Category Archives: Kits, Stash

German 15 cm s.IG.33 (Sf) auf Pz.Kpfw.I Ausf. B (Dragon)

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This is the Dragon 6259 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German 15cm s.IG.33 (Sf) auf Pz.Kpfw.I Ausf.B’, sometimes referred to as the Sturmpanzer I Bison.

German 15cm s.IG.33 (Sf) auf Pz.Kpfw.I Ausf.B

History

The Panzer I formed the nucleus of Germany’s embryonic tank formations, but its light armor and light armament meant it was outdated by the start of WWII. Despite being made redundant as a gun tank, the chassis of the Panzer I was utilized in a number of alternative roles, including that of a self-propelled howitzer.

It was recognized early on that mobile artillery could provide invaluable fire support to tank units, so the mounting of a 150mm s.IG.33 infantry gun resulted in a vehicle known as an s.IG.33 (Sf) auf Pz.Kpfw.I Ausf.B. The gun was mounted in a tall, boxy superstructure, though the chassis of the Panzer I was overstressed by the extra weight. The armored shield was only 10mm thick and could only offer front and side protection, plus there was no space for spare ammunition to be carried.

Ultimately, this ungainly and top-heavy artillery piece wasn’t a great success and only 38 were converted in February 1940 by Alkett. These guns served in the Battle of France and beyond, though as the war progressed, the 150mm s.IG.33 gun would be mounted on alternative chassis too.

Source: Dragon Models website

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Russian Heavy Tank, KV-1S/85 (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 01567 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘Russian Heavy Tank, KV-1S/85’.

Russian Heavy Tank, KV-1S/85

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

Manufacturer

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Russian Tank Destroyer, SU-85 (Tamiya)

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This is the Tamiya 35 072- kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘Russian Tank Destroyer, SU-85’.

Russian Tank Destroyer, SU-85

History

A WWII Masterpiece – At the beginning of the German Blitzkrieg on the Eastern Front, Russian soldiers were forced to fight hard against the invading Axis forces led by the impressive German Sturmgeschutz III.

Barely holding back the advancing German forces just before Moscow, the Russian military quickly began to design assault guns. From these designs, the first finished model came loaded on the T-34 chassis with a secured fighting compartment and was armed with an impressive 122mm howitzer. This tank was given the designation SU-122.

Introduced at the Battle of Kursk in 1943, was the newly designed SU-85 which was based on the successful SU-122. It came armed with the D-5S-85A, the 1939 anti-aircraft 51.5 caliber 85mm D-5 gun which was redesigned for anti-tank use. D-5 guns were developed in the same manner as German 88mm anti-tank guns equipped on German Tiger I and Jagdpanther tanks, as both guns were based on anti-aircraft guns.

The SU-85’s armor-piercing shell weighed 9.02 kg, had a velocity of 792 m/s, and could knock out tanks with 100mm thick armor at 1000 m. The SU-85s hull featured a sloped front armor with the fighting compartment offset to the right. After the liberation of Kiev in December 1943, the SU-85 faced off Panther and Jagdtiger tanks and held its own thanks to its 85mm gun.

Source: Tamiya website

Manufacturer

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  • Hobbymesse 2013

German Ferdinand (Dragon)

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This is the Dragon 6133 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Ferdinand’.

German Ferdinand

History

Elefant (German for “elephant”) was a Schwerer Panzerjäger (“heavy tank destroyer”) of the German Wehrmacht used in small numbers in World War II. It was built in 1943 under the name Ferdinand, after its designer Ferdinand Porsche.

In 1944, after modification of the existing vehicles, they were renamed Elefant. The official German designation was Panzerjäger Tiger (P) and the ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz.184.

Source: Wikipedia

Manufacturer

Where I got it

  • Hobbymesse 2013

German Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. E – Vorpanzer (Dragon)

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This is the Dragon 6301 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. E – Vorpanzer’.

German Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. E - Vorpanzer

History

Vorpanzer which means “spaced armour” in German was fitted to some of the Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.E.

It differed from Zusatzpanzerung because it was spaced from the underlying armour, whereas Zusatzpanzerung was fitted directly onto the armour underneath.Vorpanzer was designed to defeat 105mm HEAT projectiles, and to strip off the piercing caps of APC and APCBC projectiles which would then shatter on the FH armour behind.

It also caused any HE filler in such projectiles to detonate prematurely.

Source: Dragon Models website

Manufacturer

Where I got it

  • Hobbymesse 2013

JGSDF Type 90 Tank w/Mine Roller (Tamiya)

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This is the Tamiya 35 236-4000 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘JGSDF Type 90 Tank w/Mine Rolle’.

JGSDF Type 90 Tank w/Mine Rolle

History

The third generation mainstay tank for Japan’s Ground Self Defense Force, the type 90 tank entered service in August 1990. Taking more than 10 years in its development, the inside of this latest Japanese tank is fully packed with state of the art hi-tech equipment. The 120mm smoothbore main gun is combined with a precision fire control system; comprising a trajectory computer, YAG (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) laser beam range finder and gun stabilizer, enabling accurate firing while moving.

The passive infrared night viewer makes nighttime operations possible. Use of the automatic canon loading system eliminated the need of a loader, reducing the crew from four men to three. A 7.62mm machine gun is mounted a the coaxial position of the main gun, and a 12.7mm machine gun on the turret roof. The tank’s distinctive angular silhouette is due to the full use of Multi-material laminate armor, which provides excellent protection for the crew.

Ammunition stowage at the rear of the turret is completely separated from the crew compartment, thus further improved survivability is obtained. The water-cooled, V-10 cylinder diesel engine is supplied by Mitsubishi Heavy Industry. Equipped with an electronically controlled direct fuel injection, this power unit is capable of yielding 1,500 horsepower, propelling the 50 ton heavy tank up to a top speed of 70km/h they hydraulic suspension is incorporated on four road wheels out of six on either side, thus allowing the tank’s attitude to be adjusted according to the surrounding terrain.

Source: Tamiya website

Manufacturer

Where I got it

  • Hobbymesse 2013

Russian Heavy Tank, JS-3 (Tamiya)

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This is the Tamiya 35 211-3900 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘Russian Heavy Tank, JS-3 (Tamiya)’.

Russian Heavy Tank, JS-3 (Tamiya)

History

On September 7th 1945, the allied nations were staggered by Russia’s disclosure of their JS-3 heavy tank at a victory parade in Berlin. Although coded a “JS” (Josef Stalin) tank, it had a totally different appearance from its preceding models. The one-piece cast turret had a simple flattened hemispherical shape. The maximum thickness of the turret armor reached 250mm. The front hull was constructed by welding three 120mm thick armor plates, forming a shape like a ship’s bow. The main armament used the same L/43 122mm gun as the JS-2.

The 520 horsepower diesel engine provided 40km/h of maximum speed. With the concerted effort of the talented Russian tank engineers such as N.L Jukhov and Z.A Kotin, the prototype was completed in October 1944 and the mass production began in the following year.

There have been a lot of controversy concerning whether or not the JS-3 saw any fighting during the Berlin campaign. At least one regiment was equipped with the JS-3 by then, but it’s still uncertain if they were committed to the actual fighting. Other sources claim that it was first deployed in combat against the Japanese in Manchuria in August 1945.

Incorporating several modifications, its production was continued until 1951 and about 1,800 JS-3’s were produced. Its simple and effective turret and hull configuration deeply influenced not only the following Russian tanks, but also fighting vehicles of the western nations.

Source: Tamiya website

Manufacturer

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German Sturmtiger, 38cm Assault Mortar (Tamiya)

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This is the Tamiya 35 177-4100 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Sturmtiger, 38cm Assault Mortar’.

German Sturmtiger, 38cm Assault Mortar

History

A very rare variant of the much feared Tiger I heavy tank, was the “Sturmtiger” assault weapon that mounted a gigantic 38cm caliber mortar on the tank chassis. Development was initiated in August 1943 and was intended for uses against heavily fortified areas. The short barreled L/5.4, type RW61 mortar was originally developed by Rheinmetall-Borsig, for the German navy’s land-based protection against an enemy submarine attack.

In order to withstand the heavy recoil of up to 40 tons, the Tiger I’s sturdy chassis was selected. A decision was made to use only those chassis/hulls that were sent back from the front, so that new production of the tank would not be affected.

A fighting compartment was formed of a boxlike superstructure which was bolted to the lower hull itself. Its armor plate measured 150mm thick at the front and 80mm on the sides. Later, a steel ring counterweight was added to the mouth of the mortar barrel on some vehicles to make elevation aiming easier.

The mortar’s huge self propelled rocket projectile was 149cm long and weighed 330kg. For loading these heavy rockets aboard, a hand cranked crane was mounted to the right aft side of the upper hull. Due to the rocket’s size, storage space was very limited and only 14 shells could be carried.

Conversion production of the Sturmtiger began in August 1944, and by the end of December a total of 18 units had been completed and sent to the front for action during the final stage of the conflict.

Source: Tamiya website

Manufacturer

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Russian BM-13, Katyusha (Italeri)

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This is the Italieri 6264 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘Russian BM-13, Katyusha’.

Russian BM-13, Katyusha

History

Katyusha multiple rocket launchers are a type of rocket artillery first built and fielded by the Soviet Union in World War II. Multiple rocket launchers such as these deliver a devastating amount of explosives to a target area more quickly than conventional artillery, but with lower accuracy and requiring a longer time to reload.

They are fragile compared to artillery guns, but are inexpensive and easy to produce.Katyushas of World War II, the first self-propelled artillery mass-produced by the Soviet Union, were usually mounted on trucks. This mobility gave the Katyusha (and other self-propelled artillery) another advantage: being able to deliver a large blow all at once, and then move before being located and attacked with counter-battery fire.

Source: Wikipedia

Manufacturer

Where I got it

Israeli M-50, Super Sherman (Dragon)

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This is the Dragon 3528 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘Israeli M-50, Super Sherman’.

Israeli M-50, Super Sherman

History

The Sherman M-50 and the Sherman M-51, both known abroad as the Super Sherman, were modified versions of the American M4 Sherman tank that served with the Israel Defense Forces from the mid-1950s to early 1980s. The M-51 was also referred to as the Isherman (i.e. Israeli Sherman). However, the designations Super Sherman and Isherman were never used by the Israeli Defense Forces.
Source: Wikipedia

Manufacturer

Where I got it

Russian Tank Destroyer, SU-100 (Revell)

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This is the Revell 03084 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘Russian Tank Destroyer, SU-100’.

Russian Tank Destroyer, SU-100

History

The SU-100 was a Soviet tank destroyer. It was used extensively during the last year of World War II and saw service for many years afterwards with the armies of Soviet allies around the world.
Source: Wikipedia

Manufacturer

Where I got it

Russian BM-13, Katiusha (Revell)

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This is the Revell 03076 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘Russian BM-13, Katiusha’.

Russian BM-13, Katiusha

History

Katyusha multiple rocket launchers are a type of rocket artillery first built and fielded by the Soviet Union in World War II. Multiple rocket launchers such as these deliver a devastating amount of explosives to a target area more quickly than conventional artillery, but with lower accuracy and requiring a longer time to reload. They are fragile compared to artillery guns, but are inexpensive and easy to produce.

Katyushas of World War II, the first self-propelled artillery mass-produced by the Soviet Union, were usually mounted on trucks. This mobility gave the Katyusha (and other self-propelled artillery) another advantage: being able to deliver a large blow all at once, and then move before being located and attacked with counter-battery fire.

Source: Wikipedia

Manufacturer

Where I got it