Sdkfz. 7 Kit Question

[Geek44]

Just a quick brain-picking session. I was shopping for kits a few days ago and came away empty handed. I did however see a Tamiya Sdkfz. 7 (if indeed that's the thing...it's the 'Famo' halftrack). It's only the tractor without the trailer and it was $135.00 Aussie. Anyone know anything about this kit? It looks pretty new to me. Thanks.

[Tom Houlihan]

The FAMO track is larger than the SdKfz 7, isn't it? I thought they were two different vehicles?

I found it! The FAMO was the SdKfz 9, with a load capacity of 18 tons. The SdKfz 7 had a load capacity of 8.6 tons!

The FAMO kit is going to be rather more expensive than the SdKfz 7. It's a more detailed kit, and a bigger vehicle.

Check this out, Nick:
1/35 German 18 Ton Heavy Half-Track Famo and Tank Transporter Sd.Ah.116

[Jim O]

To follow up on Tom's post, here are some photos of the two halftracks:

sdkfz-7.jpg
An 8 ton SdKfz 7 leading a convoy of Opel tucks heading toward Kovel. In this case it is compacting the mud to help the trucks pass. It also was used to pull these lighter trucks out of the mud.


famo.jpg
This is a FAMO, or SdKfz 9. It also came as the 9/1 with the 6 ton crane, and the 9/2 with the 10 ton rotary crane.

[McCoy]

If you wanna build the Sd.Kfz. 7 you shouldn't get the Tamiya as it's a bit long in it's tooth by now n' I think that both AFV Club n' Dragon has one in their pipline due to be released durin' the year.

[Panzermacher]

Wondering if that's the "Old" SdKfz 7 from the 70's. Wasn't a bad kit then, but now.......

[McCoy]

Yes, it's that kit as Tamiya haven't done anything with it...

[Geek44]

Thanks guys...great info. Just shows how much I know...I didn't even know there was a difference between the Sdkfz. 7 and the nine. Perhaps I'll wait and see what Dragon has to offer in the future.
Peace.

[McCoy]

Do so mate! You know that I pick a Dragon kit over a Tamiya kit any day regardless of the age on the Tamiya as long as the Dragon kit ain't older than ten years 'cos the it's the other way 'round.

[Geek44]

Originally Posted by McCoy

Do so mate! You know that I pick a Dragon kit over a Tamiya kit any day regardless of the age on the Tamiya as long as the Dragon kit ain't older than ten years 'cos the it's the other way 'round.

That's my philosophy too. Dragon have so many kits available these days and I think they've really set the bench mark for modern armour kits. They're aslo often cheaper which baffles me.