Category Archives: Kits, Missing

JGSDF Type 90 Tank (Tamiya)

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This is the Tamiya 35 208 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘JGSDF Type 90 Tank’.

JGSDF Type 90 Tank

History

The Type 90 tank is the current main battle tank (MBT) of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). It is built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and was designed as a replacement for all deployed Type 61s and a portion of their Type 74 tanks, and entered service in 1990. It is slated to be complemented by the Type 10.

The Type 90 mounts a licensed copy of the German Rheinmetall L44 120mm smoothbore cannon product by Japan Steel Works Limited. This is the same gun that is mounted on the German Leopard 2, American Abrams, and the South Korean K1A1 tanks. The gun is armed and loaded through a mechanical bustle autoloader (conveyor-belt type), developed by Mitsubishi of Japan.

The Type 90 tank is the first western tank to achieve manpower savings by reducing the crew to three through the development of the turret bustle autoloader (with the exception of the turretless Strv 103). This design allows the tank crew to operate without a loader, which allows the use of a smaller turret.

Source: Wikipedia

Manufacturer

JGSDF Type 74 Tank, Winter version (Tamiya)

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This is the Tamiya 35 168 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘JGSDF Type 74 Tank, Winter version’.

JGSDF Type 74 Tank, Winter version

History

The Type 74 is a main battle tank (MBT) of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). It was built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a replacement for the earlier Type 61.

It was based on the best features of a number of contemporary designs, placing it in the same class as the US M60 Patton or German Leopard 1. Like these designs, it mounts the M68 105mm gun.

The design did not enter widespread use until 1980, by which point other western forces were starting the introduction of much more capable designs.

Source: Wikipedia

Manufacturer

German RSO/01 Type 470 (Dragon)

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This is the Dragon 6691 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German RSO/01 Type 470’.

German RSO/01 Type 470

History

The acronym RSO stands for Raupenschlepper Ost, which translates as ‘Caterpillar Tractor East’. The terrible muddy and icy conditions experienced on the Eastern Front convinced Germany of the need for a highly mobile, tracked vehicle.

Steyr proposed the RSO and it immediately became a popular vehicle thanks to its mobility and reliability. In all, about 23,000 RSO vehicles were produced by a range of manufacturers.

The original version had a pressed-steel cab and a typical truck-style cargo bed at the rear. It was powered by a Steyr 85hp V8 engine that offered a top speed of 30km/h. This kit depicts the standard RSO/01, the type with rounded steel cab being the best known of all the versions used by Germany.

Source: Dragon Models website

Manufacturer

German 3.7cm FlaK 37 auf Selbstfahrlafette (Early version) (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 01525 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German 3.7cm FlaK 37 auf Selbstfahrlafette – Early version’.

German 3.7cm FlaK 37 auf Selbstfahrlafette - Early version

History

Starting in 1942, the 5-ton Zugkraftwagen was superseded by the 8-ton Zugkraftwagen as the selfpropelled mount for the 3.7cm FlaK. The 3.7cm FlaK 36 was replaced by the 3.7cm 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 3.7cm FlaK 37 auf Selbstfahrlafette (Late version) (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 01526 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German 3.7cm FlaK 37 auf Selbstfahrlafette – Late version’.

German 3.7cm FlaK 37 auf Selbstfahrlafette - Late version

History

Starting in 1942, the 5-ton Zugkraftwagen was superseded by the 8-ton Zugkraftwagen as the selfpropelled mount for the 3.7cm FlaK. The 3.7cm FlaK 36 was replaced by the 3.7cm 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 Panzerjäger-Triebwagen 51 (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 01516 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Panzerjäger-Triebwagen 51’.

German Panzerjäger-Triebwagen 51

History

It was suggested in mid-1943 to make the Triebwagen 51, but by the time design and construction was completed in 1944-45, it was too late to be of any significant use in WWII. It was equipped with an armored railcar 7.5cm KwK L/48 guns (in Panzer IV/H), which provided strong enough firepower to be used for anti-tank purposes.

There were only three of this railcar made (No. 51-53) and all were found at the factory by Allied forces, but it is questionable whether any ever went into service.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

German Kanonen und Flakwagen (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 01511 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Kanonen und Flakwagen’.

German Kanonen und Flakwagen

History

For the armored train units of Type BP42, the artillery was increased, following Russian and Polish examples, to four guns, which were not, though, mounted two to a car as in the latter types, but one per separately built ten-sided rotating turret, in order to avoid too-great losses from a direct hit.

The two halves of the train, before and behind the locomotive were identical and consisted of one artillery car with one 10cm le.F.H 14/19(p) gun, one command and infantry car and one artillery and anti-aircraft car with one 7.62cm F.K.295/l(r) and one 2cm anti-aircraft quadruple unit.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

German Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. F Fahrgestell (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 00363 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. F Fahrgestell’.

German Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. F Fahrgestell

History

A total of 13 Munitionsschlepper were produced on Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. D, E, and F chassis which had been acquired from the normal Pz.Kpfw.IV production run as reported in May 1941.

There were two Munitionsschlepper for each of the six Gerät 040 Nr. I to VI and one for the experimental Gerät Nr. VII.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

German Panzerlok BR57 Armoured Locomotive (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 00219 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Panzerlok BR57 Armoured Locomotive’.

German Panzerlok BR57 Armoured Locomotive

History

Germany had used armored trains in WWI, but prior to the start of WWII the armored train was seen as something of a relic by the German defense force, the Reichswehr, and its government renamed successor in 1935, the Wehrmact.

The Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft (DRG), or German National Railway between 1920 and 1945, saw armored trains as a way to preserve and advance a military presence. By keeping a strong military face on this state owned railroad.

The BR57 armored trains locomotive was actually based on the Prussian series G10 locomotive first built in 1910 and featuring an 0-10-0 wheel arrangement.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

German Kommandowagen (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 01510 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Kommandowagen’.

German Kommandowagen

History

For the armored train units of Type BP42, the artillery was increased, following Russian and Polish examples, to four guns, which were not, though, mounted two to a car as in the latter types, but one per separately built ten-sided rotating turret, in order to avoid too-great losses from a direct hit.

The two halves of the train, before and behind the locomotive were identical and consisted of one artillery car with one 10cm le.F.H 14/19(p) gun, one command and infantry car and one artillery and anti-aircraft car with one 7.62cm F.K.295/l(r) and one 2cm anti-aircraft quadruple unit.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

Russian Heavy Tank, JS-3M (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 00316 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘Russian Heavy Tank, JS-3M’.

Russian Heavy Tank, JS-3M

History

Russian Heavy Tank IS-3M – The IS-3M was a modernized IS-3, the parallel program for the IS-3M began in 1960 and included additional hull reinforcement, replacement of the DShk 12.7mm machine gun with the DShKM, addition of a TVN-2 might vision device for the driver, substitution of the V-54K-IS engine, incorporation of the Multitsiklon air filter system and many other small changes.

New wheels were added from the T-10 heavy tank which, had improved ball-bearings. In addition, external stowage was improved and dust shirts were added over the suspension.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

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

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This is the Trumpeter 00209 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Mörser Karl-Gerat 040/041 on railway transport carrier’.

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

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 Pz.Kpfw.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