Sd.Kfz. 234/2 “Puma” heavy Armoured Car
Matchbox 1:76 Scale Vehicle Review
The Matchbox 1:76 scale “Puma” heavy armoured car is easy to built and it can be painted in a variety of Wehrmacht camouflage patterns of RAL 6003 »Olive Green« and/or RAL 8017 »Red Brown« disruptive stripes over a »Dark Yellow 2« base colour.
Contents
- Sd.Kfz. 234/2 “Puma” heavy Armoured Car
- Officer with Field Cap
- Officer/NCO with Binoculars
- Soldier with MP 40 Submachine Gun
- Diorama Base: Asphalt Road with Footpath and Street Lamp
- Decals
- Pz.Div., Caen 1944
- 11. Frw. Pz.Gren.Div., Eastern Germany 1945
Evaluation
Excellent choice of subject, the “Puma” is a very attractive and versatile model.
Scale model with much raised detail and external stowage.
Few parts, easy to assemble.
Choice of open or closed turret hatches.
High quality kit. Parts fit very well and there is minimal flash.
The vehicle lighting consists of two Panzerscheinwerfers, but there is no Notek Abstandsrücklicht blackout taillight, and no Bremsschlussleuchte brake-taillight.
The rack-jack on the left fender looks more like a drainpipe; moreover, the square support block for the jack is missing.
Compatible with Airfix, Fujimi, Nitto, and VAC-U-CAST.
License plate decals have been rendered politically correct, as required by German law.
Approximately 5 % smaller than the 1:72 scale figure standard. Not a problem in this case, the Matchbox Puma is the only one on the market and it is compatible with Sd.Kfz. 222 and Sd.Kfz. 234/4 produced by Airfix.
Possible Conversions
- Sd.Kfz. 234/1 schwerer Panzerspähwagen with 2 cm L.55, open turret, 06/44
- Sd.Kfz. 234/3 schwerer Panzerspähwagen with 7.5 cm L.24, 06/44
- Sd.Kfz. 234/4 s.Pz.Spähwg. (Pakwagen) with 7.5 cm PaK 40, open-topped, 01/45
The Matchbox Sd.Kfz. 234/2 “Puma” is an attractive model which fits well into the range of existing armoured reconnaissance vehicles produced by Airfix. The distinctive 8-wheeled chassis was introduced with the Sd.Kfz. 231 series of armoured cars, it combined excellent cross-country mobility and speed. The Matchbox Puma may be used to raise heavy armoured car companies for simulation gaming after October 1943. A multi-purpose kit featuring all three turret variants of the 234/1 to 234/3 series would have allowed the formation of entire reconnaissance battalions, at relatively little additional cost per unit. Perhaps, a conversion specialist like VAC-U-CAST may be able to supply the required turrets some day.