In Bag Review of Hobbymodellbau Schmidt 1/35th Scale
Pz. Spahwagen 221 mit s.Pz. B 41
Kit no. 2040
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: At least 20 years ago.
Out of production
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: At least 20 years ago.
Out of production
HISTORY:
The Sd. Kfz. 221 base model and first production series of light armoured car built on a standardised chassis for military use; full designation was Leichter Panzerspähwagen (M.G.) The Sd.Kfz. 221 was armed with a single 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr (MG) 13 machine gun, replaced from 1938 onwards with a Maschinengewehr (MG) 34.
It had a two-man crew (driver and commander/gunner), and was equipped with four-wheel drive. Production ran from 1935 to 1940 with at least 339 vehicles produced. It was only produced with Ausf. A chassis and a maximum frontal armour of 14.5 mm. Some Sd. Kfz 221 were rearmed with a 2.8 cm sPzB 41 heavy anti-tank rifle in a modified turret.
The Leichter Panzerspähwagen (German: "light armoured reconnaissance vehicle") was a series of light four-wheel drive armoured cars produced by Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1944.
The Sd.Kfz. 221 was the first in a series of light reconnaissance vehicles designed to meet operational requirements including reliability, an ability to run on a variety of grades of fuel, simple construction and good off-road performance.
However, this type proved too small and too lightly armed, so in 1936-37 a heavier version was planned, using one of two standard chassis for four-wheeled armoured cars - one with a front-mounted engine, the other rear-mounted.
The latter was used in the Sd.Kfz. 222, which then became the standard light armoured car in German army service until the defeat of Nazi Germany. The vehicles were developed by Eisenwerk Weserhütte of Bad Oeynhausen by using the chassis of the type Horch 108 (one of the Einheits-PKW der Wehrmacht standardised designs of heavy off-road car for the armed forces) with an angled armoured body and turret. Chassis were built by Horch (Auto Union) in Zwickau and assembled by F. Schichau of Elbing and Maschinenfabrik Niedersachsen in Hannover-Linden.
The rear-mounted petrol engine was originally a 3.5 Litre Horch V8 with 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) (Ausf. A chassis); from 1942, this was replaced by a 3.8 Litre with 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) (Ausf. B chassis), giving 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 in the deserts of the North African campaign, this class of vehicle was hampered by its relatively poor off-road performance.
The Sd.Kfz. 222 was fitted with heavier armament and a larger turret than the Sd.Kfz. 221 but it was still comparatively cramped and lacked top protection other than a wire screen designed to allow grenades to roll off, but this made using the main armament problematic. The machine gun was mounted coaxially with the autocannon, and both weapons were pintle-mounted, and fitted with an elevation and traverse mechanism and floor-mounted firing mechanisms.
The turret was rotated by the traversing weapons rather than the weapons being fixed to a traversing turret. There was thus no bearing-ring and no turret basket, only a fighting compartment largely obstructed by the breeches of the weapons.
When the limitations of the vehicle were highlighted during the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 the Sd.Kfz. 222 was gradually replaced in the reconnaissance role by the Sd.Kfz. 250 half-track, but the turret and armament of the Sd Kfz 222 was sometimes retained, despite its shortcomings (the Sd.Kfz. 250/9 variant was a Sd.Kfz. 250 fitted with a top plate surmounted by the same turret and gun combination of the Sd.Kfz 222 fitted to the half-track).
Captured Sd.Kfz 222s were examined by Soviet designers before they created the similar BA-64 light armoured car.
Front and sides were made of 8 mm (0.3 in) RHA; thinner 5 mm (0.2 in) plates protected the top, rear, and bottom. Cast vision ports later replaced ports cut into the armour. The open-topped turret was fitted with wire mesh anti-grenade screens.
Beginning in 1939, the front armour was increased to 14.5 mm (0.6 in). In 1942, the Ausf. B chassis was introduced; this had 30 mm of frontal armour, as well as a more powerful engine.
Base model and first production series of light armoured car built on a standardised chassis for military use; full designation was Leichter Panzerspähwagen (M.G.) The Sd.Kfz. 221 was armed with a single 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr (MG) 13 machine gun, replaced from 1938 onwards with a Maschinengewehr (MG) 34.
It had a two-man crew (driver and commander/gunner), and was equipped with four-wheel drive. Production ran from 1935 to 1940 with at least 339 vehicles produced. It was only produced with Ausf. A chassis and a maximum frontal armour of 14.5 mm. Some Sd. Kfz 221 were rearmed with a 2.8 cm sPzB 41 heavy anti-tank rifle in a modified turret.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Armored car / Scout car
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
Used by: Nazi Germany, Republic of China
Wars: Second Sino-Japanese War, World War II
Designer: Eisenwerk Weserhütte
Manufacturer: Auto Union, F. Schichau
Unit cost: 23,420 Reichsmarks
Produced: 1935–1944
No. built: 2,394
Mass: 4,000 kg (8,800 lb)
Length: 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in)
Width: 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Height: 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in)
Crew: 3
Armour: 5–14.5 mm (0.20–0.57 in)
Main armament: 1 × MG34 machine gun (for Sd.Kfz 221) or 1 × 2 cm KwK 30 L/55 autocannon (for Sd.Kfz 222)
Secondary armament: 1 × Maschinengewehr 34 (for Sd.Kfz 222)
Engine: Horch 3.8 V8 petrol of 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp)
Suspension: 4x4
Operational range: 350 km (220 mi)
Maximum speed: Road: 80 km/h (50 mph), Cross-country: 40 km/h (25 mph)
The Sd. Kfz. 221 base model and first production series of light armoured car built on a standardised chassis for military use; full designation was Leichter Panzerspähwagen (M.G.) The Sd.Kfz. 221 was armed with a single 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr (MG) 13 machine gun, replaced from 1938 onwards with a Maschinengewehr (MG) 34.
It had a two-man crew (driver and commander/gunner), and was equipped with four-wheel drive. Production ran from 1935 to 1940 with at least 339 vehicles produced. It was only produced with Ausf. A chassis and a maximum frontal armour of 14.5 mm. Some Sd. Kfz 221 were rearmed with a 2.8 cm sPzB 41 heavy anti-tank rifle in a modified turret.
The Leichter Panzerspähwagen (German: "light armoured reconnaissance vehicle") was a series of light four-wheel drive armoured cars produced by Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1944.
The Sd.Kfz. 221 was the first in a series of light reconnaissance vehicles designed to meet operational requirements including reliability, an ability to run on a variety of grades of fuel, simple construction and good off-road performance.
However, this type proved too small and too lightly armed, so in 1936-37 a heavier version was planned, using one of two standard chassis for four-wheeled armoured cars - one with a front-mounted engine, the other rear-mounted.
The latter was used in the Sd.Kfz. 222, which then became the standard light armoured car in German army service until the defeat of Nazi Germany. The vehicles were developed by Eisenwerk Weserhütte of Bad Oeynhausen by using the chassis of the type Horch 108 (one of the Einheits-PKW der Wehrmacht standardised designs of heavy off-road car for the armed forces) with an angled armoured body and turret. Chassis were built by Horch (Auto Union) in Zwickau and assembled by F. Schichau of Elbing and Maschinenfabrik Niedersachsen in Hannover-Linden.
The rear-mounted petrol engine was originally a 3.5 Litre Horch V8 with 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) (Ausf. A chassis); from 1942, this was replaced by a 3.8 Litre with 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) (Ausf. B chassis), giving 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 in the deserts of the North African campaign, this class of vehicle was hampered by its relatively poor off-road performance.
The Sd.Kfz. 222 was fitted with heavier armament and a larger turret than the Sd.Kfz. 221 but it was still comparatively cramped and lacked top protection other than a wire screen designed to allow grenades to roll off, but this made using the main armament problematic. The machine gun was mounted coaxially with the autocannon, and both weapons were pintle-mounted, and fitted with an elevation and traverse mechanism and floor-mounted firing mechanisms.
The turret was rotated by the traversing weapons rather than the weapons being fixed to a traversing turret. There was thus no bearing-ring and no turret basket, only a fighting compartment largely obstructed by the breeches of the weapons.
When the limitations of the vehicle were highlighted during the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 the Sd.Kfz. 222 was gradually replaced in the reconnaissance role by the Sd.Kfz. 250 half-track, but the turret and armament of the Sd Kfz 222 was sometimes retained, despite its shortcomings (the Sd.Kfz. 250/9 variant was a Sd.Kfz. 250 fitted with a top plate surmounted by the same turret and gun combination of the Sd.Kfz 222 fitted to the half-track).
Captured Sd.Kfz 222s were examined by Soviet designers before they created the similar BA-64 light armoured car.
Front and sides were made of 8 mm (0.3 in) RHA; thinner 5 mm (0.2 in) plates protected the top, rear, and bottom. Cast vision ports later replaced ports cut into the armour. The open-topped turret was fitted with wire mesh anti-grenade screens.
Beginning in 1939, the front armour was increased to 14.5 mm (0.6 in). In 1942, the Ausf. B chassis was introduced; this had 30 mm of frontal armour, as well as a more powerful engine.
Base model and first production series of light armoured car built on a standardised chassis for military use; full designation was Leichter Panzerspähwagen (M.G.) The Sd.Kfz. 221 was armed with a single 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr (MG) 13 machine gun, replaced from 1938 onwards with a Maschinengewehr (MG) 34.
It had a two-man crew (driver and commander/gunner), and was equipped with four-wheel drive. Production ran from 1935 to 1940 with at least 339 vehicles produced. It was only produced with Ausf. A chassis and a maximum frontal armour of 14.5 mm. Some Sd. Kfz 221 were rearmed with a 2.8 cm sPzB 41 heavy anti-tank rifle in a modified turret.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Armored car / Scout car
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
Used by: Nazi Germany, Republic of China
Wars: Second Sino-Japanese War, World War II
Designer: Eisenwerk Weserhütte
Manufacturer: Auto Union, F. Schichau
Unit cost: 23,420 Reichsmarks
Produced: 1935–1944
No. built: 2,394
Mass: 4,000 kg (8,800 lb)
Length: 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in)
Width: 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Height: 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in)
Crew: 3
Armour: 5–14.5 mm (0.20–0.57 in)
Main armament: 1 × MG34 machine gun (for Sd.Kfz 221) or 1 × 2 cm KwK 30 L/55 autocannon (for Sd.Kfz 222)
Secondary armament: 1 × Maschinengewehr 34 (for Sd.Kfz 222)
Engine: Horch 3.8 V8 petrol of 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp)
Suspension: 4x4
Operational range: 350 km (220 mi)
Maximum speed: Road: 80 km/h (50 mph), Cross-country: 40 km/h (25 mph)
THE KIT:
Hobbymodellbau Schmidt is based in Germany.
This kit was willed to me by a modeler friend who died of cancer years ago. He lived in a tiny apartment, with little room for his model collection. He removed a lot of the parts from boxes and then threw the boxes away to make room for his collection.
I got this kit wrapped in just a cello bag.
It is manufactured as a vacu-formed kit of white plastic sheet. It comes packaged with Hobbymodellbau kit no. 2044. Which is the main gun parts.
Hobbymodellbau Schmidt is based in Germany.
This kit was willed to me by a modeler friend who died of cancer years ago. He lived in a tiny apartment, with little room for his model collection. He removed a lot of the parts from boxes and then threw the boxes away to make room for his collection.
I got this kit wrapped in just a cello bag.
It is manufactured as a vacu-formed kit of white plastic sheet. It comes packaged with Hobbymodellbau kit no. 2044. Which is the main gun parts.
WHAT’S IN THE KIT:
The kit holds a vacu-formed white plastic sheet, in a clear cello bag, with the parts of the hull on it (6 parts)
The kit holds a vacu-formed white plastic sheet, in a clear cello bag, with the parts of the hull on it (6 parts)
Two zip-locked cello bags hold the parts of the gun, it’s shields and base etc. (18 parts) Hobbymodellbau kit no. 2044.
This kit is to use to backdate a Tamiya brand Pz. Spw. 222 back to a 221.
This kit is to use to backdate a Tamiya brand Pz. Spw. 222 back to a 221.
There is a card with Hobbymodellbau address on it and a 3” x 4 ½” slip printed on one side, with illustrations of the metal part
The instructions consist of a single sheet, that is printed on one side in 16 ½” x 11 ¼” format. It shows the metal parts as an exploded drawing and illustrations of what to cut off the Tamiya kit to form the 221 version. Sheet folded 3 times to fit the bag.
The instructions consist of a single sheet, that is printed on one side in 16 ½” x 11 ¼” format. It shows the metal parts as an exploded drawing and illustrations of what to cut off the Tamiya kit to form the 221 version. Sheet folded 3 times to fit the bag.
The detail is excellent.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.