Need help putting the Dragon Sd.Kfz.251 Hanomag together

On Dragons half tracks, I am having issues getting the sides to fit to the floor and the rear to fit once that is accomplished. In short a Hanomag I am building isn’t coming together and I am looking for some suggestions on how to line up the parts. I would appreciate any input. thanks Dan

Can you post some pics to illustrate your issues?

The hanomag can be difficult. When I did mine I very lightly tacked one side and then built-up the other 3 sides to see how they would fit and then worked from that.

I could see clearly what adjustments had to be made, which was very little,HTH…cheers…Kenny

Just a little nit pick fact: the vehicle is NOT called the Hanomag. Hanomag was one of six manufacturers of the SdKfz 251. Tamiya back in the early 70s labeled their Sdkfz 251 as a “Hanomag” and the label has stuck ever since.

It’d be the same as saying the M4A4 Sherman was the Chrysler Medium tank.

I might take some photos where the top doesn’t want to match. I forced the sides to match the back and front. doing that created a gap between the floor and the back.

Good to know Roy. I will be thinking of that while I am still trying to get the thing together

I recall Terry over at PMMS having to deal with some of the 251 hull issues. Maybe go through his build reviews?

www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/…/251.htm

Thank you Roy, I have read his reviews and have gone back to read them again. Bill Plunk wrote about not gluing the floor until ready to attach the sides in his words to make certain they play well together:)

i hope to do better at my next kit.

The floor is probably the source of your issues…the way DML designed the parts means there’s some room for the floor plate to shift on the little mount tabs they sit on and if they are off just a little bit to either side, then the angled sides don’t line up correctly which also causes issues with fitting the upper hull together. If that is indeed the cause of your problems then there isn’t much that can be done about it short of deconstructing the hull and repositioning the floor plate in the correct spot. [:(]

Thanks for the tip Bill, at this point it would take quit a few rubber bands for the top. Maybe this will be good for a diorama where a halftrack is upside down in really deep snow!

Could be the perfect excuse to turn it into a wreck! [:)]

Yes, and there will be a Tamiya kit driving by the scene lol