this kit.

The CADs of the kit parts...