Category Archives: Kits, Stash

Russian Tank Destroyer ISU-122 (Zvezda)

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This is the Zvezda 3534 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘Russian Tank Destroyer ISU-122’.

Russian Tank Destroyer ISU-122

History

As the tanks of World War II grew bigger and stronger, the need for more powerful weapons to destroy them also grew. One solution was the so-called “tank destroyer”: basically a massive cannon mounted on tracks. While these vehicles offered more firepower than any tank, the fact that they did not have a turret left them vulnerable to more maneuverable vehicles and infantry attacks.

The ISU-122 was built on the proven chassis of the IS-2 heavy tank, which it shared with the ISU-152 self-propelled howitzer. When Soviet production of hulls exceeded their ability to produce the large ML-20S howitzers, the decision was made to install the smaller 122mm A-19S gun in the extra hulls, and the ISU-122 was born.

The new tank destroyer was equipped with a full-enclosed armored cockpit. The 122mm gun could be used to destroy both enemy tanks and fortifications. For this purpose, ISU-122s were supplied to special assault groups. Production of the ISU-122 ended as the war drew to a close. After the war, most of the surviving ISU-122s were refitted as rocket launchers.

Source: Zvezda Website

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British Matilda MK.III/IV (Tamiya)

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This is the Tamiya 35 300 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘British Matilda MK.III/IV’.

British Matilda MK.III/IV

History

“Queen of the Desert” – The Matilda was developed as a heavily armored infantry tank and was the British Army’s main tank in North Africa during WWII.

The Matilda swept aside Italian opponents and was respectfully called the “Queen of the Desert” by German forces. During Operation Battleaxe to lift the siege of Tobruk in June 1941, German forces famously used their 88mm AA guns in the anti-tank role as they were the only effective counter against Matildas.

The Matilda has written her name into the history books as a highly effective tank which continually proved her worth during many fierce battles throughout North Africa.

Source: Tamiya Website

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German Self-Propelled Heavy Anti-Tank Gun Nashorn (Tamiya)

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This is the Tamiya 35335 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Self-Propelled Heavy Anti-Tank Gun Nashorn’.

German Self-Propelled Heavy Anti-Tank Gun Nashorn

History

8.8cm of Destructive Power – The self-propelled heavy anti-tank gun Nashorn packed a formidable punch courtesy of a mammoth 71-caliber 8.8cm PaK 43/1 gun which was one of the largest on the battlefield in WWII.The vehicle was developed in all possible haste after the German Army had the unexpected surprise of meeting such overpowering opponents as the T34 and KV-1 upon its invasion of the Soviet Union. The recently-developed III/IV vehicle was used as a base for the PaK 43/1 gun, which was capable of destroying enemy tanks from great distance. Top road speed was 42km/h thanks to its relatively light weight of 24 tons.

While deployment started in July 1943 under the moniker of Hornisse, it was given the new Nashorn designation from January of the next year, reportedly at the command of Hitler. 439 units were produced up to March 1945, and they served on both the Eastern and Western Fronts, providing heavy firepower for German forces.

Source: Tamiya website

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

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This is the MiniArt 35162 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. B’.

German Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. B

History

The Ausf. В was the second attempt at a design solution for a tank in the 15-ton class. Only a small number of these design series vehicles were produced to provide a gun-armed Pz.Kpfw for training.

The design of the suspension of the Ausf. В was completely different from that of the Ausf. A. In place of the five road wheels with coil springs, the Ausf. В had eight road wheels per side, divided into pairs, with long leaf springs supporting a pair of road wheels at each end. Further improvements were made by increasing the number of return rollers to three, redesigning the cupola, and altering the rear deck and engine air louvres.

The Ausf. В were issued to Panzer units in 1937. After action in Poland, they were all removed from combatant units in February 1940 because of their unsatisfactory suspension and 15mm armour. In October 1940, the five Ausf. В Fahrgestell, which had been used for the experimental (0-Serie) series of the Sturmgeschütz, were returned to the Armoured troops and used as training vehicles.

Source: MiniArt Website

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Russian Heavy Tank, KV-8S (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 01572 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘Russian Heavy Tank KV-8S’.

Russian Heavy Tank KV-8S

History

A KV-1S fitted with the ATO-41 flame-thrower in the turret, beside a machine gun.In order to accommodate the new weapon, the 76.2mm gun was replaced with a smaller 45mm Gun M1932, though it was disguised to look like the standard 76mm.
Source: Trumpeter Website

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Russian Heavy Tank JS-7 (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 05586 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘Russian Heavy Tank JS-7’.

Russian Heavy Tank JS-7

History

In 1948, the IS-7 heavy tank was developed. Weighing 68 metric tons, thickly armoured and armed with a 130mm C-70 gun, it was the largest tank ever built by the USSR.

Although it was in many ways an innovative design, it was never accepted for mass production due to its cumbersome size and the very impractical layout of its fighting compartment

Source: Trumpeter website

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German Ardelt-Rheinmetall 8.8cm PaK 43 Waffenträger (Dragon)

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This is the Dragon 6728 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Ardelt-Rheinmetall 8.8cm PaK 43 Waffenträger’.

German Ardelt-Rheinmetall 8.8cm Pak 43 Waffenträger

History

This is a German design that reached only prototype status, but which is a fascinating subject nonetheless. The vehicle is the Ardelt-Rheinmetall 8.8cm PaK 43 Waffenträger.The conceptual idea behind this weapon system was a self-propelled mount for the powerful but heavy 8.8cm antitank gun, as towed versions of this gun were too unwieldy for crews to move readily. Ardelt and Rheinmetall combined to build the first prototype and tests were conducted on this Ardelt I.

The vehicle’s engine was fitted at the front of the hull, which permitted the main armament – an 8.8cm L/71 cannon – to be fitted on the rear. It utilized a 38(t) chassis with four road wheels per side. An improved prototype (Ardelt II) was later produced by Ardelt and Krupp, but the end of the war intervened before production got off the ground.

Source: Dragon Website

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German Krupp Steyr Waffenträger (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 01598 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Krupp Steyr Waffenträger’.

German Krupp Steyr Waffenträger

History

On 19 April 1944 Krupp representatives visited Ardeltwerke in Eberwalde to discuss the design of the 8.8cm PaK 43 Kp auf Waffenträger. Ardelt was sent a second PaK 43 from series production. The Waffenträger with this gun presented a significant improvement and was completely satisfactory in firing and driving trials, completed by 15 January 1945.During the meeting on development and production on 9 January 1945, the status of the Waffenträger 8.8cm PaK 43 was reported as: “In spite of using couriers to deliver suspension parts, only 2 are expected to be completed by 31 December 1944.

All means will be used in an attempt to obtain all of the suspension parts by the end of December. If this is achieved, a further 19 should be completed by 15 January 1945”.

Source: Trumpeter website

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Russian S-51 Self Propelled Gun (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 05583 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘Russian S-51 Self Propelled Gun’.

Russian S-51 Self Propelled Gun

History

1943, the face of the Germans more and more thick fortifications in defensive operations, the Soviet early small-caliber light howitzers powerful.

After November 1943, authorized by the Revolutionary Committee of the Soviet Union the Ge Labin Central Artillery Design Bureau started to design the next generation of self-propelled guns, the KV-1S chassis and B-4 howitzer combination of design, named S-51 self-propelled artillery, optimizeartillery combat combat readiness to complete the 20 minutes.

In addition, due to the strong chassis of the KV-1S tank, the S-51 artillery can be folded to the rear to reduce the bodywork length to facilitate the march. S-51 in early 1944 by nearly 300 design test and a series of wild march test, basically reached the requirements, Soviet firepower summarized as, machine power in artillery belonging to excellent.

Source: Trumpeter website

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German Versuchsflakwagen für 8.8cm FlaK 41 (Bronco)

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This is the Bronco 35062 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Versuchsflakwagen für 8.8cm FlaK 41’.

German Versuchsflakwagen für 8.8cm FlaK 41

History

As the war progressed it was German policy to adapt old tank hulls to carry artillery pieces. One of the most utilized chassis was that of the Panzerkampfwagen IV, adapted to mount a whole series of anti-tank and assault guns.

The Grille 10 was a heavily modified Pz.Kpfw.IV, with track work from the Sd.Kfz.9 artillery tractor. It was originally designed to carry an 8.8cm anti-tank gun. However the design was changed in 1942 and three prototype vehicles were built mounting the 8.8cm FlaK 37 anti-aircraft gun. These were designated Versuchsflakwagen (Vfw) für 8.8cm FlaK 37, and were ready for testing in late 1943.

The idea was to provide a highly mobile anti-aircraft gun to the Panzer Divisions, protecting the tanks from air attack. In 1944 these vehicles were fitted with the 8.8cm FlaK 41, though a single vehicle was refitted with a FlaK 37 and sent for battle testing in Italy. The two remaining Vfw fur 8.8cm FlaK 41 vehicles were successful in their trials, but the war ended before mass production could begin in 1945.

Source: Bronco Website

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German 12.8 cm PaK 44 Waffenträger, Krupp 1 (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 05523 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German 12.8 cm PaK 44 Waffenträger, Krupp 1’.

German 12.8 cm PAK 44 Waffenträger, Krupp 1

History

Towards the laset months of WWII the Ardelt/Krupp design team concepted the Einheitswaffenträger 12,8cm IFH, which based on chassis components already used in the Hetzer and 38 D vehicle series, as only a minimum of protection was intended with the aircooled V12 Tatra Diesel engine.Till end of the war only few prototypes were built.

Source: Trumpeter website

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Russian Heavy Tank, KV-1S (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 01566 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘Russian Heavy Tank, KV-1S’.

Russian Heavy Tank, KV-1S

History

KV-1S – A lighter variant of late 1942 with higher speed, but thinner armour. A new, smaller, cast turret and redesigned rear hull were used. 1370 were built.

In response to criticisms, the lighter KV-1S (Russian language: КВ-1С) was released, with thinner armour and a smaller, lower turret in order to reclaim some speed. Importantly, the KV-1S also had a commander’s cupola with all-around vision blocks, a first for a Soviet heavy tank.

However, the thinning-out of the armor called into question why the tank was being produced at all, when the T-34 could seemingly do everything the KV could do and much more cheaply. The Soviet heavy tank program was close to cancellation in mid-1943.

Source: Trumpeter website

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