Thursday, May 11, 2017

A SdKfz 124 Wespe at 1-32 scale


A SdKfz 124 Wespe at 1-32 scale has been made by my brother following the built of 4 towed 105 mm ie FH 18/2.


I decided to make more gun barrels to equip 4 Wespe. Here some historical facts about that tank quoted from Wikipedia:

"In 1940, during the Battle of France, it was apparent that the intermediate tank of the German forces, the Panzer II, was unsuitable as a main battle tank. Though mechanically sound, it was both under-gunned and under-armoured. The chassis, however, proved servicable for providing mobility to the 10.5 cm field howitzer


The design for the Wespe was produced by Alkett, and was based on the Panzer II Ausf. F chassis (...) Amongst other modifications to the Panzer II, the engine was moved forward and the chassis was slightly lengthened to gain sufficient space for the rear-mounted 10.5 cm leFH 18 howitzer. The superstructure was lightly armored, with 10 mm armor plate (enough to stop small arms fire) and was open at the top and to the rear. The vehicles were produced by FAMO's Ursus plant in Warsaw.

The Wespe was in production from February 1943 until June 1944, when Soviet forces approached the frontier. By that time, 676 had been produced. An additional 159 were modified to serve as mobile artillery ammunition carriers.[1] "



A SdKfz 124 Wespe at 1-32 scale
A good view of the Panzer II suspensions




A SdKfz 124 Wespe at 1-32 scale
The 105 mm leFH 18 gun with muzzle break




A SdKfz 124 Wespe at 1-32 scale
Two different camo colors



A SdKfz 124 Wespe at 1-32 scale
Ready to fire Sir!




A SdKfz 124 Wespe at 1-32 scale
A pretty cramp interior

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

A German Sd. Kfz.251 half-track at 1/32 scale



To have a Sd.Kfz. 251 in 1/32 scale was key to be able to build Petite Infanterie Panzer divisions. Having built mostly Panzer III and IV, we clearly needed armored vehicules for our panzergrenadiers.

Like mentioned in Wikipedia:


"The Sd.Kfz. 251 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251) half-track was a WW2 German armored fighting vehicle designed by the Hanomag company, based on their earlier, unarmored Sd.Kfz. 11 vehicle. The Sd.Kfz. 251 was designed to transport the panzergrenadiers (German mechanized infantry) into battle. Sd.Kfz. 251s were the most widely produced German half-tracks of the war, with at least 15,252 vehicles and variants produced by various manufacturers, and were commonly referred to
simply as "Hanomags" by both German and Allied soldiers.[1]"



Sd.Kfz. 251 in 1/32 scale
Matchbox Africa Korps have the perfect size for that vehicule.

Sd.Kfz. 251 in 1/32 scale
The Sd.Kfz has a pretty low silhouette



Sd.Kfz. 251 in 1/32 scale
The front show the latest model without bumper.





Sd.Kfz. 251 in 1/32 scale
Two colors were used: Grey Panzer and Panzer night blue


Sd.Kfz. 251 in 1/32 scale
We can clearly see the two sighting slots. 



Sd.Kfz. 251 in 1/32 scale
Our Sd.Kfz. 251 at 1/32 scale can carry around 6 men; a little less than the real one  





That's all folk!

Monday, February 27, 2017

A Panzer IV at 1/32 scale


Petite Infanterie needed a Panzer IV in is line-up.  Why? The Panzer IV could be considered the most important german tank of WWII.


As summarize in Wikipedia:


"The Panzerkampfwagen IV (PzKpfw 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.

The Panzer IV was the most widely manufactured German tank of the Second World War, with some 8,500 built. 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 gun, and the Brummbär self-propelled gun.

The Panzer IV saw service in all combat theaters involving Germany and was the only German tank to remain in continuous production throughout the war. Upgrades and design modifications, intended to counter new threats, extended its service life. Generally, these involved increasing the Panzer IV's armor protection or upgrading its weapons, although during the last months of the war, with Germany's pressing need for rapid replacement of losses, design changes also included simplifications to speed up the manufacturing process."


Panzer IV, a versatile design


To be able to cover all the evolution of the Panzer IV during the war, my brother built two types of turrets.  One with the short 75mm and one with the long 75 mm barrel.

Panzer IV at 1/32 scale
Our Panzer IV come in two camo colors:  "Blue Panzer" and "Desert Yellow"


Panzer IV at 1/32 scale
An example with a short barrel




Panzer IV at 1/32 scale
The same tank with the long barrel



Panzer IV, making the model at 1/32 scale


Here a couple of pictures of the making of the Panzer IV.  It's not a tutorial ( I know, I know, maybe next time).

To be sure that our Panzer IV would be acccurate and at scale, we used George Bradford's book: German early war armored fighting vehicule


Panzer IV at 1/32 scale

Panzer IV at 1/32 scale

Panzer IV at 1/32 scale
Tracks before painting

Panzer IV at 1/32 scale
Turret from the wood block to the final shape


Panzer IV at 1/32 scale
The beast partly built

Panzer IV at 1/32 scale
The Panzer IV works..

Panzer IV at 1/32 scale
The assembly line


Panzer IV, being among its infantery men


Panzer IV at 1/32 scale
Showing the suspension entirely drawn



Panzer IV at 1/32 scale
That guy seems to be very enthusiastic about the new tank



Panzer IV at 1/32 scale
Let's go forward!!!!!


Panzer IV at 1/32 scale
Charcoal Marx and Desert Yellow; interesting mix!


That's all folks!  Your comment are always welcome!