DRAGON-ERTL/ESCI's 1/9th
Sd.Kfz. 2 KLEINES KETTENKRAD
WITH GEBIRGSJAGER

By Ray Mehlberger

MSRP: $80.00
GREATMODELS PRICE: Just under $60.00

HISTORY

This small 'motorcycle tractor' (as it was known to the Germans) was developed by NSU mainly as an air-portable tractor to tow light guns of the paratroop (Fallshirmjager) and airborne units. I have also seen pictures of it being used by the Luftwaffe ground crews to tow aircraft around the fields. It entered service in June 1941 and from then on served mainly as a supply vehicle for troops operating in rough terrain. It was successful in this role, but its limited payload led to the design of a later, slightly larger HK-102 version which was to carry five troops and be powered by a 2 litre 65 HP engine.

TECHNICAL DATA: This version built from 1941 till 1944.

Designation: NSU Sd.Kfz. 2 HK-101
Crew: 3 (driver and 2 passengers)
Length: 9' 0" (274cm)
Width: 3' 3" (100cm)
Height: 3' 4" (101cm)
Weight: 1.2 tons
Speed: 49.7mph (80km/ph)
Towing Capacity: 0.45 tons
Fuel Capacity: 8.4 Imp Gals (38 litres)
Track on Ground: 2' 6" (76cm)
Range: Unknown
Engine: Opel Olympia 38, 4 cyl. Water-cooled petrol, 1.5 litre of 36 HP.
Gearbox: Sliding mesh 3 forward and one reverse speed x 2 speed transfer box.
Suspension: Wheel-motorcycle girder fork and tracks-torsion bar.

What is in the box:

First, I have to say that this is one HUGE box!!! It is also a re-release, under the DML label, of the old Esci kit no. 7005. I have the original kit, from 25-30 years ago, and that box is about 1/3rd larger than DML's. The other noticable difference in the two kits is that Esci molded their's in three colors of plastic: earth yellow for the main vehicle parts, silver plastic for the engine parts, and a steel colored plastic for the individual track links. DML has molded their's all in light gray for these parts. Also, I could not help but notice that some flash, a little warpage, and mold misalignment has crept into the newer kit. Nothing to get too upset about - but will need some attention. The decal sheet is identical, except that DML does not include the helmet decals that Esci did in the original kit. The big PLUS in the new kit is the new vinyl figure of a Gebirgsjager (Mountain Soldier) that DML has added.

DML's kit contains nine very large gray plastic trees of parts, one tree of black rubber parts, one tree of clear lenses, a bag full of metal springs and a coil of electrical wire, a vinyl front tire, and the decals.

The first tree contains parts numbers 1-6, which are the sides, floor, and hatches for the passenger area.

Tree two is parts numbers 7-18 in black rubber for the driver's seat pad, seat cushions for the passenger area, mud flaps, and equipment straps for the machine pistol and helmets. There are 18 parts on this tree because of duplication of some part numbers.

Tree three contains parts numbers 19-26 which are the road wheels and drive sprockets. There are 24 parts on this tree - again because of duplications.

Trees 4-5 are identical and hold parts numbers 27-28 which are the individual track links and their separate rubber pads. There are 84 total parts here with duplications of part numbers again.

Tree six is the front motorcycle wheel, front fork, head light housing etc. These are part numbers 29-76 with 79 total parts on the tree. Some duplication of part numbers here too. Tree seven is the engine and transmission parts. Parts numbers 77-151. 88 parts total with some duplications. Tree eight is the suspension arms and some more body parts. Parts numbers 152-181. A total of 66 parts on this tree.

Tree nine is the pioneer gear: helmets, helmet liners, shovel, tools, axe, machine pistol, and other assorted parts. Parts numbers 182-254 Total of 86 parts on this tree.

A small bag of hardware is also included in the kit, consisting of springs for the suspension, springs for the front motorcycle fork, springs for the driver's seat, and a square of nylon mesh for the air intake grill to the engine compartment

Finally, a clear tree holds parts numbers 255-262, which are light lens parts.

The decal sheet contains markings for infantry, panzer, fallshirmjager, and one Gebirgsjager unit (the 7th freiwilligen Gebirgsjager Divn. 'Prinz Eugen') plus the NSU logo, license plate numbers, and meter dial faces.

Then we have the icing on the cake - the Gebirgsjager figure!! He is molded in light gray hard vinyl and consists of seven pieces. His torso and head are in one piece, a peaked hat with Edelwiess insignia molded into the side of it, two arms are separate, his hips and legs is another piece, and his hob nailed climbing boots make up the two last pieces. He is wearing a waterproof parka - that is a pull over type with a hood and is reversable to white for winter operation. I found an error on his hat. It is supposed to have two buttons holding the flap over the bill and not the large one button that DML has molded on it. The box art and the instructions show it drawn correctly with the two buttons and all my reference book photos show two buttons on it too - You will have to shave off the one button and replace it with two for accuracy. The bottom of his torso has a round hole where a knob, molded into the top of his hip and leg piece is supposed to pop into - I think that this will have to be softened in hot water to get it to pop in the hole, as I tried to do it cold and it will not go.

Esci had a number of these 1/9th scale military kits on the market years ago. They were:

Kit no. 7001 A B.M.W. R75 motorcycle with sidecar.
Kit no. 7002 A Harley-Davidson WLA-45 solo motorcycle
Kit no. 7003 A Zundapp KS750 motorcycle with sidecar (Note: Ertl re-issued this kit last summer as a Blueprinter Exclusive limited run)
Kit no. 7004 A British Triumph 3HW solo motorcycle
Kit no. 7006 The Zundapp KS750 solo (Note: DML offers this kit with a Fallshirmjager vynl figure as kit no. 1802)
Kit no. 7007 This kit number was strangely never used by ESCI. (at least to my knowledge)
Kit no. 7008 The B.M.W. R75 as a solo. (Note: this kit is again available from DML as their kit no. 1801 and includes a new Feldgendarme (military policeman) vinyl figure.
Kit no. 7009 A V.W. Typ. 82 Kubelwagen

Some of these kits were also done in civilian garb too by Esci. DML is scheduled to do a kit no. 1803 in the future. It is to be a standing vinyl figure of a Fallshirmjager. I don't know if the Harley, the Triuimph, or the Kubelwagen molds are also in the hands of DML now, with plans for them to release them or not. But these big kits are very impressive out of the box and are museum pieces for all the working features on them and the detail.

Look for a build review of the Kettenkrad in a future issue of the magazine. I highly recommend this series of 1/9th scale kits for the more advanced modeler. But beware! They are shelf eaters!!

I want to thank Greatmodels store for this review sample.