In Box Review of Ertl-Esci 1/35th Scale Nebelwerfer 41
German Smoke-Unit
Kit no. 8570
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1983
Out of production.
I purchased my kit at the Ertl factory discount store in Dyerville, IA, yeas ago, for a cheap $2.80.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1983
Out of production.
I purchased my kit at the Ertl factory discount store in Dyerville, IA, yeas ago, for a cheap $2.80.
HISTORY:
The Nebelwerfer (smoke mortar) was a World War II German series of weapons. They were initially developed by and assigned to the Wehrmacht's "smoke troops" (Nebeltruppen). This weapon was given its name as a disinformation strategy designed to fool observers from the League of Nations, who were observing any possible infraction of the Treaty of Versailles, into thinking that it was merely a device for creating a smoke screen.
They were primarily intended to deliver poison gas and smoke shells, although a high-explosive shell was developed for the Nebelwerfer from the beginning. Initially, two different mortars were fielded before they were replaced by a variety of rocket launchers ranging in size from 15 to 32 centimeters (5.9 to 12.6 in).
The thin walls of the rockets had the great advantage of allowing much larger quantities of gases, fluids or high explosives to be delivered than artillery or even mortar shells of the same weight.
With the exception of the Balkans Campaign, Nebelwerfer were used in every campaign of the German Army during World War II. A version of the 21 cm caliber system was adapted for air-to-air use against Allied bombers.
The Nebelwerfer (smoke mortar) was a World War II German series of weapons. They were initially developed by and assigned to the Wehrmacht's "smoke troops" (Nebeltruppen). This weapon was given its name as a disinformation strategy designed to fool observers from the League of Nations, who were observing any possible infraction of the Treaty of Versailles, into thinking that it was merely a device for creating a smoke screen.
They were primarily intended to deliver poison gas and smoke shells, although a high-explosive shell was developed for the Nebelwerfer from the beginning. Initially, two different mortars were fielded before they were replaced by a variety of rocket launchers ranging in size from 15 to 32 centimeters (5.9 to 12.6 in).
The thin walls of the rockets had the great advantage of allowing much larger quantities of gases, fluids or high explosives to be delivered than artillery or even mortar shells of the same weight.
With the exception of the Balkans Campaign, Nebelwerfer were used in every campaign of the German Army during World War II. A version of the 21 cm caliber system was adapted for air-to-air use against Allied bombers.
THE KIT:
Ertl was based in Dyersville, IA. They were a division of Kidde Recreation Products in Ontario, Canada and associated with Esci in Italy. I think all these companies went out of business.
The kit came in a taped-shut end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box. Because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end-flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art has the artwork on the left half. It is a color illustration of the Nebelwerfer and the crew. Piled around the rocket-launcher is two rocket storage tubes, a shovel, a mess kit, two canteens and a Mauser 98K carbine.
The men all wear winter white parkas and quilted trousers, that are bloused at the bottom over low black shoes. They all wear white steel helmets.
They all have full field gear on them.
All the men are standing.
One man is looking through a pair of binoculars. Two men are carrying rocket rounds in their arms. The fourth man is playing out a roll of ignition-wire.
The right side of the cover art lists features of the kit in English and French:
Four soldier figures. Multi-pose rocket-launcher with rockets, Rifles, and support equipment. Over 100 parts. Molded in color. French and English instruction sheets.
Cover art is on both the top and bottom of the box.
Both side panels show 3 color photos of the model made up, with Ertl’s and Esci's office addresses provided.
Ertl was based in Dyersville, IA. They were a division of Kidde Recreation Products in Ontario, Canada and associated with Esci in Italy. I think all these companies went out of business.
The kit came in a taped-shut end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box. Because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end-flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art has the artwork on the left half. It is a color illustration of the Nebelwerfer and the crew. Piled around the rocket-launcher is two rocket storage tubes, a shovel, a mess kit, two canteens and a Mauser 98K carbine.
The men all wear winter white parkas and quilted trousers, that are bloused at the bottom over low black shoes. They all wear white steel helmets.
They all have full field gear on them.
All the men are standing.
One man is looking through a pair of binoculars. Two men are carrying rocket rounds in their arms. The fourth man is playing out a roll of ignition-wire.
The right side of the cover art lists features of the kit in English and French:
Four soldier figures. Multi-pose rocket-launcher with rockets, Rifles, and support equipment. Over 100 parts. Molded in color. French and English instruction sheets.
Cover art is on both the top and bottom of the box.
Both side panels show 3 color photos of the model made up, with Ertl’s and Esci's office addresses provided.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The box holds two very dark-green parts trees and the decal sheet in a sealed clear cello bag.
The instructions consists of a staple-bound booklet of 8 pages in 7” x 8 ½” page format, folded in half to fit the box.
Page 1 shows a black and white repeat of the cover art, but it is missing two of the figures.
Page 2 has PLEASE READ THIS PAGE BEFORE STARTING instructions.
Page 3 and half of page 4 are un-numbered assembly drawings for the figures.
The other half of page 4 though to page 7 gives un-numbered assembly drawings for the Nebelwerfer.
Page 8 lists other kits from Ertl:
Kit no. 8205, a Vought A7E Corsair II
Kit no. 8206, a M.D.D. A-4E/F Skyhawk
Kit no. 8208, a F-5E Tiger Dog Fighter
Kit no. 8213, a F-4B/J Navy Phantom
Kit no. 8215, a E-4C/D MiG-Killer
Kit no. 8216, a Viking Sub Hunter
Kit no. 8570, German Smoke Unit-Nebelwerfer (This kit)
Kit no. 8571, British Paratroop Unit “Red Devils'”
Kit no.8572, German Sturmtruppen “Sapper Unit”
Kit no.8574, British Camp “Rest Area”
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions. They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees.
One very dark-green tree holds the parts of the Nebelwerfer (113 parts) Although the rocket storage tubes are provided, the rockets themselves are not.
The box holds two very dark-green parts trees and the decal sheet in a sealed clear cello bag.
The instructions consists of a staple-bound booklet of 8 pages in 7” x 8 ½” page format, folded in half to fit the box.
Page 1 shows a black and white repeat of the cover art, but it is missing two of the figures.
Page 2 has PLEASE READ THIS PAGE BEFORE STARTING instructions.
Page 3 and half of page 4 are un-numbered assembly drawings for the figures.
The other half of page 4 though to page 7 gives un-numbered assembly drawings for the Nebelwerfer.
Page 8 lists other kits from Ertl:
Kit no. 8205, a Vought A7E Corsair II
Kit no. 8206, a M.D.D. A-4E/F Skyhawk
Kit no. 8208, a F-5E Tiger Dog Fighter
Kit no. 8213, a F-4B/J Navy Phantom
Kit no. 8215, a E-4C/D MiG-Killer
Kit no. 8216, a Viking Sub Hunter
Kit no. 8570, German Smoke Unit-Nebelwerfer (This kit)
Kit no. 8571, British Paratroop Unit “Red Devils'”
Kit no.8572, German Sturmtruppen “Sapper Unit”
Kit no.8574, British Camp “Rest Area”
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions. They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees.
One very dark-green tree holds the parts of the Nebelwerfer (113 parts) Although the rocket storage tubes are provided, the rockets themselves are not.
The other very dark-green tree holds: the 4 figures, 4 rocket storage tubes, 4 mess kits, 4 gas mask canisters, a bread bag, 4 steel helmets, 3 shovels in carrying cases, 4 canteens, 3 Mauser 98 carbines, 3 canvas pouches, 4 anti-personnel mines and 4 base plates to stand the figures on. (70 parts)
The decal sheet completes the kit’s contents. It holds steel helmet insignias.
This is a diorama waiting to happen. Very good detail.
Highly recommended if you can find the kit for sale someplace, after 40+ years.