In Box Review of Ertl-Esci 1/35th Scale
German W/M-18 Light Howitzer Artillery Unit
Kit no. 8573
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1983
Our of production
I paid about S3.00 for my kit at Ertl’s factory outlet store
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1983
Our of production
I paid about S3.00 for my kit at Ertl’s factory outlet store
HISTORY:
The 7.5 cm leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18 (7.5 cm le.IG 18) was an infantry support gun of the German Wehrmacht used during World War II. Development of the gun began in 1927, by Rheinmetall. The crew was protected by an armoured shield. There was a mountain gun variant, the 7.5 cm le.GebIG 18. For transport, the mountain variant could be broken down into six to ten packs, the heaviest weighing 74.9 kg. These were typically assigned at two to each mountain battalion.
Six 7.5 cm le.IG 18F were manufactured in 1939. These were airborne guns, capable of being broken down into four 140 kg loads. The airborne variant had smaller wheels and no shield. There was also an infantry support gun, known as the 7.5 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/13 and designed as a replacement for the le.IG 18, which could be broken into four to six loads. However, though prototypes were tested, the German army felt that it did not improve on the existing design sufficiently to merit introduction and the army stayed with the earlier gun.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Infantry gun
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1932–1945
Used by : Nazi Germany
Wars: World War II
Designer: Rheinmetall
Designed: 1927
Manufacturer: Rheinmetall
Produced: 1932–1945
No. built: ~ 12,000
Mass: Travel: 1,560 kg (3,439 lb) Combat: 400 kg (882 lb)
Barrel length: 88 cm (3 ft) L/11.2
Crew: 5
Shell: 75 x 89mm R Fixed QF
Shell weight: 6 kg (13 lb 4 oz)
Caliber: 75 mm (3.0 in)
Breech: Top break
Recoil: Hydro-pneumatic
Carriage: Box trail
Elevation: -10° to 73°
Traverse: 12°
Rate of fire: 8-12 rpm
Muzzle velocity: 210 m/s (690 ft/s)
Maximum firing range: 3,550 m (3,880 yd)
The 7.5 cm leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18 (7.5 cm le.IG 18) was an infantry support gun of the German Wehrmacht used during World War II. Development of the gun began in 1927, by Rheinmetall. The crew was protected by an armoured shield. There was a mountain gun variant, the 7.5 cm le.GebIG 18. For transport, the mountain variant could be broken down into six to ten packs, the heaviest weighing 74.9 kg. These were typically assigned at two to each mountain battalion.
Six 7.5 cm le.IG 18F were manufactured in 1939. These were airborne guns, capable of being broken down into four 140 kg loads. The airborne variant had smaller wheels and no shield. There was also an infantry support gun, known as the 7.5 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/13 and designed as a replacement for the le.IG 18, which could be broken into four to six loads. However, though prototypes were tested, the German army felt that it did not improve on the existing design sufficiently to merit introduction and the army stayed with the earlier gun.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Infantry gun
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1932–1945
Used by : Nazi Germany
Wars: World War II
Designer: Rheinmetall
Designed: 1927
Manufacturer: Rheinmetall
Produced: 1932–1945
No. built: ~ 12,000
Mass: Travel: 1,560 kg (3,439 lb) Combat: 400 kg (882 lb)
Barrel length: 88 cm (3 ft) L/11.2
Crew: 5
Shell: 75 x 89mm R Fixed QF
Shell weight: 6 kg (13 lb 4 oz)
Caliber: 75 mm (3.0 in)
Breech: Top break
Recoil: Hydro-pneumatic
Carriage: Box trail
Elevation: -10° to 73°
Traverse: 12°
Rate of fire: 8-12 rpm
Muzzle velocity: 210 m/s (690 ft/s)
Maximum firing range: 3,550 m (3,880 yd)
THE KIT:
Ertl was a toy company based in Dyersville, IA. Fifty-six miles N.E. of my home. I went there many times to their factory discount store to purchase kits cheap.
Ertl started years ago as a manufacturer of metal farm toys - tractors, plows, combines etc. and later branched out into plastic model kits. They have gone out of business.
The kit came in a badly crushed shrink-wrapped end opening type box. The box got crushed due to the shrink-wrapping machine being set too high. Thus the kits that were crushed were all marked down in price.
Esci is an old prolific plastic model company based in Milan, Italy. They manufactured this kit there for their partner at the time –Ertl.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts of the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box is flimsy and got badly crushed over the years in my kit piles.
The cover art is both on the top and bottom of the box. It shows a WM-18 light howitzer and a 4-man crew, posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya brand does the majority of their box arts also.
The howitzer is Panzer Grey. The crewmen are all dressed in field-grey trousers, camouflaged jackets and helmet covers, with steel helmets and their trousers bloused into high black jack-boots.
Reading left to right. The first man is operating the howitzer. There are 3 spent rounds and an open ammo box near his feet. He is kneeling on his right knee.
The second man to the right Is kneeling on his left knee and is holding his hands over his ears.
The third man is holding an ammo case in his left hand and is standing.
The fourth (and last man) to the right is standing behind the gun and crouched a bit and pointing with his right arm.
On the right side of the box art it says: Four soldier figures. Detailed artillery piece. Rifles and other field equipment. Molded in color. Decals included. French and English instruction sheet. In those 2 languages.
The side panels of the box are both identical. On a bright red background it says: Made in Italy by Esci for the ERTL company in Dyersville, Ia, over Kidde Recreation Product’s address in Canada. This is followed with three color photos of the model made up.
Ertl was a toy company based in Dyersville, IA. Fifty-six miles N.E. of my home. I went there many times to their factory discount store to purchase kits cheap.
Ertl started years ago as a manufacturer of metal farm toys - tractors, plows, combines etc. and later branched out into plastic model kits. They have gone out of business.
The kit came in a badly crushed shrink-wrapped end opening type box. The box got crushed due to the shrink-wrapping machine being set too high. Thus the kits that were crushed were all marked down in price.
Esci is an old prolific plastic model company based in Milan, Italy. They manufactured this kit there for their partner at the time –Ertl.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts of the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box is flimsy and got badly crushed over the years in my kit piles.
The cover art is both on the top and bottom of the box. It shows a WM-18 light howitzer and a 4-man crew, posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya brand does the majority of their box arts also.
The howitzer is Panzer Grey. The crewmen are all dressed in field-grey trousers, camouflaged jackets and helmet covers, with steel helmets and their trousers bloused into high black jack-boots.
Reading left to right. The first man is operating the howitzer. There are 3 spent rounds and an open ammo box near his feet. He is kneeling on his right knee.
The second man to the right Is kneeling on his left knee and is holding his hands over his ears.
The third man is holding an ammo case in his left hand and is standing.
The fourth (and last man) to the right is standing behind the gun and crouched a bit and pointing with his right arm.
On the right side of the box art it says: Four soldier figures. Detailed artillery piece. Rifles and other field equipment. Molded in color. Decals included. French and English instruction sheet. In those 2 languages.
The side panels of the box are both identical. On a bright red background it says: Made in Italy by Esci for the ERTL company in Dyersville, Ia, over Kidde Recreation Product’s address in Canada. This is followed with three color photos of the model made up.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 2 black parts trees, in a sealed clear cello bag. They are not alphabetized, but they do have part number tabs next to the parts on them.
The first black tree holds: the figures (divided into separate torsos, arms and legs). Also on this tree are: 2 ammo cases, 4 steel helmets, a pistol holster, 4 grenades, a Mauser 98K carbine, 4 canteens, 3 spades in carrying-cases and 3 gas-mask canisters (37 parts)
This kit holds 2 black parts trees, in a sealed clear cello bag. They are not alphabetized, but they do have part number tabs next to the parts on them.
The first black tree holds: the figures (divided into separate torsos, arms and legs). Also on this tree are: 2 ammo cases, 4 steel helmets, a pistol holster, 4 grenades, a Mauser 98K carbine, 4 canteens, 3 spades in carrying-cases and 3 gas-mask canisters (37 parts)
The second black tree holds all the parts of the howitzer. (66 parts)
There are no decals included in the kit.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that is folded twice to create 6 pages in 4 ¾” x 8 ½” page format.
Page one has a black and white repeat of the box art on it.
Pages 2 through to page 5 gives a grand total of 9 un-numbered assembly steps.
The first four steps are for assembly of the figures.
The final steps are for assembly of the howitzer.
Page six has PLEASE READ BEFORE STARTING instructions and CAUTION: Keep open flame away from cement, paint and thinners.
Ertl is said to have been a subsidiary of Kidde at the time of this kit’s release.
Kit was made in Italy by Esci for the ERTL Company, in Dyresville, IA.
Nicely detailed kit.
Recommended.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that is folded twice to create 6 pages in 4 ¾” x 8 ½” page format.
Page one has a black and white repeat of the box art on it.
Pages 2 through to page 5 gives a grand total of 9 un-numbered assembly steps.
The first four steps are for assembly of the figures.
The final steps are for assembly of the howitzer.
Page six has PLEASE READ BEFORE STARTING instructions and CAUTION: Keep open flame away from cement, paint and thinners.
Ertl is said to have been a subsidiary of Kidde at the time of this kit’s release.
Kit was made in Italy by Esci for the ERTL Company, in Dyresville, IA.
Nicely detailed kit.
Recommended.