German Wittmann’s Command Tiger I, Pz.Kpfw.VI Ausf.E (Dragon)

This is the Dragon 6730 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Wittmann’s Command Tiger I, Pz.Kpfw.VI Ausf.E’.

German Wittmann's Command Tiger I, Pz.Kpfw.VI Ausf.E

History

Hauptsturmführer Michael Wittmann was one of Germany’s highest-scoring tank aces of WWII, with the credited destruction of 138 tanks and 132 anti-tank guns.

He cut his teeth on the Eastern Front with a StuG.III, and later he took command of a Tiger I in time for combat during Operation Citadel at Kursk in July 1943.

Source: Dragon website

Manufacturer

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German Bergepanzer IV, Recovery Vehicle (Trumpeter)

This is the Trumpeter 00389 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Bergepanzer IV, Recovery Vehicle’.

German Bergepanzer IV, Recovery Vehicle

History

The Panzer IV was the workhorse of the German tank corps, being produced and used in all theatres of combat throughout the war. The design was upgraded repeatedly to deal with the increasing threats from enemy forces.

Bergepanzer IV : A recovery vehicle, essentially a turretless Panzer IV chassis fitted with a crane. In May 1944 Bergepanzer 36 stared being built.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

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German Panserkampfwagen IV, Ausf. E (Zvezda)

This is the Zvezda 3641 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Panserkampfwagen IV, Ausf. E’.

German Panserkampfwagen IV, Ausf. E

History

The Panzerkampfwagen IV (PzKpfw IV), commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a German medium tank developed in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz. 161.

The Panzer IV was the most widely manufactured German tank and the second-most widely manufactured German armored fighting vehicle of the Second World War, with some 8,500 built.

The Panzer IV chassis was used as the base for many other fighting vehicles, including the Sturmgeschütz IV assault gun, Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyer, the Wirbelwind self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, and the Brummbär self-propelled gun.

Source: Wikipedia

Manufacturer

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German Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. D (MiniArt)

This is the MiniArt 35169 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. D’.

German Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. D

History

Panzer III was the common name of a medium tank that was developed in the 1930s by Germany and was used extensively in World War II.

The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen III Sd.Kfz.141 (abbreviated Pz.Kpfw.III) translating as “armoured fighting vehicle”. It was intended to fight other armoured fighting vehicles and serve alongside the infantry support Panzer IV.

From 1942, the last version of Panzer III mounted the 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24, better suited for infantry support. Production of the Panzer III ended in 1943. However, the Panzer III’s capable chassis provided hulls for the Sturmgeschütz III assault gun until the end of the war.

Source: Wikipedia

Manufacturer

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German Super Heavy StuG E-100 (Trumpeter)

This is the Trumpeter 09542 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Super Heavy StuG E-100’.

German Super Heavy StuG E-100

History

What if Germany’s plans for a new series of tanks late in WWII had materialized?

The super heavy end of the Entwicklung (from German Entwicklung, “development”) E-series may have been represented by the E-100 tank chassis with ‘Maus’ type turret and two optional artillery guns, 15cm/L46 or 17cm PaK46.

Work on E-tanks was abandoned before the end of WWII.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

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German Flakpanzer IV, Wirbelwind (Tamiya)

This is the Tamiya 35 233-3000 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind’.

German Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind

History

The Flakpanzer IV “Wirbelwind” (Whirlwind in English) was a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the Panzer IV tank. It was developed in 1944 as a successor to the earlier self-propelled anti-aircraft gun Möbelwagen.

The Panzer IV’s turret was removed and replaced with an open-top, nine-sided turret that housed a quadruple 2 cm Flakvierling 38 L/112.5. A closed-top design would have been preferable, but this was not possible due to the heavy smoke generated by the four anti-aircraft guns. The shape of the turret earned it the nickname Keksdose (“Biscuit Tin”).

The combination of armor and rapid fire from the four guns of the Wirbelwind made it very effective against lightly armoured ground targets such as trucks and armored cars; infantry were particularly vulnerable.

Source: Wikipedia

Where I got it

German 88mm Gun FlaK 36/37 (Tamiya)

This is the Tamiya 35 017-2800 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German 88mm Gun FlaK 36/37’.

German 88mm Gun FlaK 36/37

History

The 88mm gun (commonly called the eighty-eight) was a German anti-aircraft and anti-tank artillery gun from World War II. It was widely used by Germany throughout the war, and was one of the most recognized German weapons of that conflict. Development of the original models led to a wide variety of guns.

The name applies to a series of guns, the first one officially called the 8.8cm FlaK 18, the improved 8.8cm FlaK 36, and later the 8.8cm FlaK 37. FlaK is a contraction of German Flugzeugabwehrkanone meaning “aircraft-defense cannon”, the original purpose of the eighty-eight. In English, “flak” became a generic term for ground anti-aircraft fire. In informal German use, the guns were universally known as the Acht-acht (“eight-eight”).

The versatile carriage allowed the eighty-eight to be fired in a limited anti-tank mode when still on its wheels; it could be completely emplaced in only two-and-a-half minutes. Its successful use as an improvised anti-tank gun led to the development of a tank gun based upon it. These related guns served as the main armament of tanks such as the Tiger I: the 8.8cm KwK 36, with the “KwK” abbreviation standing for Kampfwagenkanone (literally “battle vehicle cannon”, or “tank cannon”).

Source: Wikipedia

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German Sd.Kfz.186 Jagdtiger, detail set (Aber)

This is the Aber, photo etch sets for the ‘German Sd.Kfz.186 Panzerjäger (Jagdtiger)’ from Tamiya.

Detail set

Tamiya

(35 228) Basic 35 295 pdf
(35 229) Additional set, fenders 35 295 pdf
(35 A041) Side skirts pdf
(35 G06) Grilles 35 295 pdf
(35 G25) Grilles 35 295 pdf
(35 L084) PaK 44 L/55 128mm gun barrel 35 295 pdf

Source: Aber

German Sd.Kfz.186 Panzerjäger (Jagdtiger) (Early production) (Tamiya)

This is the Tamiya 35 295-5000 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Sd.Kfz.186 Panzerjäger (Jagdtiger) – Early production’.

German Sd.Kfz.186 Panzerjäger (Jagdtiger) - Early production

History

The Strongest, Last Tiger – The middle stages of WWII saw the production of the world’s heaviest and most powerful tank of its time, the Jagdtiger.

Featuring on the Jagdtiger was a long barreled 12.8cm gun which showed great offensive capabilities. While based on the King Tiger’s chassis, the newly designed Jagdtiger was approximately 30cm longer. Along with its new design, the large sized fixed fighting compartment was given a 250mm thick front defensive armament which was unique to this tank.

First appearing at the Ardennes offensive in December 1944, and Jagdtiger mostly fought against Allied forces in Western Germany from January 1945. Until the end of the war, the Jagdtiger continued to menace and ambush Allied forces and U.S Sherman tanks from distances of 3,000m or more.

Source: Tamiya website

Manufacturer

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German Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. D/Tauch (HobbyBoss)

This is the HobbyBoss 80132 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. D/Tauch’.

German Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. D/Tauch

History

For “Operation Sealion”, the planned invasion of Britain, the Commander of the Army originally requested 180 underwater tanks. On August 1, 1940 there were 90 Panzer III tanks with 3.7cm KwK guns, 10 Panzer III with 5cm KwK and 28 Panzer IV ready for service. In addition, twelve Sturmgeschutz were available.

On August 19, 1940 there were 152 Panzer III and 48 Panzer IV in all ready for the four special Panzer units. After “Operation Sealion” was given up, the vehicles divided among Eutin, Putlos, Bremen and Hamburg were almost all assigned to the 18th Panzer Division.

The Tauchpanzer IV D were converted for the underwater version. Additional sealing was provided for the engine air-intakes, and the exhaust was fitting with non-return valves in place of the normal mufflers. The mantlet and MG mountings were all covered with waterproof fabric. The driver’s visor was made watertight by special metal cover with a visor block. An inflatable rubber tube was also used to seal the turret ring.

Source: HobbyBoss website

Manufacturer

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