Aftemarket for Tamiya 1/35 Sdkfz 251/9?

[charleygnarlyp290]

Howdy all.
I have a question about aftermarket stuff for a Tamiya 1/35 Sdkfz 251/9 Ausf D. I have tracks lined up ,but don't know what to get to improve the detail of the kit. The only thing I can find specifically for this vehicle is a Verlinden set that has some photo etch and stowage type stuff. Other than that all I can find for Tamiya kits are other versions, i.e., 251/1, 251/7 and what not.
So my questions are these: anybody have experience with the Verlinden set? and; will the other version stuff work for a 251/9 as long as it is the Ausf D?
My knowledge of these vehicles is severely limited, so any help would be appreciated.

[panzerjager2]

IF I understand your question correctly, "Is the Verlinden sdkfz 251-09 a good fit with the Tamiya 251-D kit? Well the answer isn't an easy one. Verlindens detail set had some really good features..... However to actually get everything to fit was a nightmare. Now granted, this all came out in the early to mid 90's. I'll say my skills and ability to use the Verlinden PE stuff wasn't great. Plus I really hate PE stuff, but i digress...... I personally hated the fit on the resin tarp piece, and if memory serves there wasn't any underside detail to it. All the other resin parts were typical Verlinden, good but overpriced and really just fluff. (so says one man and his opinion.
Now additionally, again if memory serves, the version Tamiya produced was the late variant of the 251-09. The high top version,(see pictures) was the more numerous and pretty easy to replicate with or without PE. The stand up ammo box is actually quite easy to scratch either open door or closed. 


My two cents worth says....."if you can find the Verlinden set at a cheap price SNATCH it up and use it for a rough template. You may even find you like the PE that comes with it.

[panzerjager2]

Sorry I forgot some details to your question..........  The Sdkfz 251-09 was a hybrid vehicle. The initial variants used parts and the main gun from older Stug III's that had been upgraded. Now since this upgrading of Stug's was done at the factory refurbishing levels, (meaning not at the production plants, but at other sub-contractor selected sites elsewhere), the subsequent early modifications  to the 251's were NOT done at the primary Hanomag production facilities. Roughly translated, there were a host of differences in details depending on the location. To give a better, or hopefully clearer example.... The BergePanther, my current project was not just produced by M.A.N. It was produced by Daimler Benz, Henschel, Demag, Umbau Sielbert and a rare-ified few from Porsche. And no two of the same vehicle were the same. Some had a winch, some didn't, some had a spade, others didn't. Even the tool hose set up were different even between the same manufacturers production. The bottom line for German war time production was....Produce actual vehicles, regardless. The needed the numbers, Too this end, I think I even read that the first 251-09's didn't even have that ammo locker. it was all stacked wooden boxes.

Bottom line after 40 years of detailed study of German Armour is................ Sky's the limit. This is a great vehicle to scratch and detail up. For further reading or great pictures, is Chamberlins German Tanks of WWII. Should be able to find it cheap at amazon

[charleygnarlyp290]

Thanks for the response Panzerjager2. I think I may go for the Verlinden set for the photo etch for now, and use the stowage stuff for later projects. I am doing this particular vehicle as a captured vehicle from an actual photo, but the interior is not visible, so as you said "the sky's the limit!" I just was to detail it a bit for the practice and to add visual interest.