Dragon 1/6 scale SdKfz 2 Kettenkrad

Kit: No. 75001
Scale: 1/6
Manufacturer: Dragon, from Dragon Models USA, 626-968-0322, www.dragonmodelsusa.com
Price: $99.95
Comments: Injection-molded, 498 parts (15 resin, 1 vinyl, 8 metal), stickers
Pros: Good weld detail; well-molded transmission; nice tracks; inclusion of battery and other accessories
Cons: Stickers instead of decals; directions with unlabeled parts; no lenses for gauges
Issue Published: February 2008

Dragon has followed the release of a toy for 12" figures with a 1/6 scale Kettenkrad kit, with styrene, resin, vinyl tires, wire, stainless-steel bars, wire mesh, springs, nuts, and bolts.

None of the liquid cements I tried worked with the plastic in this kit, so I used super glue. All parts are off sprue and bagged, making it difficult to differentiate similar parts - I transposed parts C2 and C6 in Step 7.

Most of the time spent on this kit is in cleaning up the mold lines and filling the marks left when the parts were removed from the sprue trees. The fit of the parts was good, with no filler needed.

Suspension assembly is straightforward. The axles are molded on the hull, so articulating the suspension is not possible. I assembled the track shoes by inserting the track pins (D35), then placing a drop of liquid glue on the outside of the pinhead where it contacted the outside of the shoe. This allowed the tracks to remain workable. I added the 43 rubber blocks after painting and weathering.

Directions for the transmission assembly are a little vague, with several parts (C23, C20, C33, and C49) not shown. However, Dragon's online advertisement for the toy Kettenkrad has a diagram for the transmission. The directions also show the gearshift lever (C36) inside of its track (D19). The only way to do this is to cut the top off the gearshift and reattach it after the transmission is installed.

The lights on the front fender (D10) are handed; the hole in this part should be facing the center of the vehicle to allow the lights to be wired. The end cap (C13) for part C7 is not shown in Step 4E. Make sure you don't glue the side storage compartments' lids in place; you need access to the inside of the compartments to attach the motor cover.

The screen for the motor cover needs trimming to fit but looks great installed. The screen over the engine compartment shows the void under the cover. Other parts not numbered in the directions but shown in place are E25, E29, D20, and a clear sheet for the rear light. The directions show a blackout cover for the headlight, but it is not included. Pictures of the model on the box help with placement of parts not shown in the instructions.

Fully assembled, this is a really big kit - you'll need a lot of paint. I primed to cover the various media, then painted with Tamiya dark yellow and weathered with washes and dry-brushing. I used MMP weathering powders mixed with water to weather the front tire.

The only markings included are stickers for numbering the license plates. Each letter and number is separate, so any plate number can be used. Stickers for gauges also are included, but there are no lenses.

It took 28 hours to complete this kit, mostly cleaning up mold seams and painting. The kit looked toylike, but it's quite impressive after painting. You'll need plenty of shelf space for this monster.