MK72(MPK)

Zugkraftwagen 1t (Sd.Kfz.10) Demag "D7"

Kit # 7201 & 7202

Preview by Rob Haelterman - heman_148(at)hotmail(dot)com

History

The Demag D7 was built from 1938 till 1944; about 17500 were built and it served on all fronts. A (series of) high quality kit(s) of this vehicle was thus long overdue.
The kit represents the basic version of the vehicle used for towing artillery and transporting the crew.
According to the operations manual the vehicle was meant to tow the 2cm Flak, 3.7cm Pak, 7.5cm le.I.G. & Sd.Anh., while a reinforced version (known as Ausf. B) could also tow the 5cm Pak, 10.5cm le.F.H.18 and 15cm sIG. For as far as I can see, both vehicles are outwardly identical.

Important sub-versions were the Sd.Kfz.10/4 (which mounted a Flak 30) and the /5 (with Flak 38), so we can hope these will soon appear in kit-form too.
The D7 was also the basis for the Sd.Kfz.250, but which had a roadwheel removed from the running gear.

Type of kit

Injection plastic kit with manual and decals. Clear acetate is provided for the windshield.
The sprues are marked with references to Maco. Peter from MPK and Matthias from Maco are good friends and the latter has helped convert the design of the parts to a workable sprue lay-out, but that is about as far as the cooperation goes.

Both kits are basically similar, except for a small number of parts and the marking options. All parts for both versions are provided on the single sprue.

Packaging

Side-opening cardboard box. Parts themselves are protected by a re-sealable plastic bag inside.
The color scheme is shown on the back of the box.

Quality

Detail is crisp. I would judge it better than the newer Attack kits, on par with Academy and just slightly below Revell.
Detail is also fairly abundant, but as I will soon build the kit, I will be able to make a far more detailed appreciation of that later.
The clear acetate is very thin and the decals are very sharp and in perfect register.

The running gear follows a style that is fairly well-established in the meantime (e.g. Dragon, Revell, Maco) with the back rows pre-assembled for perfect alignment. What is novel is the one piece styrene tracks which are to be used a bit like DS tracks, but without being DS. While some modelers have shown weariness regarding this approach, I have good hopes that it will actually work out well, as I have tried this method previously on other kits (e.g. the Maco sWS). It actually gave far better results around the idler and drive sprocket, since I have the impression I never can get the individual links perfectly (optically) aligned. The tracks are two links too long, for reasons I ignore. I first thought this pointed to a forthcoming Sd.Kfz.250, but its tracks are actually shorter, not longer.
The mainwheels come in two halves and have a convincing tyre pattern and suspension.

The crew compartment is an insert that fits into a lower hull assembly. Interior detail seems very good on the sprues.

A nice touch is the choice between headlights with a slit cover and hollowed out alternatives, which you can fill with transparencies of your own choosing.

An abundance of jerrycans is provided, which are mostly meant for the DAK version. They come in halves, so some assembly/sanding will be required. It also means the middle handhold is missing.
The tarp only comes in a folded down position, even though the DAK boxtop shows otherwise.

Pictures above from Henk of Holland website, used with permission.

Manual

The manual is very clear and of the "classical type". Scans of the manual can be found at http://henk.fox3000.com/mpk.htm

Version

For as far as I can tell from my references, the kit seems to have strengthened outer roadwheels which were introduced at the end of 1940.
(The Notek that is fitted appeared in June 1939.)

In all, I would say that the kit would do for any 1941-1945 setting.

Camouflage & Markings

Kit 7201 offers 5 marking options, all of vehicles in uniform Panzer Grey (RAL7021):
- 3. Pz.Div. Flakbatterie (mot.), Pz.Gr. Guderian, Russia, 1941
- Pz.Gr.Div. Grossdeutschland, Nebelwerfbatterie (mot.), Russia, 1942
- 1. Pz.Div. Gasspürhundebatterie (mot.), H.Gr. Nord, Russia, 1941
- 9. Pz.Div. Pz.Jägerzug (mot.), Pz.Gr. Kleist, Russia, 1941
- 14. Pz.Div. Pz.Jägerzug (mot.), Pz.Gr. Kleist, Russia, 1941

Pictures above from Henk of Holland website, used with permission.

Kit 7201 offers 3 marking options, all of vehicles in a uniform sand color. The color chart next to the color painting would lead me to believe this is either RAL1027 or RAL6006, which I find odd, as I always thought vehicles were painted RAL 8000 + RAL7008 from March 1941, and RAL 8020 + RAL7021 from March 1942 onwards on the North African front.
- 21. Pz.Div., Nebelwerfbatterie (mot.), Pz.Gr. Afrika, 1941/42
- 15. Pz.Div., Pz.Jägerzug (mot.), Pz.Gr. Afrika, 1941/42
- 90 leichte Afrika Div., Flakbatterie (mot.), Pz.Gr. Afrika, 1941/42

Pictures above from Henk of Holland website, used with permission.

References

[1] Die Halbkettenfahrzeuge des deutschen Heeres 1909-1945, W.J. Spielberger, Band 6 der Reihe Militärfahrzeuge. Motorbuchverlag 1993

[2] Leichter Zugkraftwagen 1t (Sd.Kfz.10) Ausf. A und B and Variants, T.L. Jentz & H.L. Doyle, Panzer Tracts 22-1, 2009

Preview samples kindly provided by Henk of Holland.

Article Last Updated: 15 July 2010