In Box Review of Alan 1/35th Scale Grille-M
Kit no. 015
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2002
I paid $30.00 for my kit, years ago.
It is available on Ebay for $25.99.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2002
I paid $30.00 for my kit, years ago.
It is available on Ebay for $25.99.
HISTORY:
The 15 cm sIG 33 (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen 38(t), also known as Grille (German: "cricket") was a series of self-propelled artillery vehicles used by Nazi Germany during World War II. The Grille series was based on the Czech Panzer 38(t) tank chassis and used a 15 cm sIG 33 infantry gun.
The original order for 200 units of the Grille, was to be based on the new 38(t) Ausf. M chassis that BMM (Böhmisch-Mährische Maschinenfabrik) was developing, however delays caused production to start on the 38(t) Ausf. H chassis.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: self propelled artillery
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1943 - 1945
Wars: World War II
Produced: 1943 - 1944
No. built: 389
Variants: ammunition carrier
Mass: 11.5 tonnes
Length: 4.95 m (16 ft 3 in)
Width: 2.15 m (7 ft 1 in)
Height: 2.47 m (8 ft 1 in)
Crew: 5
Armor: 10 mm - 15 mm
Main armament: 1× 15 cm sIG 33 with 15 rounds
Secondary armament: 1× 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 with 600 rounds
Engine: 1 x Praga AC, 6-cylinder petrol engine of 147 hp (110 kW)
Suspension: Leaf spring
Operational range: 190 km (120 mi)
Maximum speed: 35 km/h (22 mph)
The 15 cm sIG 33 (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen 38(t), also known as Grille (German: "cricket") was a series of self-propelled artillery vehicles used by Nazi Germany during World War II. The Grille series was based on the Czech Panzer 38(t) tank chassis and used a 15 cm sIG 33 infantry gun.
The original order for 200 units of the Grille, was to be based on the new 38(t) Ausf. M chassis that BMM (Böhmisch-Mährische Maschinenfabrik) was developing, however delays caused production to start on the 38(t) Ausf. H chassis.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: self propelled artillery
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1943 - 1945
Wars: World War II
Produced: 1943 - 1944
No. built: 389
Variants: ammunition carrier
Mass: 11.5 tonnes
Length: 4.95 m (16 ft 3 in)
Width: 2.15 m (7 ft 1 in)
Height: 2.47 m (8 ft 1 in)
Crew: 5
Armor: 10 mm - 15 mm
Main armament: 1× 15 cm sIG 33 with 15 rounds
Secondary armament: 1× 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 with 600 rounds
Engine: 1 x Praga AC, 6-cylinder petrol engine of 147 hp (110 kW)
Suspension: Leaf spring
Operational range: 190 km (120 mi)
Maximum speed: 35 km/h (22 mph)
THE KIT:
Alan is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in St. Petersburg, Russia.They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a blousy, shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. It is 4” too long and 3” too wide.
The box art shows a color illustration of a Grille-M that is posed against an all-Yellow background. It is overall olive-drab, with a worn winter-coating of white. It has a black and white German cross on its sides.
The lower right-corner of the box art says: 1/35th military miniature series 015. Ready to assemble precision model kit.
One side-panel of the box gives one-paragraph histories of the Grille in Russian, Japanese, French, German and English. Each language is labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
This is followed by a color illustration side-view of the Grille in the box art scheme.
Alan is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in St. Petersburg, Russia.They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a blousy, shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. It is 4” too long and 3” too wide.
The box art shows a color illustration of a Grille-M that is posed against an all-Yellow background. It is overall olive-drab, with a worn winter-coating of white. It has a black and white German cross on its sides.
The lower right-corner of the box art says: 1/35th military miniature series 015. Ready to assemble precision model kit.
One side-panel of the box gives one-paragraph histories of the Grille in Russian, Japanese, French, German and English. Each language is labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
This is followed by a color illustration side-view of the Grille in the box art scheme.
The other side-panel of the box shows 3 box arts of other kits that Alan manufacturers: Kit no. 003, a Zis-5 truck, Kit no. 005, a Wespe tank and Kit no. 009, a Panzer II Ausf. D.
Followed by Kit made in Russia. Not suitable for children under 36 months because of small parts. In English, French and German.
Followed by Kit made in Russia. Not suitable for children under 36 months because of small parts. In English, French and German.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 7 medium-grey parts trees in 4 sealed clear cello bags, a decal sheet and 3 PE frets in a zip-locked clear bag.
The instructions consist of an unbound booklet of 6 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the history of the Grille-M in Russian, English, German and Japanese.
Page 2 on through to page 5 gives a grand total of 15 assembly steps.
Page 6 is a painting and marking guide. It shows a 3-view of the Grille-M and illustrations of the insignias for the tank and markings that go on the ammo rounds.
The markings of a shield, with a key on it, over leaves, either a black and white, or a skeletal white German cross and an illustration of a white blow torch are to use on the sides of a Grille-M, that was with the 1st SS Panzer Division “LAH”, France, summer 1944.
The markings of a white circle, divided into 4th’s or a black rectangle, with the white divided circle at the top, over white IIPzArtReg13, either a black and white or skeletal white German cross and white Bannoder Erika are to use down the sides of a Grille-M.
That was with Panzer Division 13, Artillery Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Hungary, January 1945.
At the bottom of the page there are international assembly symbol explanations and Alan’s P.O. Box address in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Trees are alphabetized, but not illustrated in the instructions and not all have letter tabs on them.
There are 4 identical medium-grey letter A trees. They hold: individual track links, drive sprockets, idler wheels, road wheels, leaf springs etc. (66 parts each)
This kit contains 7 medium-grey parts trees in 4 sealed clear cello bags, a decal sheet and 3 PE frets in a zip-locked clear bag.
The instructions consist of an unbound booklet of 6 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the history of the Grille-M in Russian, English, German and Japanese.
Page 2 on through to page 5 gives a grand total of 15 assembly steps.
Page 6 is a painting and marking guide. It shows a 3-view of the Grille-M and illustrations of the insignias for the tank and markings that go on the ammo rounds.
The markings of a shield, with a key on it, over leaves, either a black and white, or a skeletal white German cross and an illustration of a white blow torch are to use on the sides of a Grille-M, that was with the 1st SS Panzer Division “LAH”, France, summer 1944.
The markings of a white circle, divided into 4th’s or a black rectangle, with the white divided circle at the top, over white IIPzArtReg13, either a black and white or skeletal white German cross and white Bannoder Erika are to use down the sides of a Grille-M.
That was with Panzer Division 13, Artillery Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Hungary, January 1945.
At the bottom of the page there are international assembly symbol explanations and Alan’s P.O. Box address in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Trees are alphabetized, but not illustrated in the instructions and not all have letter tabs on them.
There are 4 identical medium-grey letter A trees. They hold: individual track links, drive sprockets, idler wheels, road wheels, leaf springs etc. (66 parts each)
Medium-grey letter B tree holds: the hull bottom, fenders, exhaust, radio, tools, jack, tow hooks, ammo rounds etc. (83 parts)
Medium-grey letter C tree holds: the main gun parts, fighting-compartment walls etc. (65 parts)
Medium-grey letter D tree holds: the hull sides, top and rear etc. (19 parts)
The two brass PE frets are next. They hold the exhaust muffler screen and stowage box.
The decal sheet completes the kit’s contents.
There is really nice interior and exterior detail.
No clear parts or figures are included.
No clear parts or figures are included.
Highly recommended.