Building the Sd.Kfz. 234/2 Puma

The Puma has always been a model which I wanted to build. I have had the Italeri kit in my stash for years, but for one reason or other I never got round to building it. Enter the Dragon. Dragon has been releasing some very good models during the last few years, and a good proportion of those are not the ‘evergreen’ Tigers or Panthers.
Recently their efforts have given an expectant audience at last a Sd.Kfz. 234/1 and 234/2 worthy of the 21st century. Whilst this kit is not in the ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ league, Dragon have created a kit that doesn’t need acres of Photo-etch, Aluminium barrels or 800+ parts (No individual track-links..). Using the latest in moulding techniques, this kit goes together accurately and easy, straight from the box, and makes a refreshing change.

I am the first to admit that my knowledge of the Puma is limited to knowing that it has eight wheels and can drive both ways. For this reason I’ll concentrate in this article purely on building the kit, leaving any nit-picking and rivet counting to the experts out there. Comparing the model to photo references which I have shows it to be accurate enough to me. Besides, with both Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson as technical consultants, I don’t think there’ll be any great inaccuracies with the kit.

First Impressions

Opening the box for the first time is always an exciting experience, and especially when opening a Dragon kit. Unlike many of their recent releases this one does not come with an extensive Photo-etch set or aluminium barrel, and to be honest I don’t think this is a bad thing. The inclusion of all these extra goodies almost makes using them obligatory, turning the build into a chore, and they are not always an improvement on the kit parts. The barrel for the Panzer IV or 88mm Flak springs to mind, where the plastic barrel has the correct rifling inside, and the aluminium barrel has not.

For a complete review of the kit I refer you to Teacher’s excellent First Look review, Sd.Kfz. 234/2 Puma.

There is not much more I could add, other than confirming his views. I did come across one or two issues along the way, more of which later. The most important test for me for any kit is the ‘must build right now’ factor. Does the presentation of the kit, the ‘feel’ of the plastic, the detail etc make you want to start right here and now? This kit does that, and so that’s what I did.