Fast-kit from Armourfast Panzer III G Part 2!

This kit is a second German release from Hat in 2005.

(The first one was "Jagdpanther". I never understood why they have choosen this one as a start model of the german tank producting) 

Designed as wargame kit it is cheap, easy to build and fairly accurate.

İf you want to build a "Panzer Korp"-unit it could be done quickly and easily without too much expense.

Like each "fast-kit" in compare to other "usual"-kit it lacks in some details but it is dimensionally and proportionally correct.

I didn't expect from such a fast-kit too much details but an MG, which could be vital in a war!

Just the construction photo could be more informative.

I missed the side doors and exhaust-parts on the picture, which shouldn't be a BİG problem for an experienced model-maker, but this kits are produced for beginners ALSO or could be a fantastic eye-catcher for potential customers.

Don't miss it by future designs....

Armourfast Panzer III Ausf. G

After a very long break a fast-kit from Armourfast!

At the beginning of WW2 the German army expected that the Panzerkampfwagen (Panzer) III as a medium tank, developed in the 1930s and armed with its 37mm gun, would serve as the major armoured vehicle against enemy armour in combat.

After the first failings against Char B1 in France and Mathilda North Africa which were repeated against the Russian T-34 and KV-1the German designers were convinced  to uparmour and uparm the Panzer III.

Two of the series of modified Panzer IIIs were the Ausf.G and the Ausf.H.

The Ausf.G, built in the period 1940-41, was the first variant with the 5cm KwK 38 L/42 gun as its standard weapon.

600 were built and they served on both the Eastern Front and in the deserts of North Africa.

Battle for the Danube - expansion of "Art of Tactic"

There are more photos of the new units in the expansion:

Armoured train:



River boat:



Unarmoured train:



Romanian unit:



Another photo of the whole expansion:

New items for 2012 by Airfix!

For 2012 in 1/76 scale military vehicles and resin buildings there will be nothing new and something new IMHO!

One of the 2 new AFV's is a "Mathilda":



The other one is "King tiger":



This one will have a "New tooling"!

The interesting news for me are the resin buildings:

This year the main theme will be "the bridge":

Narrow road bridge road span:



and

Narrowroad bridge broken span:



Don't forget: The images are just samples!

Zvezda's "Art of Tactic" expansions-soviet and german paratroopers!

Another expansion sets for "Art of Tactic" boardgame series of Zvezda are 2 new paratroopers for Soviets and Germans.

In the catalog this time a picture of german paras:

and a photo for soviet paras:

Both in 1/72 scale!

There are 5 paratroopers-sets:

The oldest one from Airfix produced in 1976:

Marketed especially in France from Heller.

One from Esci produced in 1989:
Reproduced from Italeri.

In the same year from Revell:

In 2009 a new one was produced from Caesar:

And last year the newest from Italeri in tropical uniform:

All these set have 40+ figures and 10 - 15 poses. The new Zvezda concept contents not even 10 figures with maximum 4 different poses in each set.

What will be the reaction of collectors and painters to those "specialized" sets?

Wait and see! (and read the forums!)

Zvezda's "Art of Tactic" expansions-soviet and german recon teams!

In the 2011 catalog of Zvezda there are 2 recon team news.

There is a picture of the "Soviet reconnaissance team":

4 figures, with natural poses!

But the german recon team has only a drawing:

At the moment there are no more detailled information about the number of figures, price and so on.

But the fact that the scales of both sets are different, confuses me!

I think, that's a printing error.

As far as I know it, there are no special "recon team"-sets in this scale. This will be a great addition!

8.8. cm Flak and soviet cavalry sets from Zvezda!

There will be a soviet cavalry set and a 8.8 mm. Flak set from Zvezda regarding a photo from Zvezda's 2011 catalog.


The sets will be part of the new WW2 boardgame concept "Art of Tactic'.

See:
href="http://worldin172scale.blogspot.com/search/label/the%20great%20patriotic%20war">

At the moment no more infos about the price and the number of figures in both sets!

Jagdtiger Henschel with Lifting Crane from Dragon!

Another product from Dragon's 1/72-"Armour pro" series is available.

Jagdtiger Henschel Production with 2 Metric Ton Lifting Crane in 1/72 scale (All photos are from "dragonmodelsusa"-website).

The kit has 48 pieces.

Features:
- Detailed hull sides w/bolt details and weld seams
- Delicate crane w/photo-etched parts
- Realistic side fenders reproduced
- Intricate road wheels w/separate pieces, allowing unparalleled crispness of details
- Gun barrel travel lock can be assembled in either travel or combat modes
- Delicate rear panel reproduced
- Photo-etched parts to upgrade details
- One-piece DS tracks for easy assembly
- High-definition Cartograf decals

The Jagdtiger was an armored monstrosity produced by Nazi Germany.

It was the heaviest armored fighting vehicle to serve during WWII.

Weighing in at 71.7 tonnes, the Sd.Kfz.186 was a tank destroyer armed with an extremely potent 12.8cm PaK 44 L/55 antitank gun.

A total of 88 vehicles were produced from late 1944 till the end of the war.

However, despite the effectiveness of its thick armor (250mm on the superstructure front) and powerful armament, the vehicle suffered from poor mobility and mechanical unreliability owing to its weight problem.

I can imagine, that some of you are saying now "not another Jagdtiger!". Dragon should have been thought such reactions and added a 2-ton lifting crane, which makes this kit something special.

We all know, Dragon quality with photo-etched parts!

I'll just say, "have fun with this kit!"

WWII German Horse Drawn Multi-Purpose Wagon from Haet!

In our hobby there are some favourite models, like Tiger, Panther, T-34, and so on.

A lot of producers are offering those models, in different variants.

But some vehicles and weapons of WW2, which were used in great quantities are hard to find.

One of them is "horse-drawn"-vehicles.

Revell produced once the "German artillery WW2", really a wonderful model, after so many years still appreciated.



During WW2 the horse within German Army played a huge role. It’s actually a great paradox, when we think that this army invented Blitzkrieg.

The army which was most mechanized, was also the one using, the slowest and vulnerable transportation vehicle, the horse!

In fact, WWII German Army was the one employing the greatest number of horses, and pack animals in the history of mankind wars.

The number of horses needed yearly by the German Army was around 1.000.000.

Although the technological advance on every weapon was continuing especially during the war faster than as usual, the transport vehicle was one of the main problems in Wehrmacht.

After 1943 the number of horses serving in the German Army was increasing, due to Allies strategic bombardments of factories.

The production was being seriously affected while the horse-breeding farms escaped untouched.

And nowadays, the Haet is finishing the next "horse drawn multi-purpose wagon".

Here ist the test shot from their website:

and a second one:



After this short summary, it must be clear, why I'll buy this one and not just one!

Zvezda’s new website and a lot of new sets!

After the rumours about Zvezda's possible cancellation of their historic figures sets, a lot of figures from Zvezda are announced!

Here is the list: (from http://www.models2u.co.uk/" - website!)

Samurai period:

Ashigaru-yari

Ashigaru with Arquebus

Samurai-Naginata

Samurai Archers

Samurai-no-dati

Ninja

Mounted Samurai

Monks Archers

Monks with Yari & Naginata

Commander with Bodyguards

Samurai Commanders

WW2 period:

German Sturmpionere

German Fallschirmjager (Paratroopers)

German Reconnaissance Team

German Gebirgsjager

Soviet Anti-Tank Team

Soviet Reconnaissance Team

Soviet Paratroopers

Soviet Naval Infantry

Soviet Engineers

Soviet Cavalry

There are no further information about the number of figures or any photo, even drawings are missing.

The price is 2.75 pound for each the set and this make me think, that there will be similarities in case of production method and end-product with the new WW2-series.

In each case, those will be small sets with less figures, like:

If those new products (in case of Samurai sets!) could reach the quality of their previous samurai sets?

Hopefully!

By the way Zvezda redesigned also their website:

http://zvezda.org.ru/?news=343&PHPSESSID=efcdf381753449ad48a2f4774799742b

If it's now better, worser, nothing chanced or for someone who thinks "I don"t care!", it depends on your personal taste!I

MO, it looks 'better organised".

Were the rumours just only "latrine rumours'?

I'll say, wait and see. There are only 2 weeks (and 2 days!) till "Nuernbeg Toy Fair".

No more rumours!

The short story of Sd. Kfz. 221 – 222 vehicles!

Before World War 2, during secret maneuvers in the Soviet Union Wehrmacht recognized that a suitable recon car was missing, which should replace the Sd. Kfz. 13 in the near future.

In 1/72 scale there are 2 models of Sd. Kfz. 13, one from ACE, a producer from Ukraine:

And one from RPM, a producer from Poland:

The result was the "Leichter Panzerspähwagen" (Light Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle) Sd. Kfz. 221.

(As far as I know, there is no 1/72 scale production of this vehicle.)

It was produced 1935 to 1944.

The vehicle had a rear mounted engine with a 67 kW (90 hp) Horch 3.5 petrol engine.

This motor gived it a road speed of 80 km/h (50 mph) and a cross-country speed of 40 km/h (25 mph).

It had a maximum range of 300 km (186 mi).

Used by the reconnaissance battalions (Aufklärungs-Abteilung) of the Panzer divisions, the type performed well enough in countries with good road networks, like those in Western Europe.

However, on the Eastern Front and North Africa,this class of vehicle was hampered by its relatively poor off-road performance.

In those theaters, Sd. Kfz. 250 half-track vehicle replaced his reconnaissance role.

The Sd. Kfz. 250/9 has the same turret as the Sd. Kfz. 222.

It was armed with a single 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 (MG34) machine gun, manned by a two man crew, and had 4-wheel drive.

Armour protection was originally 8 mm thick, but increased to 14.5 mm later in production.

The updated version of this vehicle was Sd.Kfz. 222, which Dragon is producing.

This version of the vehicle was armed with a 2 cm KwK 30 L/55 autocannon and a 7.92 mm MG34 machine gun.

It manned by a three man crew, in which the third crew member was the gunner, relieving the commander of that task.

From the beginning of the production in 1936 the front armour protection was originally 14,5 mm thick, but increased to 30 mm later in production. The sides and rear had 8 mm. armour.

The new vehicle had a road speed of 90 km/h and a maximum range of 347 km.

This vehicle was used till the end of war and sold also to Bulgaria and China.

Some versions included a 28 mm armored piercing cannon.

A prototype version included a 50 mm cannon. Two armored prototype versions were completed.

There is another model in 1/72 scale from ICM, a producer in Ukraine:

Maybe, someone will buy both of them and can write a review to compare!

A lot of info is from Wiki, the photos from "henkofholland"-website!

Sd. Kfz. 222 from Dragon!

The first "new tooling" and "new series" piece of news in 2011 are from Dragon!

Dragon announced a whole new series of 1/72 scale kits.

The first of these is the famous little Sd.Kfz.222.

As a special introductory offer, Dragon is including two complete Sd.Kfz.222 models in the box.

And newly tooled!

(The photo is from "dragonmodelsusa"-website!)

Photo-etched turret can be assembled open or closed.

Finely molded jerry can and cargo included.

The two vehicles are supplied with different markings.

The mesh that covers the turret is supplied as a photo-etched part so that it remains true to scale.

And more detail:

- Finely molded hull w/detail

- Full fighting compartment w/detail

- Realistic 2cm KwK 30 L/55 autocannon and MG 34 included

- Sharply reproduced on-vehicle tools

- Features finely rendered taillights

- Realistic-looking headlamps included

- Intricate engine cooling grill included

- Chassis presented in full details

- Delicate wheels w/authentic tread pattern

- Well-shaped driver's seat

The set contains 48 pieces and will arrival the shops in January!

Our first guest writer!

Today is a some special day for my blog, because I have a guest writer from Turkey.

Dr.M.Kerem ÖZKIR, from Trabzon/Turkey built "Einheitsdiesel" from "ZV models" in 1/72 scale and write a review.

He is 27 years old and works as a doctor in turkish army. His first model was a YAK-15 produced by a turkish firm PM. In those years, 80's, it was very difficult to find model paintings, that why he used gouache paints and covered them with UHU! (Yes, UHU!)

At the moment his favorite areas are AFV, WW1 aviation and historic figures, especially riders!

For WW1 airplanes he prefers Roden and Eduard, for historic figures Zvezda.

Regarding AFV he has no favorites, but nowadays the products of Revell and Trumpeter is an eye-catcher for him.

The number of his finished models are 175 (approx.).

Here we go (actually he goes!):

11800 vehicles were produced between 1937 and 1940 by Büssing-NAG, Borgward, MAN, Henschel, Magirus, FAUN, Krupp. 2.5 ton 6x6 truck constructed with 80hp diesel engine. During the first years of WWII Einheitsdiesel saw service in nearly all theaters with different body shapes. Then replaced with less expensive two-axle Opel Blitz.

After a brief knowledge of the truck, I will give information about the ZV Models's kit. Ukrainian producer has a fantastic kit with no problems. But quality control unit is poor. One of the sprues including mudguard, cabin interior units vs was missing. Despite the missing parts I've started to make model because of wondering how it looks like.

I've scratched sticks with sprue, covered game card with band-aid to make seat and made wheel with cupper wire.

Hand made exhaust can be seen left rear of the cabin.

The most difficult part to construct was mudguard. I made it too from play card.

Signed parts are handmade.

More photos:

Dr.M.Kerem ÖZKIR

Thanks for Mr. Özkır and we are looking for another review.

Panzer III G - expansion for Zvezda's boardgame!

A new expansion for the german forces is on the way!

Panzer Kampfwagen III version G box picture:



The fast-kit has 9 parts and in 1/100 scale.



The announced price is 2,95 EUR.

A finished model without any paint work:

The game begins!

The game is on the market; in Russia and was sold in ESSEN 2010!

The first picture:




and the first scenario pictures:




The price for the russian market is 1.600 rupley, approx. 52.- USD or 38.- EUR!

the first armour vehicles on both sides and Clearness in Scale guestion!

Today we have pictures of the first armour vehicles from both sides:

German armour in the basic game will be represented by Panzer II, actually a light and uneffective tank against soviet counterparts!

Box:

and the back side of the box:


A finished model without any paint work:



I expected, honestly a Panzer III, a medium german panzer, as the main unit at the beginning of the OP Barbarossa!

But when I saw the soviet armour counterpart:

T-26 box:

and box back:


A finished model without any paint work:


Both Panzer consists of 5 parts and have their unit cards!

By the way, due to the information on the back side of the box we know that the armoured (and unarmoured ones logically!) have the 1/100 scale!