In Box Review RPM 1/35th Scale
German (ex-French) Traktor 730(f) & Limber
Kit no. 35064
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1999
Out of production
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1999
Out of production
HISTORY:
German Reich (1940):
Type : Light Tank – Approximately 1,700 Captured
The German captured tank policy:
During World War Two, the German Army was using a large number of captured equipment, including thousands of tanks. The German army captured as many vehicles as possible, and these vehicles were gathered in special collection points where they were examined and deemed to be of any use to their new owners. Useful tanks would then be repaired, modified, and painted in German colors and markings.
Panzerkampfwagen 17R 730c(f):
Captured tanks (Beute Panzerkampfwagen) were put in active service with special captured tank units (formed in May of 1940) of Panzer or Infantry Divisions in various roles such as reconnaissance. Other vehicles were converted into weapon carriers and artillery tractors, while some were used for training purposes, policing duties, and sometimes target practice.
About the Name:
A numerical block system was used to classify captured equipment. Known as the Kenn Blatter Fremden Gerat, this listing used number categories to label foreign vehicles. Vehicle listings were divided into the following basic categories:
200 – Armored cars
300 – Half-tracked vehicles
400 – Armored half-tracked vehicles
600 – Fully-tracked artillery tractors
630 – Armored artillery tractors
700 – Tanks
800 – Gun Carriers / Self-Propelled Guns
In addition to the number system, letters were also used. Letters were used to recognize the previous user, not specifically the producer, of a certain piece of the equipment. The letter system was as follows:
(b) – Belgien – Belgium
(f) – Frankreich – France
(t) – Tschechoslowakei – Czechoslovakia
(e) – England / Kanada – Great Britain / Canada
(u) – Ungarn – Hungary
(j) – Jugoslawisch – Yugoslavia
(i) – Italien – Italy
(h) – Holland – Netherlands
(p) – Polen – Poland
(r) – Russland – Soviet Union
(a) – Amerika – United States of America
In the Renault FT‘s case, the standard FT was renamed to Panzerkampfwagen 17R 730(f) and the FT Modifié 31 was renamed to Panzerkampfwagen 18R 730(f). The “17R” and “18R” were used to differentiate the two variants from each other. The designation number 730 is a subcategory of tanks, its precise meaning being Light Tank. Additionally, the PzKpfw 17R 730(f) also had two subcategories that distinguished between cannon and machine gun variants. The 730c was the cannon variant and the 730m mounted the machine gun.
The FT in German Service:
After the fall of France, the Wehrmacht captured a total of 1,704 standard and Modified 31 Renault FT tanks. They were re-designated and painted in feldgrau (field-grey). The Balkenkreuz (Iron Cross) was also painted on the side of the turret or sides and rear of the hull. Some later units in France were painted with dark green stripes. In 1941, the Luftwaffe received 100 FTs for safety and protection duties at aerodromes and facilities. FTs given to the Luftwaffe were given WL license plates on the nose or the left side of the hull near the rear.
PanzerKampfwagen 18R 730(f) belonging to the Luftwaffe:
All captured FT Modifié 31 tanks which were not allocated to the Vichy police forces were taken over by the Wehrmacht. Some served as training machines. Others, often rearmed with a more potent machine gun, served as airfield guarding vehicles, snow ploughs, deployed in counter-insurgency forces, armored trains and for police duties in all of Europe and some even fought during the Paris uprising in August 1944.
The FT in German Service:
After the fall of France, the Wehrmacht captured a total of 1,704 standard and Modified 31 Renault FT tanks. They were redesignated and painted in feldgrau (field-grey). The Balkenkreuz (Iron Cross) was also painted on the side of the turret or sides and rear of the hull. Some later units in France were painted with dark green stripes. In 1941, the Luftwaffe received 100 FTs for safety and protection duties at aerodromes and facilities. FTs given to the Luftwaffe were given WL license plates on the nose or the left side of the hull near the rear.
Other Captured FT’s:
Apart from France, FTs were captured from Belgium, whose FTs were still in storage depots during the 1940s campaign, and Poland, which had about 100 FTs still in inventory. Germany even captured Polish FTs that were heavily modified, like some that were mounted on rails to serve as armored draisines. Other FTs were captured from Yugoslavia, which had 56 unmodified FTs during the German invasion in 1941. Some Yugoslav FTs captured by the Germans were recaptured (3rd hand) by Allied forces and used against the Germans.
German Reich (1940):
Type : Light Tank – Approximately 1,700 Captured
The German captured tank policy:
During World War Two, the German Army was using a large number of captured equipment, including thousands of tanks. The German army captured as many vehicles as possible, and these vehicles were gathered in special collection points where they were examined and deemed to be of any use to their new owners. Useful tanks would then be repaired, modified, and painted in German colors and markings.
Panzerkampfwagen 17R 730c(f):
Captured tanks (Beute Panzerkampfwagen) were put in active service with special captured tank units (formed in May of 1940) of Panzer or Infantry Divisions in various roles such as reconnaissance. Other vehicles were converted into weapon carriers and artillery tractors, while some were used for training purposes, policing duties, and sometimes target practice.
About the Name:
A numerical block system was used to classify captured equipment. Known as the Kenn Blatter Fremden Gerat, this listing used number categories to label foreign vehicles. Vehicle listings were divided into the following basic categories:
200 – Armored cars
300 – Half-tracked vehicles
400 – Armored half-tracked vehicles
600 – Fully-tracked artillery tractors
630 – Armored artillery tractors
700 – Tanks
800 – Gun Carriers / Self-Propelled Guns
In addition to the number system, letters were also used. Letters were used to recognize the previous user, not specifically the producer, of a certain piece of the equipment. The letter system was as follows:
(b) – Belgien – Belgium
(f) – Frankreich – France
(t) – Tschechoslowakei – Czechoslovakia
(e) – England / Kanada – Great Britain / Canada
(u) – Ungarn – Hungary
(j) – Jugoslawisch – Yugoslavia
(i) – Italien – Italy
(h) – Holland – Netherlands
(p) – Polen – Poland
(r) – Russland – Soviet Union
(a) – Amerika – United States of America
In the Renault FT‘s case, the standard FT was renamed to Panzerkampfwagen 17R 730(f) and the FT Modifié 31 was renamed to Panzerkampfwagen 18R 730(f). The “17R” and “18R” were used to differentiate the two variants from each other. The designation number 730 is a subcategory of tanks, its precise meaning being Light Tank. Additionally, the PzKpfw 17R 730(f) also had two subcategories that distinguished between cannon and machine gun variants. The 730c was the cannon variant and the 730m mounted the machine gun.
The FT in German Service:
After the fall of France, the Wehrmacht captured a total of 1,704 standard and Modified 31 Renault FT tanks. They were re-designated and painted in feldgrau (field-grey). The Balkenkreuz (Iron Cross) was also painted on the side of the turret or sides and rear of the hull. Some later units in France were painted with dark green stripes. In 1941, the Luftwaffe received 100 FTs for safety and protection duties at aerodromes and facilities. FTs given to the Luftwaffe were given WL license plates on the nose or the left side of the hull near the rear.
PanzerKampfwagen 18R 730(f) belonging to the Luftwaffe:
All captured FT Modifié 31 tanks which were not allocated to the Vichy police forces were taken over by the Wehrmacht. Some served as training machines. Others, often rearmed with a more potent machine gun, served as airfield guarding vehicles, snow ploughs, deployed in counter-insurgency forces, armored trains and for police duties in all of Europe and some even fought during the Paris uprising in August 1944.
The FT in German Service:
After the fall of France, the Wehrmacht captured a total of 1,704 standard and Modified 31 Renault FT tanks. They were redesignated and painted in feldgrau (field-grey). The Balkenkreuz (Iron Cross) was also painted on the side of the turret or sides and rear of the hull. Some later units in France were painted with dark green stripes. In 1941, the Luftwaffe received 100 FTs for safety and protection duties at aerodromes and facilities. FTs given to the Luftwaffe were given WL license plates on the nose or the left side of the hull near the rear.
Other Captured FT’s:
Apart from France, FTs were captured from Belgium, whose FTs were still in storage depots during the 1940s campaign, and Poland, which had about 100 FTs still in inventory. Germany even captured Polish FTs that were heavily modified, like some that were mounted on rails to serve as armored draisines. Other FTs were captured from Yugoslavia, which had 56 unmodified FTs during the German invasion in 1941. Some Yugoslav FTs captured by the Germans were recaptured (3rd hand) by Allied forces and used against the Germans.
THE KIT:
RPM is an old prolific model company based in Warsaw, Poland. They manufacture all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The cover art shows a color illustration of a 730(f) traktor parked next to a concrete bunker, tree and river. It is turret-less and has a crewman sitting atop it. It is in a camouflage pattern of a base of earth yellow with green bars. The crewman atop it is dressed in a field-grey uniform with a cloth side cap and black jack boots. He is talking to a second man behind the traktor, who is dressed the same. He is standing next to a limber that is overall Panzer grey, with a load of equipment on it covered with a canvas tarp. He has his left hand on a steel bucket that is atop a gasoline drum. The limber has it’s pull arm resting atop a green metal case.
One side panel of the box begins with a small color repeat of the box art, followed by: Model suitable for ages 8 to adult. Contains decals and instructions for assembly. Paints and plastic adhesive not included. In 3 languages, including English. Copyright for this kit is 1999, over RPM’s street address in Warsaw, Poland and kit was made there.
RPM is an old prolific model company based in Warsaw, Poland. They manufacture all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The cover art shows a color illustration of a 730(f) traktor parked next to a concrete bunker, tree and river. It is turret-less and has a crewman sitting atop it. It is in a camouflage pattern of a base of earth yellow with green bars. The crewman atop it is dressed in a field-grey uniform with a cloth side cap and black jack boots. He is talking to a second man behind the traktor, who is dressed the same. He is standing next to a limber that is overall Panzer grey, with a load of equipment on it covered with a canvas tarp. He has his left hand on a steel bucket that is atop a gasoline drum. The limber has it’s pull arm resting atop a green metal case.
One side panel of the box begins with a small color repeat of the box art, followed by: Model suitable for ages 8 to adult. Contains decals and instructions for assembly. Paints and plastic adhesive not included. In 3 languages, including English. Copyright for this kit is 1999, over RPM’s street address in Warsaw, Poland and kit was made there.
The other side panel of the box shows 5 color box arts of other kits that RPM manufactures: Kit numbers only are given, with no descriptions….sad! I had to go on line with these kit numbers to get each description. Kit no. 35014, a Lorraine 37L(f), Kit no. 35034, a TKW 1 w/interior, Kit no. 35050, a Lorraine 37L(f) mit “Stuka zu Fuss”, Kit no. 35042, a armoured tractor CP and Kit no. 35011, a Tankietka TKS.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
For the 730(f) tractor there are 4 light-grey part trees and one chalk-white one, alternate black vinyl tracks, a brass PE fret and the decal sheet in 2 sealed clear cello bags.
None of the trees for the tracktor are alphabetized. They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts.
The first 2 identical light-grey trees, for the traktor, hold: final transfer covers, drive sprockets, idler wheels etc. (96 parts ea.)
For the 730(f) tractor there are 4 light-grey part trees and one chalk-white one, alternate black vinyl tracks, a brass PE fret and the decal sheet in 2 sealed clear cello bags.
None of the trees for the tracktor are alphabetized. They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts.
The first 2 identical light-grey trees, for the traktor, hold: final transfer covers, drive sprockets, idler wheels etc. (96 parts ea.)
The third light-grey tree, for the tracktor, holds: the hull bottom, sides, top etc. (61 parts) Four parts are excess.
The fourth light-grey tree, for the tracktor, holds: lower side members. Bucket and handle (13 parts)
The fifth (and last) tree, for the tracktor, is chalk-white and hold: wheel axles and their mounting plates (32 parts)
Also there are 2 runs of black vinyl tracks. These are for the tracktor. There is a wide and a narrow version for you to choose from.
Two of the three chalk-white parts trees for the limber are alphabetized.
Chalk-white tree letter D holds: a fuel pump, cargo box, side shelves etc. (15 parts)
Chalk-white tree letter D holds: a fuel pump, cargo box, side shelves etc. (15 parts)
Chalk-white tree letter E holds: fuel drum, bucket and its handle, etc. (21 parts)
There is a sixth light grey tree that contains the trailer sides, wheels, axles. etc. (32 parts)
There is a brass PE fret of fittings for the limber.
Although there are 2 men shown on the box art, there are no figures included in the kit.
The decal sheet completes the kit’s contents. It has a Nazi flag and German white skeletal crosses on it The detail is very nice and fine.
The decal sheet completes the kit’s contents. It has a Nazi flag and German white skeletal crosses on it The detail is very nice and fine.
Highly recommended.