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

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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

Where I got it

German Super Heavy StuG E-100 (Trumpeter)

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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

Where I got it

German Flakpanzer IV, Wirbelwind (Tamiya)

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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)

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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

Manufacturer

Where I got it

Russian Project 704 SPH (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 05575 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘Russian Project 704 SPH’.

Russian Project 704 SPH

History

One prototype, developed in 1945. It used elements of the IS-2 and IS-3 tanks. The overall height of the vehicle was reduced to 2240mm, which was compensated with an increased width of the superstructure.The factory designation was Object 704 (Объект 704). It was armed with the 152.4mm ML-20SM model 1944 (МЛ-20СМ обр. 1944 г) gun-howitzer, with a barrel length of over 4.5 meters (29.6 calibers) and no muzzle brake, which further increased the firepower of the gun. It had a maximum range of 13,000 meters.

The self-propelled gun carried 20 rounds of two piece (shell and charge) armor-piercing and high explosive ammunition. The secondary armament of the fighting vehicle consisted of two 12.7 x 108mm DShK machine guns, one anti-aircraft and one co-axial.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

Where I got it

Wheel, American (Friulmodel)

Aside

Friulmodel

Aftermarket metal wheels for my American vehicles, in 1/35 scale.

Please verify the vendor’s website, before using the information below

Light
M3 Stuart
M24 Chaffee AW-21
M41 Walker Bulldog
M551 Sheridan

Medium
M4 Sherman
M46/M47/M48/M60 Patton
M1 Abrams ATL-155

Heavy
M26 Pershing  

Destroyer
M18 Hellcat

Artillery
M44 Howitzer
M53/M55 Howitzer

Source: Friulmodel

Russian KV-7 Mod. 1941 (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 09503 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘Russian KV-7 Mod. 1941’.

Russian KV-7 Mod. 1941

History

The Kliment Voroshilov (KV) tanks were a series of Soviet heavy tanks named after the Soviet defense commissar and politician Kliment Voroshilov and used by the Red Army during World War II.

The KV series were known for their heavy armour protection during the early part of the war, especially during the first year of the German invasion of the Soviet Union. In certain situations, even a single KV-1 or KV-2 supported by infantry was capable of halting the enemy’s onslaught.

German tanks at that time were rarely used in KV encounters as their armament was too poor to deal with the “Russischer Koloss” – “Russian Colossus”.

Source: Wikipedia

Manufacturer

Russian JS-2M Heavy Tank (Early production) (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 05589 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘Russian JS-2M Heavy Tank (Early production)’.

Russian JS-2M Heavy Tank (Early production)

History

The Iosif Stalin tank (or IS tank, named after the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin), was a heavy tank developed by the Soviet Union during World War II. The tanks in the series are also sometimes called JS or ИС tanks.

The heavy tank was designed with thick armour to counter the German 88mm guns, and sported a main gun that was capable of defeating the German Tiger and Panther tanks. It was mainly a breakthrough tank, firing a heavy high-explosive shell that was useful against entrenchments and bunkers.

The IS-2 was put into service in April 1944, and was used as a spearhead in the Battle for Berlin by the Red Army in the final stage of the war.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

Russian T-10A Heavy Tank (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 05547 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘Russian T-10A Heavy Tank’.

Russian T-10A Heavy Tank

History

The T-10 (also known as Object 730, IS-8, or IS-10) was a Soviet heavy tank of the Cold War, the final development of the IS tank series. During development, it was called IS-8 and IS-9. It was accepted into production in 1952 as the IS-10 (Iosif Stalin, Russian form of Joseph Stalin), but due to the political climate in the wake of Stalin’s death in 1953, it was renamed T-10.

The biggest differences from its direct ancestor, the IS-3, were a longer hull, seven pairs of road wheels instead of six, a larger turret mounting a new gun with fume extractor, an improved diesel engine, and increased armour. General performance was similar, although the T-10 could carry more ammunition.

T-10s (like the IS tanks they replaced) were deployed in independent tank regiments belonging to armies, and independent tank battalions belonging to divisions. These independent tank units could be attached to mechanized units, to support infantry operations and perform breakthroughs.

Source: Wikipedia

Manufacturer

Where I got it

Russian JS-2 Heavy Tank (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 05588 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘Russian JS-2 Heavy Tank’.

Russian JS-2 Heavy Tank

History

The Iosif Stalin tank (or IS tank, named after the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin), was a heavy tank developed by the Soviet Union during World War II. The tanks in the series are also sometimes called JS or ИС tanks.

The heavy tank was designed with thick armour to counter the German 88mm guns, and sported a main gun that was capable of defeating the German Tiger and Panther tanks. It was mainly a breakthrough tank, firing a heavy high-explosive shell that was useful against entrenchments and bunkers.

The IS-2 was put into service in April 1944, and was used as a spearhead in the Battle for Berlin by the Red Army in the final stage of the war.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

Where I got it