Tag Archives: 1/35

German 3.7cm FlaK 43 Flakpanzer IV – Ostwind (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 01520 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German 3.7cm FlaK 43 Flakpanzer IV – Ostwind’.

German 3.7cm FlaK 43 Flakpanzer IV - Ostwind

History

The “Ostwind” was the last of a series of Flakpanzers (anti-aircraft tanks) based on the Panzer IV chassis to enter production, albeit in very small numbers. The “Ostwind” carried a single 3.7cm FlaK 43 gun, which was rather more effective than the less powerful 2cm guns of the “Wirbelwind”, and also needed less space in the turret, as well as only needing a crew of two (gunner and loader) in place of the gunner and two loaders of the quadruple guns.

Like the “Wirbelwind” the “Ostwind” had a distinctive angular turret, this time six sided, and with the gun emerging from a slot in the pointed front of the turret.

After trials in July, on 18 August 1944 Ostbau were given a contract to produce 100 “Ostwind”. Less than half of these vehicles would be produced – the first fifteen of the eventual total of forty-three were completed in December 1944, far too late to have any impact on the war.

Source: Trumpeter website

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German Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. C (HobbyBoss)

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This is the HobbyBoss 80130 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. C’.

German Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. C

History

The Panzerkampfwagen IV (Pz.Kpfw.IV), commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a German medium tank developed in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz.161.

Designed as an infantry-support tank, the Panzer IV was not originally intended to engage enemy armor — that function was performed by the lighter Panzer III. However, with the flaws of pre-war doctrine becoming apparent and in the face of Soviet T-34 tanks, the Panzer IV soon assumed the tank-fighting role of its increasingly obsolete cousin.

The most widely manufactured and deployed German tank of the Second World War, the Panzer IV was used as the base for many other fighting vehicles, including the Sturmgeschütz IV assault gun, Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyer, the Wirbelwind self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon, and the Brummbär self-propelled gun.

Source: Wikipedia

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German Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. B (HobbyBoss)

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This is the HobbyBoss 80131 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. B’.

German Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. B

History

The Panzerkampfwagen IV (Pz.Kpfw.IV), commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a German medium tank developed in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz.161.

Designed as an infantry-support tank, the Panzer IV was not originally intended to engage enemy armor — that function was performed by the lighter Panzer III. However, with the flaws of pre-war doctrine becoming apparent and in the face of Soviet T-34 tanks, the Panzer IV soon assumed the tank-fighting role of its increasingly obsolete cousin.

The most widely manufactured and deployed German tank of the Second World War, the Panzer IV was used as the base for many other fighting vehicles, including the Sturmgeschütz IV assault gun, Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyer, the Wirbelwind self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon, and the Brummbär self-propelled gun.

Source: Wikipedia

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German VK4502 (P) – Hintern (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 82445 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German VK4502 (P) Hintern’.

German VK4502 (P) Hintern

History

The Porsche Type-180 design – Designated VK 45.02 (P) – was based on the earlier VK 45.02 (P) design but mounting the 8.8cm L/71 gun on a much modified hull. Two versions were proposed, with turrets to the front (Vorne), or to the rear (Hinten), however only the former was proceeded and the construction of three prototypes was underway by February 1943.

The turret and guns were designed by Krupp, the distinctively shaped ‘P2-Turm’ turrets which were designed for these ve1hicles have since been called ‘Porsche’ turrets. As production of these had already started the first 50 KingTiger were fitted with these.

Unfortunately the large armoured ‘lip’ surrounding the turret ring on the Type-180 was not a feature of the Henschel design and resulted in a major shot trap below the mantlet. All later production King Tiger vehicles used the H3-Turm turret, commonly know as the ‘Henschet’ turret.

It seems that one of the Porsche Type-180 vehicles may have been in operation since a Porsche Tiger with an 8.8cm L/71 gun is listed as part of the Panzer Kompanie Kummersdorf on March 1945. Virtually all operational Tiger II tanks, and prototypes were used at the end of the war.

Source: HobbyBoss website

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German Geschützwagen Tiger für 17cm (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 00378 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Geschützwagen Tiger für 17cm’.

German Geschützwagen Tiger für 17cm

History

In 1942 Krupp started development on a heavy SP gun-carrier for the 17 cm Kanone or 21 cm Mörser by using Tiger automotive components like engine, transmission, steel road wheels and tracks.

Complete weight with an 8 men crew was about 60 tons, armor thickness was 30mm at the front and 16mm on the sides, a top speed of 45km/h on roads was possible.

The partly assembled prototype was found in 1945 by allied troops in Haustenbeck near Paderborn.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

German 12.8cm FlaK 40 Twilling (Takom)

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This is the Takom 2023 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German 12.8cm FlaK 40 Twilling’.

German 12.8cm FlaK 40 Twilling

History

The 12.8 cm FlaK 40 was a German World War II anti-aircraft gun. Although it was not produced in great numbers, it was one of the most effective heavy AA guns of its era.

Development of the gun began in 1936, with the contract being awarded to Rheinmetall Borsig, the first prototype gun was delivered for testing in late 1937 and completed testing successfully. The gun weighed nearly 12 tonnes in its firing position, with the result that its barrel had to be removed for transport. Limited service testing showed this was impractical, so in 1938 other solutions were considered.

The eventual solution was to simplify the firing platform, based on the assumption it would always be securely bolted into concrete. The total weight of the system reached 26.5 tonnes, making it practically impossible to tow cross-country. In the end this mattered little, since by the time the gun entered production in 1942, it was used in primary static defensive applications. There were four twin mounts on the fortified anti-aircraft Zoo Tower, and they were also on other flak towers protecting Berlin, Hamburg, and Vienna. Approximately 200 were mounted on railcars, providing limited mobility.

Source: Wikipedia

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German 88mm FlaK 41 Anti-Aircraft Gun w/Sd.Ah.202 Trailer (Bronco)

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This is the Bronco 35114 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German 88mm FlaK 41 Anti-Aircraft Gun w/Sd.Ah.202 Trailer’.

German 88mm FlaK 41 Anti-Aircraft Gun w/Sd.Ah.202 Trailer

History

Initially, anti-aircraft artillery guns of World War I were adaptations of existing medium-caliber weapons, mounted to allow fire at higher angles. By 1915, the German command realized that these were useless for anything beyond deterrence, even against the vulnerable balloons and slow-moving aircraft of the period.

With the increase of aircraft performance, many armies developed dedicated anti-aircraft guns with a high muzzle velocity – allowing the projectiles to reach greater altitudes. It was this muzzle velocity, combined with a projectile of high weight, that made the 8.8 cm (88mm or “acht-acht”) FlaK one of the great World War II anti-tank guns.

The first such German gun was introduced in 1917, and it used the 88mm caliber, common in the Kaiserliche Marine German navy.

Source: Wikipedia

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German Möbelwagen 3,7cm FlaK auf Fgst Pz.Kpfw.IV (Sf) (Tamiya)

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This is the Tamiya 35 237-3900 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Möbelwagen 3,7cm FlaK auf Fgst Pz.Kpfw.IV (Sf)’.

German Möbelwagen 3,7cm FlaK auf Fgst Pz.Kpfw.IV (Sf)

History

In the latter half of World War II, the Wehrmacht, having lost air superiority to the Allies, turned to the development of anti-aircraft vehicles. The first vehicle to use the chassis of the Panzer IV tank as a base was the Self Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun Mobelwagen.

The mass-production model started to be manufactured in February 1944. It was equipped with a powerful 3.7 FlaK 43 cannon capable of firing 250 shots/min, and thick armored plates surrounding the upper part of the vehicle, which could be raised or lowered for horizontal firing.

By 1945, a total of 240 vehicles were produced, most of which were deployed to the western front, providing a vicious defense against approaching fighters and bombers of the Allies.

Source: Tamiya website

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

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

German Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. C

History

The third vehicle in the development series, the Aust. C, was yet another attempt to improve the design of the suspension.

The Ausf. C still had eight road wheels on each side, with the first and last pairs on a short leaf spring, mounted parallel to the ground. The second and third pairs were supported by a longer leaf-spring assembly. Also featured were a servo-operated epicyclic clutch, brake steering and a new design for the drive sprocket and idler.

By 20 January 1938 there were only twenty-three Pz.Kpfw.III in the total Army Inventory. But this number had increased to forty-two by the end of March 1938. The Ausf. C saw action only in Poland. It was withdrawn from Panzer regiments in February 1940, before the start of the campaign in the West.

Source: MiniArt Website

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German Versuchsflakwagen fur 8.8cm FlaK 37 auf Sonderfahrgestell (Bronco)

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This is the Bronco 35174 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Versuchsflakwagen fur 8.8cm FlaK 37 auf Sonderfahrgestell’.

German Versuchsflakwagen fur 8.8cm FlaK 37 auf Sonderfahrgestell

History

The Versuchsflakwagen fur 8.8cm – FlaK 41 – was also known as the Grille 10 named after the Cricket insect. The Grille 10 was the first in a series of armoured self propelled guns dating from 1942.

The hull used components from several vehicles but mainly the Panzer IV and Sd.Kfz.9. The gun was mounted on the rear hull and protected by hinged side armour which folded down when in action.

Three prototypes were built in 1944, first mounting the 8.8cm FlaK 37 and later the FlaK 41. One vehicle was refitted with the FlaK 37 and sent to Italy for combat trials, serving with Flakartillerie Abt (Sf) 304 attached to the 26th Panzer Division. Trials were considered a success and a second series of Grille 10’s were ordered, but on Panther hull.

Other members of the Grille family were built on the Tiger II hull including the Grille 17 with 17cm gun, Grille 21 with 21cm mortar, Grille 30 with 30.5cm mortar and the Grille 42 with 42cm mortar.

Source: Bronco Website

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