Special Hobby SA72005 1/72 SdKfz 250/1 Ausf.B (Neue Ausfuhrung)

The Sd.Kfz 250 was developed to the Wehrmacht requirements to increase the numbers of German half track vehicle units. To speed up the development, the chassis of already existing non-armoured Demag D7 (Sd.Kfz 10) vehicle was used for which the Bussing company designed a new armoured hexagon-shaped hull, consisting of armoured plates joined at rather significant angles. The first prototype vehicle was built in 1939 and after it succeeded in demanding tests, the production was launched in 1941. Large numbers of this vehicle were built during 1942 and also in early 1943, known as the Alte Ausfuhrung (literally the Old Version). In 1943 the Neue Ausfuhrung variety of the Sd.Kfz 250 begun to leave the production lines, differing by the hull shape. A total of almost 6000 of these first rate vehicles was built in several subtypes, fighting in the first lines until the end of the war. They could be found on the Eastern front as well as in the west with some of the vehicles also in Africa. In the post war years, the Sd.Kfz 250 saw service with a couple of armies, too, including that of Czechoslovakia.
Sd.Kfz 250 model kit offers nice levels of detail and the marking schemes cover three Wehrmacht vehicles wearing various camouflage patters.