German Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. J (Tamiya)

This is the Tamiya 35 181-3400 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. J’.

German Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. J

History

The Panzerkampfwagen IV was Germany’s most important tank during the second world war. It remained in mass production throughout the conflict, with more than 8,000 units being produced. This represented more than one-third of Germany’s total wartime tank production. It was the backbone of the Panzer Divisions and it was often referred to as their “Workhorse” The Pz.Kpfw.IV underwent constant improvement throughout its long career.

As an example, its original short-barreled 7.5cm main gun was replaced with the long barreled 7.5cm KwK40 L/43 gun beginning with the Ausf. F2 version. The further improved 7.5cm KwK40 L/48 was added to the Ausf. H onwards.In 1944 however, with the introduction of the new Panther and Tiger tanks, plus other tactical considerations, the Pz.Kpfw.IV began to serve mainly in a defensive capacity. A need was required to simplify construction and increase productivity, plus conserve scarce raw materials.

The last of the series, the Ausf. J thus had a much simpler construction, and an extra fuel tank replaced the auxiliary engine/generator. This greatly increased its range from 210km to 320km and was welcomed by the German troops, as they were having difficult with their supply, but it was attained at the expense of electric power for the turret traversing motor. The thin steel plates known as Schurzen (skirts), first introduced with the Ausf. G, were sometimes replaced with heavy gauge wire mesh, or not even used at all.

Source: Tamiya website

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German 20mm Flakvierling 38 (Tamiya)

This is the Tamiya 35 091-1000 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German 20mm Flakvierling 38’.

German 20mm Flakvierling 38

History

Shooting an impressive 600 rounds per minute and greatly feared by Allied pilots was the German 20mm Flakvierling 38 with Sd.Ah.52.

Although its purpose was to provide aerial defense against Allied aircraft attack from a grounded position, it was also seen used with trucks and other land vehicles as well on warships.

Source: Tamiya website

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German Hanomag Sd.kfz.251/1 (Tamiya)

This is the Tamiya 35020 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Hanomag Sd.kfz 251/1’.

German Hanomag Sd.kfz 251/1

History

In 1938, the German Army decided to develop an armoured personnel carrier on the basis of the 3-ton half track (HL-KL-9p). Hanomag Hannoversch Machinenbau (AG) in Hannover was ordered to develop the running gear and Bussing-NAG in Berlin was to develop the superstructure to be armoured.

Design work was hastened on the model of existing armoured cars and a prototype was completed at the end of 1938. The Germans tested the prototype in the Kumahsdorf Proving Ground and accepted it for mass production. Thus was born the Armoured Personnel Carrier Hanomag Sdkfz 251/1 which, we may safely say, was a synonym for the German mechanized corps that showed activity in all battlefields throughout the war.

Source: Tamiya website

Manufacturer

Russian Light Tank, T-50AA (Mirage)

This is the Mirage Hobby 35106 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘Russian Light Tank, T-50AA’.

Russian Light Tank, T-50AA

History

The design referred to the T-34. Based on the prototype of the series production started in Leningrad. In April 1941, the vehicle has been adopted to equip the Red Army. Tanks took part in the battles on the Karelian Isthmus.
Source: Trumpeter website

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German Sd.Kfz.7 KM m 11 Mittlere Zugkraftwagen 8t (Late version) (Trumpeter)

This is the Trumpeter 01507 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Sd.Kfz.7 KM m 11 Mittlere Zugkraftwagen 8t – Late version’.

German Sd.Kfz.7 KM m 11 Mittlere Zugkraftwagen 8t - Late version

History

Starting in 1942, the 5-ton Zugkrafywagen was superseded by the 8-ton Zugkrafywagen as the selfpropelled mount for the 3.7cm FlaK. The 3.7 cm FlaK 36 was replaced by the 3.7 cm FlaK toward the end of 1944.

Starting in 1943, an armor radiator shield and crew cab were introduced as protection against shell fragments and small-arms fire.

Production of the Sd.Kfz.7/2 began in 1942, and continued to the end of the war, with about 1000 produced by the end of January 1945. Initially, there were nine Sd.Kfz.7/2 in each FlaK-Kompanie or Batterie; increased to 12 in October 1943.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

German Flakpanzer Gepard (Tamiya)

This is the Tamiya 35 099-2500 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Flakpanzer Gepard’.

German Flakpanzer Gepard

History

The Basis of the Gepard weapon system is the remarkable Oerlikon-Contraves 35mm which was developed and put into production in the early 1960’s. During the 1960’s, two prototypes were produced.

The Oerlikon, which was chosen for production, became the Flakpanzer Gepard, which was essentially a standard Leopard with the ordinary turret replaced by the Oerlikon-Contraves twin 35/90mm AA turret and associated auxiliary equipment.

Source: Tamiya website

Manufacturer

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German Mörser Karl-Gerät on railway transport carrier (Initial version) (Trumpeter)

This is the Trumpeter 00208 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Mörser Karl-Gerat 040/041 on railway transport carrier – Initial version’.

German Mörser Karl-Gerat 040/041 on railway transport carrier - Initial version

History

The self-propelled version of the 60cm siege mortar was ordered in June 1937. General Karl Becker of the Artillery was involved in the development; hence the name Karl was used to describe the gun. The driving trials were held at Unterlüss in May 1940. Delivery of the six production vehicles took place from November 1940 to August 1941. In February 1941, discussions commenced. Concerning increasing the range of the weapon, and in May 1942, 54cm barrels (Gerät 041) were ordered for the six vehicles.

At a conference with Hitler in March 1943, it was stated that the first 54cm Gerät 041 would be delivered by June 1943, and the third, by mid-August. The 60cm and 54cm barrels appear to have been interchanged as required. In 1945, US forces captured vehicle II with a 60cm, and vehicle V with a 54cm. The prototype chassis, built in 1939, had eight road wheels with external swing arms. Production Karl had eleven road wheels.

Ammunition was transported in a tracked Munitionsschlepper converted from the PzKpfw IV, four rounds in each Schlepper. For the 60cm Gerät 040, the s Be Granate weighed 2.117 tons and the Ie Be Granate, 1.70 tons; in this case of the 54cm Gerät 041, 1.58 tons and 1.25 tons respectively. Maximum rate of the fire was 6 rph (rounds per hour). Guns I-IV went to the Russian Front in July 1941 with the 628th schwere Artillerie Abteilung. They saw action at various sites, including Lemburg in that year.

The best known action was against Sevastopol in 1942. Later, four guns were issued to the 833rd schwere Artillerie Abteilung (mot). These guns had the names Adam, Eve (1st Batt.) and Thor, Odin (2nd Batt.) The names for guns V and VI were Loki and Ziu.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

German Panzerkampfwagen, KV-1 756(r) (Trumpeter)

This is the Trumpeter 00366 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Panzerkampfwagen, KV-1 756(r)’.

German Panzerkampfwagen, KV-1 756(r)

History

Not enough problem in ability in protection in armor that aim at the KV-1 1941 type, design the personnel proceeded a series enhance the work of the armor, turret of the KV-1 improving behind comes to an about 75mm of thicknesses.

Form the KV-1 shown at the bottom of the lefthand page there arose this KV-1 with a German 7.5cm L/43 cannon and German commander’s cupola. The armour was sprayed with German camouflage paint.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

Russian Heavy Tank, KV-2 (Zvezda)

This is the Zvezda 3608 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘Russian Heavy Tank, KV-2’.

Russian Heavy Tank, KV-2

History

76-mm tank gun L-11, mounted on KV, didn’t prove to be sufficiently powerful to fight Pillboxes and other fortifications. A new KV-2 tank, fitted with the M-10 152-mm howitzer in the turret, was designed for the destruction of defensive military fortifi cations.

The production of the KV-2s started in 1940 and soon after the start of WWII in Russia the production of the vehicles was phased out as this single-purpose tank was an exorbitant luxury in the severe conditions of the initial period of the war.

Source: Zvezda website

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