Bolt Action SdKfz 250/1 250/4 and 250/7 variants Ausf. A

This is the third time we're covering the Sd.Kfz. 250. Warlord Games released a base kit and covers the variants with small, additional sprues, and while we had the /3 leichter Funkpanzerwagen and /10 leichter Schützenpanzerwagen (3.7 cm PaK), as well as the /9 leichter Schützenpanzerwagen (2 cm) and /11 leichter Schützenpanzerwagen (schwere Panzerbüchse 41) variant, today's review will be about the new Sd.Kfz. 250/4 leichten Truppenluftschutzpanzerwagen and /7 leichter Schützenpanzerwagen (schwerer Granatwerfer).

In 2022 Warlord Games released the base kit of the Sd.Kfz. 250/1, which was a reconnaissance and transport half-track. It was the shortened version of the Sd.Kfz. 251 Hanomag series and was built in various variants. With this format, the plastic kit has replaced several resin kits and combines them now in these boxes, which are available for single vehicles or platoons of 3. The RRP is 21 GBP for the single kit, or 55 GBP for the bundle covering three. There are even platoon kits with mixed additional sprues, so you can choose from these variants:

• Sd.Kfz 250/1 - the standard version of this armoured half-track. (Base sprue)
  
• Sd.Kfz 250/3 - command variant equipped with a radio aerial frame, famously used by Rommel as his personal command vehicle, Greif (Griffon).
• Sd.Kfz 250/4 - a prototype anti-aircraft variant, armed with twin-mounted MG34s, that never reached full production.
• Sd.Kfz 250/7 - a variant carrying an 8.1cm mortar for rapid re-deployment of infantry support weaponry.
• Sd.Kfz 250/9 - fully enclosed reconnaissance variant with a turret mounting a 2cm automatic cannon.
• Sd.Kfz 250/10 - platoon commander's half-track with the forward machine gun replaced by a 3.7cm PaK 35/36 anti-tank gun.
• Sd.Kfz 250/11 - platoon commander's half-track with the forward machine gun replaced by a 2.8cm Panzerbüchse 41 squeezebore anti-tank rifle with co-axial machine gun.

Includes one plastic Sd.Kfz 250 (Alte) half-track, Bolt Action stat cards, full-colour waterslide decal sheet, assembly & painting leaflet, and vehicle damage markers.

This is a UK produced plastic kit, we have the hard plastic bulky frames, as we know from the infantry kits. This is not an Italeri re-sized kit. Casting is proper, minor mould lines, which are due to the non-organic shapes easy to clean and the space within the frames was properly used.

Once again, these sprues cover different crews, with regular and winter uniform, so you can really use these from Northern Africa, over Europe towards Eastern Front or the Ardennes.

The first few steps are for all the variants the same. You begin with the main parts of the chassis which are larger single pieces and add smaller details. We begin as usual with the track section. The Sd.Kfz. 250 is a smaller variant of the Sd.Kfz. 251 and a half-track as well, with track sections in the back and regular wheels in the front.

We are going to build the Sd.Kfz. 250/7 variant, but unfortunately the instructions have some minor errors, but we will cover this in this review.

The first variation is step C, where you only add the bank and storage compartment for the base variant /1, and skip it for all the other ones. Yet, you don't add part 4 (the passenger seat) for the Sd.Kfz. 250/7 version, you add part #79 for this instead. Unfortunately, they tell you this in step D2, where you already assembled these.

Never the less, we build the base chassis until step H.

Now the smaller details and exterior parts are added to the kit. With the smaller pieces in step J, K and L, I suggest you put the plastic glue on a tile or palette and just dip the pieces you add into the glue instead of adding it to the surface, as they are rather delicate.

From here we start using parts from the Sd.Kfz. 250/7 sprue and as I pointed out above, we had to remove the passenger seat as the instructions were incorrect at that point.

The interior for the mortar vehicle is different, you add a second row of seats, along with jerry cans. They have a base for firing the mortar on the outside, which is added to the back. Similar to the 250/11, where you have the carriage for field-use as well.

The mortar is added and you can choose from regular / tropical uniform and winter uniform. As I intend to use this vehicle with my late war army along Western Europe, and mostly winter and spring of '44, I chose the winter uniform.

And the comparison next to the regular 250/1, with the 250/7 in the middle and the 251/1 Ausf. A on the right.

With the final set of pictures for the different angles.

Conclusion

The further replacement of resin kits and the proper use of plastics, in a way that scales is great to see. We now have a proper load of options and only a few variants are not offered, but to be honest are partially quickly build. For example, the Sd.Kfz. 250/2 and 250/5 could probably use the Recon bits from the 250/3 variant, 250/6 is an ammunition carrier, that could be easily recreated with the 250/1 and some stowage / boxes, 250/8 Kanonenwagen is available as a resin kit (or plastic set by Rubicon) and the 250/12 is pretty much identical to the 250/3.

The only thing that is really missing here, is a bit of stowage. The kits themself are very versatile, with some of the lists or themed armies you have space / need to add multiples, so variation is key. Yet, something like the stowage set by Rubicon would be an amazing addition. And among the three kits I build within a week, two had errors in their instructions. This is something that Warlord really has to keep an eye on, because as good as their customer service is, this is something rather annoying and with plastic kits not that easily fixed, once the plastic bonds.

In direct comparison, the RRP of these are higher compared to the prices by Rubicon. Yet, the availability is far better with Warlord and most FLGS will give you discount on the RRP, so this evens out more than easily.

With the Ausf. A being dominantly around until mid-1943, it is something mostly for early to mid-war projects. A good fit for the early to mid-Eastern campaigns, and absolutely along with the Sd.Kfz. 251 platoon bundle for North Africa.

Bolt Action is a brand of Warlord Games.

The reviewed product item was provided by the manufacturer.