Germany produced the SdKfz 250/1 from mid-1941 until the end of World War II. With 6,628 produced, it was common in German service. Dragon Models produced just about every variation of the SdKfz 250/1 halftrack, but those kits are now two decades old and more. The new Takom 1/35 scale SdKfz 250/1 plastic model kit is a welcome release and showcases the level of detail possible with today’s technology.
The high part count for such a small vehicle tells you this will be a detailed model. To tackle it, I followed the instructions to build the kit in subassemblies including wheels and tracks, lower hull with interior, engine and radiator, sides, fenders, and top. This allowed me to paint the interior parts separately before final assembly.
I built the tracks first. A little clean up and careful gluing provided workable track links in about two hours. The torsion bars added in Step 2 fit easily and lock into place without any glue. With working tacks and torsion bars, the suspension is posable.
Be aware, in Step 3 in the instructions, the road wheel Part B5 should be B9. Also, in Step 7, the part numbers for B11 and B10 do not match the diagram for building front wheels.
After building one half of a wheel, I noticed the latter issue and had to pull the assembly apart to build the wheel correctly. Follow the picture in the diagram to get this right. The keyed parts align the tread pattern correctly but getting them perfect takes a bit of work. I ended up test-fitting all the pieces and squeezed them together as I applied glue to the tire treads before twisting until the part aligned as the glue dried. Check reference photos to get the tread alignment correct as the knobs on the tires should be offset.
The front wheels are angled outward at the top, and the engineering of the kit makes it easy to get a consistent angle for both wheels.
If you plan to display the nicely detailed engine, you’ll want to fill ejector-pin marks in Part M1, otherwise it will be visible in the engine compartment. If you’re going to glue the hood shut, don’t worry about it.
The photo-etched metal parts (PE) can be a bit tricky to bend and assemble, but the added detail is worth the effort. The kit provides PE clamps for the MP40 but not the MG38. This would have provided better detail and allowed me to mount the MG in the rear without removing molded details.
In Step 15, the instructions show drilling six holes in floor plate (Part M2). This is incorrect; only drill four holes indicated by indentations on the part. In Step 19, parts J4 and J6 are incorrectly labeled and should be swapped one for the other.
The blanket and tarp parts are keyed to fit a certain way. These are great additions to the kit and allow you to introduce colors to break up the overall dark gray scheme.
The end of the exhaust pipe has a shallow depression. I drilled it for a better appearance. I sanded the bottom of the tarp assembly with the pickaxe and shovel for a better fit. As molded, the middle section would not sit flat. Sanding also allowed it to cover the molded detail for the pickaxe tool clamp.
Overall fit of the kit was excellent, but I was glad that I fitted the hull roof to the sides of the hull before attaching the fenders. I had to fill the seam on each side where the roof fits to the sides of the hull. While tricky to build, you can make the vision black and visor assembly workable — just be careful when applying glue.
The decals went down well over a Tamiya Clear (No. X-22). Another light coat over the top sealed them and created a satin finish for weathering with enamels and artist oils. A light, flat coat sealed everything when finished.
The Takom 1/35 scale SdKfz 250/1 is beautifully detailed, but that detail is only realized through the assembly of many small parts. The kit is well engineered and exemplifies modern mold technology, setting a new standard for the many SdKfz 250 versions that are likely to come. The mistakes in the instructions are easy to figure out with close attention. I spent about 40 hours on this build with a good deal of time spent in detail painting. I would recommend this kit for builders who have a bit of experience with armor models, a little experience with PE, and enjoy the detail that comes from assembly of many small parts. A little extra work brings great reward with this kit.