Bolt Action – SdKfz 251/16 Ausf. D Flammpanzerwagen

Based upon the SdKfz 251/1 Ausf. D Hanomag, Warlord Games added a "few" parts and released a complete plastic kit of the 251/16 Ausf. D Flammpanzerwagen.

The SdKfz 251/16, or mittlerer Flammpanzerwagen (armed with two 1,4-cm-Flame projectors 42), was build upon Ausf. D. This variant of the Hanomag was issued to the Panzergrenadiers and puts a lot more danger towards the enemy, than just the regular armoured personnel carrier.

For a 3 pound upgrade, you receive an additional sprue that is shown further below, otherwise (beside the modified instructions) the kits is identical to the 251/1 Ausf. D Hanomag.

Inside the box you'll find three sprues, an instruction leaflet and a small decal sheet.

Casting is clean and crisp, as you are used by the Warlord Games kits. The additional sprue covers two crew men in protective clothing, the flame throwers and the fuel tanks for the kit.

And of course the two sprues of the Hanomag.

Building starts with the lower chassis, glueing the tracks and assembling the front axle. This is the same as the regular kit.

Next up, the lower hull is assembled. The pumps, tank and seats are glued in place, make sure you do a dry run as the instruction is not the best on these parts and there are no guiding rabbets. Assembling the tubes is easy, but could be more stable.

Next is the "marriage" of the three main parts, lower chassis, lower hull and upper hull. It is a good fit so far, but it might be easier to paint, to glue some interieur later on.

The final stages of assembly is the crew along with the flame projectors. The tubes are a bit difficult to glue as the ball joints are quite loose, again it might be useful to not glue them right away and wait for it after painting.

Completely built with the crew onboard from different angles, that is what the Flammpanzerwagen looks like.

Conclusion
First of all, i like that they use an already available plastic kit and add parts to it for another, new kit instead of implementing it as a resin kit. And this is completely plastic, it is even easier to build than the Pionierwagen or SdKfz 251/10 with resin and metal parts.

20 Pound is a fair price, and is 3 pound more for an additional sprue of content. The quality of the cast and details is satisfying, but of course has the limitation of plastic. Otherwise i am looking forward to see more kits like this, maybe a kombi kit for 251/9 and 251/10 or one for 251/18 til 20.

Bolt Action is a brand of Warlord Games.