I set up a small winter diorama to display the new purchases, I hope you enjoy the post.
1. A Britains LTD Kubelwagon & PAK - 40 Anti Tank Gun.
This is a relatively difficult item to source and is generally expensive. I got it for €28.56 including postage from the UK along with a Britains US Army JEEP including driver, which was thrown in.
Unfortunately the driver and MG-42 gunner are missing along with the spare front wheel which seems to be a normal feature on the Kubelwagon used by German forces during WWII.
German Kubelwagon & PAK - 40 outside Stalingrad, Russia during the winter of 1943
T-34 Killer
The PAK - 40 is in great condition and is a quality piece of kit, that attaches by a spring mechanism to the Kubelwagon. It seems to be smaller than 1:32 scale however and is somewhere closer to 1:35.
Here's the Britains LTD US JEEP. The axles seem to be damaged on this. So I'll probably use it for parts. The spare wheel on the rear is detachable so I will use it on the front of the Kubelwagon as the two models have identical wheels.
Note the wheels on the JEEP & Kubelwagon are identical
The Britains LTD Diescast JEEP's are quite easy to source and are much cheaper in comparison to the Kubelwagon so I'll keep an eye out for these in future.
Overall the Britains LTD models are very nice, diecast models that are very well made. Perhaps they look a bit outdated in comparison to the newer manufacturer's models such as the Forces of Valor range. It has to be taken into account that these models were produced in the 1970's and have most certainly stood the test of time. The Kubelwagon will make a nice scout/reconnaissance vehicle for my German Army. Here's my review of Britains LTD models -
Quality : Very good quality, strong models - 8.0/10
Detail : A little weak in this area, no gear-stick etc - 6.0/10
Scale : Sold as 1/32 but it's probably a bit smaller, PAK - 40 is definitely smaller - 7.0/10
Fragility : Extremely sturdy and well built, tough models - 9.0/10
Overall : 7.5/10
2. Unimax 1/35 PAK - 40 75mm Anti Tank Gun
My German Army up until now had a severe lack in anti-tank guns. I searched for PAK - 40's online and found them expensive with the cheaper alternative being model kits that require building and painting, such as the Tamiya model PAK - 40.
Eventually I came across an eBay seller in Hong Kong selling plastic PAK - 40's that have been built and painted, produced by a company called Unimax. Retailing at around €10 including postage, these were a bargain so I purchased two.
As Soviet tank production increased, so did Germany's need for effective Anti-Tank guns
German positions come under attack in the freezing Russian winter, 1943
I would like to highlight that the Unimax PAK - 40 is extremely delicate, so if you consider adding these to your collection make sure to handle with care. I broke the tow hook off the back just taking it out of the box! Good job I bought 2. Despite them being 1/35 scale they fit the 1/32 scale well compared with the TSSD Long-Coat German Infantry soldiers above. Here's my review -
Quality : Excellent, realistic paint scheme, gun rotates smoothly & easily - 9.0/10
Detail : Fantastic detail, even shows rivets on armour plating, handles & the elevation hand-wheel - 9.5/10
Scale : Works with 1/32 really well, not perfect but not bad at all - 7.0/10
Fragility : The one downside, the tow hook is extremely delicate, handle carefully! - 5.0/10
Overall : 7.6/10
3. Airfix 1/32 Scale German Hanomag Personnel Carrier
As the new set of war-gaming rules develop I feel there will be a need to safely deliver shock troops to the front lines quicker to acquire key positions. This is where the Sd.Kfz.251 Hanomag comes in. Originally designed to transport Panzergrenadiers into battle, over 15,000 were produced throughout the war in a few different variants, the 251 being the most common.
I paid €20 for this model and it is an original Airfix model from 1971. Unfortunately it is missing the MG-42's but hopefully I can acquire spares over time. It's in very good condition considering its age and came in the original packaging which was a nice bonus. Classic Toy Soldiers (CTS) now produce these models (CTS-726A) that retail at $16.95 but if your outside the USA consider the postage!
Panzergrenadiers are rushed to the front to repel the Red Army's advance
German troops engage their targets from their Sd.Kfz.251
Overall this is a nice piece of kit considering it is a 1971 production, It can hold 6 to 8 54mm sitting troops without their base stands. It is made of durable plastic and the front wheels rotate. I hope to get a CTS version soon to compare the difference. Here's my review -
Quality : Very good quality considering it's age - 8.0/10
Detail : Very good detail as expected with Airfix, window slits, seating, lights and compartments are easily distinguised - 7.5/10
Scale : Sold as 1/32 by Airfix and certainly fits the scale well, probably slightly under scaled though - 8.0/10
Fragility : Very durable and strong plastic, it will last another 40 years - 9.0/10
Overall : 8.1/10
4. Italeri 1/32 German Elite Troops
Where have these been hiding, these troops are fantastic! The pack includes 16 figures including a very desirable panzerschreck (Raketenpanzerbuchse) soldier. The equipment of the troops represents late war infantry equipped with a variety of weapons including the StG 44, MP-40, KAR-98 sniper and an MG-42 with a drum magazine minimises the need for a soldier to act as a belt feeder.
I still haven't opened the plastic inside yet, so when they're off the sprue's I'll post more pictures up. The fact that they're in a tan plastic will need to be addressed as well. I highly recommend these troops and I will be looking to Italeri for more troops in the near future.
The Lone Wolf
Stalingrad 1943, a lone German Panzergranadier waits inside the perimeter of a derelict building. Isolated and aware of his situation, he waits...
Clutching his captured Soviet PPSh-41, he know's his end is near. Yet he waits, outnumbered 20 to 1.
Soon the might of the Red Army will approach.
Thousands of miles from home, facing hunger and frostbite in temperatures of -30 Degrees Celsius his comrades of the 6th Army have been surrounded. 450,000 soldiers marched into Stalingrad, only 10,000 returned.
