Sd.Kfz. 251/22 Pakwagen

[Evan August]

I purchased Dragon's kit of the 251/22 at the local hobby shop this week. I think this might turn into a long term project. I've started work on the lower hull and suspension. Here's a pic of the box and the goodies inside:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/eaugust/Pakwagen/Picture029.jpg

[Evan August]

I started the kit tonight. I'll try to provide updates as often as possible. I'll also post any issuses that I encounter during construction. I'm working on the lower body and suspension now. I'll try to find some PE for the interior before starting that part. Any suggestions?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/eaugust/Pakwagen/Picture028.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/eaugust/Pakwagen/Picture031.jpg

So far, assembly has gone alright. The fit of the body pieces is pretty nice, but the suspension parts are little loose. Nothing major, just be careful. I've also dry fitted the suspension arms. These are rather loose fitting, with a bit of room to wiggle around. If you're building this one, look out for this step.

[Evan August]

Construction on this one has been temporarily halted while I wait for some stuff. I ordered the AFV Club kit and the brass shield bolts. I'll kitbash something out of the two. I'm also waiting on some PE.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/eaugust/Pakwagen/av35083.jpg

[Uruk-Hai]

Hi Evan!

Ive also bought the Dragon kit the passed weekend. There are quite a few sprues and other goodies in that box. And I dont even like the 251 series? :)

Ill go for an OOTB build on this one. Only grudge were part B1 port board side. Half of it were missing? It looked like the plastic hadnt filled the mold?
However Ive mailed Dragoncare yesterday about that matter, lets see what happends.

Is it just me or is the detail sharper on this kit than for example their Panzer I´s?

Cheers

[Finnmodeler]

Originally posted by Uruk-Hai@Apr 4 2005, 03:57 PM

Ill go for an OOTB build on this one. Only grudge were part B1 port board side. Half of it were missing? It looked like the plastic hadnt filled the mold?
However Ive mailed Dragoncare yesterday about that matter, lets see what happends.

Is it just me or is the detail sharper on this kit than for example their Panzer I´s?

Cheers
Hi,
hopefully Dragoncare will work as that part is quite hard to make out of scratch.
About the details, I can say for sure that detail level in latest D-versions is definately better and sharper than in C-versions.

Niko

[Finnmodeler]

Originally posted by Evan August@Apr 4 2005, 02:34 PM
Construction on this one has been temporarily halted while I wait for some stuff. I ordered the AFV Club kit and the brass shield bolts. I'll kitbash something out of the two. I'm also waiting on some PE.


Whoaa :lol:
That is a interesting and challenging project! It is going to be a real SuperPakwagon ;)

Niko

[Evan August]

Janne, that really sucks that you got a deformed kit. Hopefully, Dragoncare will fix it for you. I haven't built the Panzer I, or really any Dragon kits in awhile, so I can't say if there is an improvement. The detail on the kit is pretty nice, just look out for some nasty knockout pin marks on the interior sides. Unfortunately, Dragon went and used the usual floor, with mounts for two seats when you only need one. Same problem James had with his /9. I think it can build into a nice model with some work. Plus, you got to love all the goodies like some PE, metal barrel and ammo, etc.
Niko, thanks for the interest in the project. I expect the AFV Club kit here with in a week, then I can start planning the project. Inspired by James, I went and ordered an Aber 250 set for some extra detail, and I am still looking for any other things that will work. Hopefully I'll have it done by the end of the year, or am I nuts :lol: ?

[Evan August]

Can someone tell me if these things were in service with SS units, and if so which ones? While I wait for my stuff to arrive, I'm thinking about figures and starting to put together the plan for a dio. For figures, I'm looking at these guys from Warriors:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/eaugust/Pakwagen/wa35368.jpg
Thinking of using the guy in the winter jacket for the Pakwagen commander.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/eaugust/Pakwagen/wa35348.jpg
These guys can be infantry.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/eaugust/Pakwagen/Hornet-GH08.jpg
A Hornet figure, he can be in the Pakwagen too.

I also ordered the April '97 issue of FSM from their website, it has an article on the Pakwagen, and I heard some interior details are covered.

[Finnmodeler]

Originally posted by Evan August@Apr 5 2005, 12:55 AM
Niko, thanks for the interest in the project. I expect the AFV Club kit here with in a week, then I can start planning the project. Inspired by James, I went and ordered an Aber 250 set for some extra detail, and I am still looking for any other things that will work. Hopefully I'll have it done by the end of the year, or am I nuts :lol: ?
Hi,
yes of course I'm interested in this :) Hopefully you weren't looking just for tool clasps in 250 set as you may already know Aber provides clasps in separate PE set. Aber has actually two of those sets but ths one is better as clasps are smaller and more to scale: Aber 35A93 - German clamps & clasp set.2 (PE 1/35)

Good luck with this one and I'll look forward to see this getting along.

Niko

[Uruk-Hai]

Janne, that really sucks that you got a deformed kit. Hopefully, Dragoncare will fix it for you.

No problem, with the amount of kits Ive purchased through the years it was bound to happen sooner or later statistically. ;)

[olin]

Hello Evan,
I got your pm about the photo etch. If you are building the Dragon 251/22 you're in luck. Lion Roar has a set for the 251/1 that will give you all the p/e you want. The only part that wouldn't be covered is the gun shield for the PAK 40 since the set is for the /1. As you were wondering about it includes dash pieces and numerous other interior pieces. Now on to the floor plates, Voyager includes floor plates in their 251/9 set. However these are for the AFV Club 251/9. Maybe with some careful fitting and trimming they could be used to correct the Dragon floor. Lastly, for the AFV Club 251/22 the only set that I have found is a exterior detail set made by Lion Roar. It includes fenders, stowage and if I am not mistaken both MG mounts. If you have any other questions drop me a note on this posting or pm me. VLS has all three sets I mentioned in their inventory. Here are the item numbers for the sets I mentioned.

Lion Roar for Sdkfz 251 #LE35041 for Dragon Kits (great set and for very good price)

Lion Roar 251 Exterior Detail Set #LE35040 for AFV Club

Voyager 251/9 Update Set #PE35040 for AFV Club ( weird this has same number as the Lion Roar Set)

Here is a list of units that had 251/22s.
Grossdeutschland
25.Pz.Div.
9.Pz.Div.
11.Pz.Div.
2.Pz.Div.
4.Pz.Div.
7.Pz.Div.
17.Pz.Div.
19.Pz.Div.
Fuhrer Begleit Div.
8.Pz.Div (Sdkfz 251 reported in PzJagAbt)?
Pz.Div. Feldherrnhalle
13.Pz.Div
Pz.Div. Holstein

Apparently 12.Pz.Div. also converted some 251/9s to 251/22.

Hope this helped some with some of your questions.
Regards,
Paul
P.S How do you set up a V Bench? Sounds like their a lot of guys working on 251/22s maybe we could have a 251/22 build off!

[Evan August]

Thanks alot for all that Paul. I will check out the PE you mentioned. And I'll do some research and decide on a unit and markings. As for the V-bench, I went to the "contact staff" under Navigation on the home page, I think I sent Gordy a message and he set it up for me.

[olin]

Hello Evan,
Glad to be of some help to you. I will contact Gordy about getting a V Bench set up so I can post some pictures of my 251/22.
Best regards,
Paul

[Evan August]

I recieved the April '97 FSM today, and I was rather disapointed. I had heard that the interior layout was covered, but no. Just a few short pages with ok plans for scratching a gun mount. Not very spectacular. Oh well, better a magazine that didn't live up to expectations than a $35 kit . ;)

[Evan August]

Hi guys, I got my AFV kit the other day. I am very impressed! I thought the Dragon kit was nice, but after looking at the AFVC kit, I think there is no comparison. If you want a 251, go with AFV. I don't have a camera at the moment, but I just wanted to spread the word about this great kit! Anyway, I think i'll go with the AFV kit as a base, adding any DML parts that I think are better.

[Finnmodeler]

Originally posted by Evan August@Apr 14 2005, 11:54 PM
Hi guys, I got my AFV kit the other day. I am very impressed! I thought the Dragon kit was nice, but after looking at the AFVC kit, I think there is no comparison. If you want a 251, go with AFV. I don't have a camera at the moment, but I just wanted to spread the word about this great kit! Anyway, I think i'll go with the AFV kit as a base, adding any DML parts that I think are better.
Hi,
please start fiddling with this soon:) I'm interested to see how these two can be mixed to get best possible result ;)

Niko

[Flak]

Hi Niko,

Totally agreed with you...the AFV's 251 kit is the best :lol: (expect the vinyl track link) :( ...I have already building the DML "Drilling" Gun, which will mount on the AFV's 251 vehicle. I will use the DML track link to replace the AFV's... ;)