My holiday build for 2020............ I had this kit for some time now and also collected pieces so that I can switch between SdKfz 234 2/3/4 versions. This PUMA kit has all the factory upgrades including metal ball bearings and drive shafts, as well as OEM 540 motor, servo and turret rotation kit. The OEM SdKfz 234/3 conversion kit has its own turret and 75mm Kwk37 main gun, and the DIY SdKfz 234/4 version will use the C21 75mm Pak40 as a main gun instead of the 75mm Kwk37 from the 234/3. It will be driven by a Clark Tk-60 PUMA board. Hopefully it will be able to deal with 8 wheel steering.........  :-)

Cool

Very cool

Very impressed with the instructions. Parts Bag correspond to steps in the instruction ! What a revelation and maybe something Tamiya can look into.........

The build hit a snag........ 4 trasnfer case, 8 couplings, 4 axles, 4 bevel gears...... Wait ! Only 3 bevel gear and one regular gear......... So much for the holiday build. I guess they do great instructions matching the parts bags, but not so good at packing the parts bag. Ordered replacement online but will soldier on with the build. Will have to pick one that will have no power transfer to it for the time being. Thinking of the 2nd set from the front. So it will be a 8x6 for the time being instead of 8x8. Like this.......... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight-wheel_drive#/media/File:DAF_YP_408_UNIFIL.jpg

Just some quick pictorial updates. 8 independent suspension with 4 transfer case.

More pics. DIY recoil off the elevation arm, Jarlath's TBU mount, on/off switch and also opening for snaking the IR unit to the top of the turret. Will use a magnet for mount it when battling otherwise hides in the other hatch opening.

SdkFz 234/3 turret mount and gun. If I were to permanently make it it 234/3 I would have kept the bottom and also open up the upper but since it is to 2 1/2 duty (more on that later) I cut the bottom off and will have to figure out a way to make it it on the upper (probably magnet). The gun is purely decorative will not have any RC functions.

Primed versions. I know, SdKfz 234/4's 75mm doesn't sit like that on the upper like a straight swap with the short barrel 75mm (It is recessed into the opening of the front of the upper) but since I am not destroying the upper for different versions this is how it is going to be, so let's call it SdKfz 234 2/3/3.5 and not 4.

Don't ask about the hub caps. Will have to get one of the 3D guru to print me some replacement as half of them broke when I try to pop them off the rim.

Awesome

Very cool, that's a nice solid look. 

Don't worry about the transfer cases. Volkswagens are used to that...

I am happy to report that the bevel gear showed up and it is now an 8 wheel drive ! Replaced the OEM metal servo with a regular HiTec 311 and the all wheel steering is operational as well.

How fast do you think this could be? I imagine it'd also run fairly quiet. Nice

Neither fast nor quiet funny enough. I guess there is a lot of friction to drive 8 wheels, and the gearboxes are open top and bottom. It is pretty cool though with the 8 wheel steering I have to say.

I do want to see that thing when we are next at a battleday. Dunno if I like the metal hull quality, but the rest looks like fun to me...