The Airfix "German Armoured Car"   - nearly the SdKfz 234/4,   by Bill Hanna

The word that springs the mind of every enthusiast who looks at this kit is Why?   Why is it such a mix?  Many early plastic kits had problems, and some new ones do too, with much less excuse, but the error in this kit is bizarre.   It is meant to represent the SdKfz 234/4, the support version of the Puma series ordered in 1944 and armed with the 7.5cm Pak 40 gun.   The hull with its complex angles is very accurate, and the wheel and suspension assemblies, though fiddly, build up well.  To me it feels better than the Matchbox Puma, which is just slightly "under-fed".  A little more interior detail (or a well-placed crew) and perfhaps a beefier barrel and you should have a great model..... but....

the mudguards!    Aarrrggghhhhh

these bear no relation to the original.   There is nothing that can be done with them.  Perhaps those in the spares box may come in useful one day, but I doubt it somehow.  They must be replaced.  There are three options.  The correct parts may be scratch built, of course.  The Matchbox Puma mudguards may be used, but note that photographs show the 234/4 having later, cruder guards with fewer lockers and other differences.  Or the Matador kit KCG-08 may be used.  This gives the correct guards and the bonus of the secondary MG.  Converting the kit to the earlier 232 series is not a realistic option.  Nothing is quite the same, and you would only use the wheels.

As a further irony, Airfix  provide a crew of three, and when they came out they were about the best hard-plastic figures on the market.  They still are worth using, but they are wrong on this vehicle, as the uniforms are clearly earlier-war.

Verdict

The faults are fatal, but the kit is still worth buying.  The crew can apply for a transfer, and with a conversion kit or (if you have the plans) some hard work, you can build a very good model of an interesting vehicle for a competitive price

..... or perhaps introduce a younger member of your family to the joys of conversion.  With panels to widen it this makes a great fantasy armoured car, with a roomy crew compartment which they could load with those over-size figures... but you'll have to think big, an inch at least.  And some rambo orc or human  with an 80 inch chest can fire the 75mm from the hip!