Sd.Kfz 234/3

Italeri 1/72 Scale

Reviewed by Glen Porter

Summary

FirstLook

There were four basic models of the second generation German WW II Eight Wheeled Armoured Car. The 234/1, 2, 3 and 4. The differences between variances have been covered elsewhere.

There are also three manufacturers producing these vehicles in 1/72 scale plastic. Roden has already done the /1, /2, and /3 as have Hasagawa, I believe. This 234/3 is the second from Italeri after the 234/2 Puma. No-one has as yet produced the 4. All of these kits from all of these manufacturers have their benefits and disadvantages, and their level of detail and accuracy is about the same.

This kit from Italeri is NOT one of the Ex-Esci kits that they have been re-releasing over the last year or so, but a completely new moulding although based on the Puma mould. Consequently, most of the sprue is shared with the Puma and a bit tacked on the end with the bits specifically for this model. It's a little bit simpler than the kits from the other makers, mainly in the suspension and gun where parts that are separate in the others are joined together to make just one part. This means its a bit “builder friendlier” than the others but the essential detail is still there so I think this is a good thing.
 

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

The interior is much the same as the others with two driving positions and the gun and not much else although the gun is missing some detail such as training wheels etc. Of course, if some figures are placed in the fighting compartment, you won't see much of the interior anyway.

Externally, again it's like the others but all the guard equipment hatches are moulded closed. All the photos you will see of these Eight Rad cars have the guard mounted items in different places as if it's the crews who decide where, so I would suggest working from a reference as to the placement of this gear.

Suspension looks as detailed as the others as are the wheels but with no sink marks as in the Roden kits.

As with all the new mould Braille Armour kits from Italeri, it can be built in a simplified manor for War Gaming with some extra parts supplied on the sprue. This involves an extra parts plan showing which parts are not to be used and a build diagram showing where the extra parts go. Put simply, the suspension is deleted and replaced by four axles which go through the chassis and the deletion of all the guard mounted equipment.

The excellent decals give marking for four vehicle, all on the Western Front in 1944. the first two are in Dark Yellow over-all and then two in the Three Colour Scheme. All appropriate marking are supplied with individual number-plates for each vehicle.

If your hobby shop has all three of these, the Italeri would definitely be the easiest to build although the other two will be slightly more detailed - but not by much!

Highly Recommended to all.

Thanks to Italeri for the review sample.