Tamiya 1/35th Scale
German Sturmpanzer IV Brummbar
Sd.Kfz. 166
Kit no. MM177
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1976
Available at 9 locations overseas on the web.
I paid $8.98 for my kit, back in the 70’s.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1976
Available at 9 locations overseas on the web.
I paid $8.98 for my kit, back in the 70’s.
HISTORY:
The Sturmpanzer (also known as Sturmpanzer 43 or Sd.Kfz. 166) was a German armored infantry support gun based on the Panzer IV chassis used in the Second World War. It was used at the Battles of Kursk, Anzio, Normandy, and was deployed in the Warsaw Uprising.
It was known by the nickname Brummbär (German: "Grouch") by Allied intelligence, a name which was not used by the Germans. German soldiers nicknamed it the "Stupa", a contraction of the term Sturmpanzer. Just over 300 vehicles were built and they were assigned to four independent battalions.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Heavy assault gun
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
Designer: Alkett
Designed: 1942–43
Manufacturer: Vienna Arsenal (Series IIII), Deutsche Eisenwerke (Series IV)
Produced: 1943–1945
No. built: 306
Mass: 28.2 tonnes (62,170 lbs)
Length: 5.93 metres (19 ft 5 in)
Width: 2.88 metres (9 ft 5 in)
Height: 2.52 metres (8 ft 3 in)
Crew: 5 (driver, commander, gunner, 2 loaders)
Armor: Front: 100 mm (3.93 in)
Main armament: 15 cm StuH 43 L/12
Secondary armament: Series IV: 1 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MG 34
Engine: liquid-cooled V-12 Maybach HL 120 TRM of 300 PS (296 hp, 220 kW)
Power/weight:: 10.64 PS/tonne
Suspension: two-wheel leaf-spring bogies
Operational range: Road: 210 km (130 mi)
Maximum speed; Road: 40 km/h (25 mph), Off-road: 24 km/h (15 mph)
The Sturmpanzer (also known as Sturmpanzer 43 or Sd.Kfz. 166) was a German armored infantry support gun based on the Panzer IV chassis used in the Second World War. It was used at the Battles of Kursk, Anzio, Normandy, and was deployed in the Warsaw Uprising.
It was known by the nickname Brummbär (German: "Grouch") by Allied intelligence, a name which was not used by the Germans. German soldiers nicknamed it the "Stupa", a contraction of the term Sturmpanzer. Just over 300 vehicles were built and they were assigned to four independent battalions.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Heavy assault gun
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
Designer: Alkett
Designed: 1942–43
Manufacturer: Vienna Arsenal (Series IIII), Deutsche Eisenwerke (Series IV)
Produced: 1943–1945
No. built: 306
Mass: 28.2 tonnes (62,170 lbs)
Length: 5.93 metres (19 ft 5 in)
Width: 2.88 metres (9 ft 5 in)
Height: 2.52 metres (8 ft 3 in)
Crew: 5 (driver, commander, gunner, 2 loaders)
Armor: Front: 100 mm (3.93 in)
Main armament: 15 cm StuH 43 L/12
Secondary armament: Series IV: 1 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MG 34
Engine: liquid-cooled V-12 Maybach HL 120 TRM of 300 PS (296 hp, 220 kW)
Power/weight:: 10.64 PS/tonne
Suspension: two-wheel leaf-spring bogies
Operational range: Road: 210 km (130 mi)
Maximum speed; Road: 40 km/h (25 mph), Off-road: 24 km/h (15 mph)
THE KIT:
Tamiya is an old prolific model company based in Japan.
They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a Brummbar posed against one of Tamiya’s SIGNATURE all-white backgrounds that they use for the majority of their box arts.
It is in a base of earth-yellow with faded bands of green camouflage. It has a small skeletal white German cross on its sides. Two crewmen are looking out of the top hatches. They wear field-gray uniforms and cloth side caps.
It says that there are 2 figures included. With armour plate. Fully detailed plastic tracks. Ready to assemble plastic model set.
One side panel repeats the cover are in color, followed by the history of the Brummbar in Japanese only
The other side panel shows 5 color box-arts of other AFV kits that Tamiya manufactures: A Panzer Kampfwagen IV Ausf.M/N, a Panther German Tank, a Tiger I German Tank, a Jagdpanther German Tank and a Hunting Tiger German Tank.
Tamiya is an old prolific model company based in Japan.
They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a Brummbar posed against one of Tamiya’s SIGNATURE all-white backgrounds that they use for the majority of their box arts.
It is in a base of earth-yellow with faded bands of green camouflage. It has a small skeletal white German cross on its sides. Two crewmen are looking out of the top hatches. They wear field-gray uniforms and cloth side caps.
It says that there are 2 figures included. With armour plate. Fully detailed plastic tracks. Ready to assemble plastic model set.
One side panel repeats the cover are in color, followed by the history of the Brummbar in Japanese only
The other side panel shows 5 color box-arts of other AFV kits that Tamiya manufactures: A Panzer Kampfwagen IV Ausf.M/N, a Panther German Tank, a Tiger I German Tank, a Jagdpanther German Tank and a Hunting Tiger German Tank.
No kit numbers are provided for these 5 kits. I assume they are all to 1/35th scale.
The other has Japanese text and what I believe is the history of the vehicle. The is also a repeat of the box art.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 5 tan trees, tan hull tub and top, 2 black vinyl trees of tracks and 2 black vinyl trees of washers and he decal sheet in 4 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7 ¼” x 10 ¼” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the history of the Bummbar in Japanese only, with a black and white photo of an actual Brummbar that is on display at the Aberdeen Museum in Maryland.
Page 2 has the parts-trees illustrations of only 4 of the 5 parts trees and not tree letter E or the hull tub or top shown There is a list of the parts names in Japanese only too.
The bottom of the page has a black and white photo of the model made up.
Page 3 through to page 7 gives a grand total of 14 assembly steps. There are black and white walk-around type photos of the model made up. All text is in Japanese only.
Page 8 is the painting and marking guide.
It shows two 3-views of the Brummbar.
The first one is in a base of earth-yellow with narrow bands of green stripe camouflage. It has a small German cross on its sides. Two different tactical markings are shown and 4 division markings that you choose from. However, their names are only in Japanese, so I cannot tell what outfits they are for.
The second 3-view is overall Panzer Gray with a small German cross on its sides. You can choose to put either a white number 1 or 15 on the sides of the fighting compartment.
Tan tree letter A holds: bogies, idler wheels, drive sprockets, road wheels, final transfer covers etc. (73 parts)
This kit holds 5 tan trees, tan hull tub and top, 2 black vinyl trees of tracks and 2 black vinyl trees of washers and he decal sheet in 4 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7 ¼” x 10 ¼” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the history of the Bummbar in Japanese only, with a black and white photo of an actual Brummbar that is on display at the Aberdeen Museum in Maryland.
Page 2 has the parts-trees illustrations of only 4 of the 5 parts trees and not tree letter E or the hull tub or top shown There is a list of the parts names in Japanese only too.
The bottom of the page has a black and white photo of the model made up.
Page 3 through to page 7 gives a grand total of 14 assembly steps. There are black and white walk-around type photos of the model made up. All text is in Japanese only.
Page 8 is the painting and marking guide.
It shows two 3-views of the Brummbar.
The first one is in a base of earth-yellow with narrow bands of green stripe camouflage. It has a small German cross on its sides. Two different tactical markings are shown and 4 division markings that you choose from. However, their names are only in Japanese, so I cannot tell what outfits they are for.
The second 3-view is overall Panzer Gray with a small German cross on its sides. You can choose to put either a white number 1 or 15 on the sides of the fighting compartment.
Tan tree letter A holds: bogies, idler wheels, drive sprockets, road wheels, final transfer covers etc. (73 parts)
Tan tree letter B holds: more road wheels, tools, jack, fuel tank, rear hull wall, fire extinguisher, tow hooks etc. (55 parts)
Tan tree letter C holds: fenders, figures, muzzle, length of gun barrel, wall panels etc. (39 parts)
Tan tree letter D holds: side skirt armor plates, alternate idler wheels etc. (56 parts)
Tan tree letter E holds: more road wheels, individual track links, 2 coiled up and two extended tow-cables, 3 steel helmets, 2 jerry cans etc. (76 parts) As already said, this tree is not illustrated in the instructions. Odd!!
The tan hull tub and roof are next (1 part ea.)
There are two black vinyl runs of tread and 2 black vinyl trees of washers (18 parts on the long tree and 4 parts on the small tree)
There is a small single sheet that is folded in the center to create 4 pages in 4 ½” x 6” page format, It is a black and white catalogue showing Tamiya kit of a Honda CB750 motorcycle. Text is all in Japanese, so I don’t have a clue what the scale is for this.
There are no clear parts or any interior details provided.
There are no clear parts or any interior details provided.
The decal sheet completes the kit.
I purchased the Eduard brand Zimmerit anti-mine paste, brass PE fret no. 35 420 and have applied it , using super-glue to this model. It is on the hull bottom and top and rear wall. I have to assemble and paint and mark the kit yet to finish it.
This Zimmerit set really dresses up this model and I recommend getting a set to others.
This Zimmerit set really dresses up this model and I recommend getting a set to others.
Great external detail with a lot of tiny parts to assemble. Kit is not for beginners or is a weekend project.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.