German Personnel Carrier, Hanomag (Zvezda)

This is the Zvezda 3572 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Personnel Carrier, Hanomag, Sd.Kfz.251/1, Ausf. B’.

German Personnel Carrier, Hanomag, Sd.Kfz.251/1, Ausf. B

History

In 1937 Hanomag was appointed by the German Wehrmacht to develop a medium semi-tracked armored personnel carrier, capable to accompany the tanks of the Panzer Divisions. Production started in 1939 and continued until 1943.

The 251 served as basis for many variants, over 4000 units were built in total. This is the basic version armed with two 7.92mm MG-34’s. The vehicle reached a maximum speed of 50km/h and had a range of 300km. It was able to carry 12 Panzer grenadiers.

Source: Zvezda website

Manufacturer

Where I got it

  • Hobbymesse 2014

German Panzerkampfwagen VI, Tiger Ausf. E (Italeri)

This is the Italeri 6471 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Panzerkampfwagen VI, Tiger Ausf. E’.

German Panzerkampfwagen VI, Tiger Ausf. E

History

Tiger I is the common name of a German heavy tank developed in 1942 and used in World War II. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf. E, often shortened to Tiger.

It was an answer to the unexpectedly impressive Soviet armour encountered in the initial months of the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union, particularly the T-34 and the KV-1. The Tiger I gave the Wehrmacht its first tank mounting the 88mm gun, in its first armoured fighting vehicle-dedicated version, the (KwK 36).

During the course of the war, the Tiger I saw combat on all German battlefronts. It was usually deployed in independent tank battalions, which proved to be quite formidable.

Source: Wikipedia

Manufacturer

Russian Heavy Tank, KV-8 (Trumpeter)

This is the Trumpeter 01565 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘Russian Heavy Tank, KV-8’.

Russian Heavy Tank, KV-8

History

KV-8 (42) – A KV-1 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

Manufacturer

German Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. D (Dragon)

This is the Dragon 6265 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. D’.

German Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. D

History

Well over 200 Panzer IV Ausf. D medium support tanks were produced between October 1939 and May 1941. These armored vehicles, armed with 7.5cm KwK37 L/24 guns, formed the backbone for early German military successes in France, the Balkans, North Africa and Russia.
Source: Dragon website

Manufacturer

Where I got it

German Panzerkampfwagen VI, Tiger Ausf. E (Italeri)

This is the Italeri 0286 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Panzerkampfwagen VI, Tiger Ausf. E’.

German Panzerkampfwagen VI, Tiger Ausf. E

History

The Tiger was certainly the most famous armored vehicle of World War II. Its fire power and protective armor made it the dominating factor on all battle fields during the years 1943-44. It did, however, present considerable problems, due to its complex mechanical construction.

The Tiger crews were continuously engaged in maintenance work, which was aggravated through extreme conditions in the African desert and the Russian Plains.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

Where I got it