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Sd.Kfz. 234/2 Puma by Gary Zuercher
The Puma must be one of the least documented WWII German vehicles. It is true that only about a hundred were produced, but with that menacing 50mm cannon and the prototypical 8-wheel chassis, one would think that more present day documentation would be available. Fortunately there is an excellent kit in the 1/35th scale Italeri series that has been around for quite a while now and this is still the only offering available.
I could find only 3 documented unit codes - the well-known Britsh captured vehicle Red "1111", Red "415" and Black "028". I chose to do Red "11" that I found in a book from the Czech Republic, perhaps fictitious, but at least different.
I chose to add portions of the Aber photoetch set and the Royal Models resin and photoetch set that includes an excellent resin crewman. The Aber rear deck grill cover is not for the feint of heart. It took me two attempts to get it all on there. The result is worth the effort though, as it provides a much more in-scale petite look.
I was unable to locate either the Elephant white metal smoke dischargers or the Royal resin wheel set, both of which I wanted to use. All molded-on bolts were removed and new ones were added from thin styrene sheet with a punch and die set. The pioneer tools and MG 34 are from the Tamiya Panzer accessories set and the antennas are from the easy to cut Minimeca range of metal tubing and wire. The barrel and muzzle brake were replaced with the Jordi Rubio turned aluminum offering.
Tamiya paints were used for the 3-color late 1944 camouflage and the national markings were airbrushed utilizing Eduard pre-cut masks.
The kit decals went on nicely over a coat of Future and the weathering was done with oil paint and artist's pastels.
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Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2001 by Gary
Zuercher
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