In Box Review of Trakz 1/35th Scale Sd.Kfz. 11 (late) Canvas Cover
Kit no. TX-0087
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2002
Out of production
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2002
Out of production
HISTORY:
The Sd.Kfz. 11 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug – special motor vehicle) was a German half-track that saw widespread use in World War II. Its main role was as a prime mover for medium towed guns ranging from the 3.7 cm FlaK 43 anti-aircraft gun up to the 10.5 cm leFH 18 field howitzer. It could carry eight troops in addition to towing a gun or trailer.
The basic engineering for all the German half-tracks was developed during the Weimar era by the Reichswehr Military Automotive Department, but final design and testing was farmed out to commercial firms with the understanding that production would be shared with multiple companies.
Borgward was chosen to develop the second smallest of the German half-tracks and built a series of prototypes between 1934 and 1937. However development was taken over in 1938 by Hanomag who designed the main production version, H kl 6.
The chassis formed the basis for the Sd.Kfz. 251 medium armored personnel carrier. Approximately 9,000 were produced between 1938 and 1945, making it one of the more numerous German tactical vehicles of the war. It participated in the Invasion of Poland, the Battle of France, the Balkans Campaign and fought on both the Western Front and the Eastern Front, in North Africa and in Italy.
Nine were also received by the Kingdom of Romania in late 1942.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Light half-track
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1938–1945
Used by: Nazi Germany, Kingdom of Romania
Wars: World War II
Designer: Hanomag
Designed: 1934–1938
Manufacturer: Hanomag, Adlerwerke, Horch, Škoda, Borgward
Unit cost: 22,000 Reichsmarks
Produced: 1938–1945
No. built: Approx. 9,000
Variants: Sd.Kfz. 11/1, Sd.Kfz. 11/2, Sd.Kfz. 11/3, Sd.Kfz. 11/4, Sd.Kfz. 11/5, Sd.Kfz. 251
Specifications (late Sd.Kfz. 11):
Mass: 7,200 kilograms (15,900 lb)
Length: 5.55 metres (18.2 ft)
Width: 2 metres (6.6 ft)
Height: 2.15 metres (7.1 ft)
Crew: 2 + 6
Main armament: none
Engine: 4.1L Maybach HL42 TRKM petrol 6-cylinder, water-cooled of 100 horsepower (100 PS)
Payload capacity: 1,800 kilograms (4,000 lb)
Transmission: 4 + 1 speed Hanomag U 50
Suspension: torsion bar
Ground clearance: 32 centimetres (13 in)
Fuel capacity: 110 litres (29 US gal)
Operational range: 240 kilometres (150 mi) (road), 140 kilometres (87 mi) (cross-country)
Maximum speed: 52.5 km/h (32.6 mph) (road)
The Sd.Kfz. 11 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug – special motor vehicle) was a German half-track that saw widespread use in World War II. Its main role was as a prime mover for medium towed guns ranging from the 3.7 cm FlaK 43 anti-aircraft gun up to the 10.5 cm leFH 18 field howitzer. It could carry eight troops in addition to towing a gun or trailer.
The basic engineering for all the German half-tracks was developed during the Weimar era by the Reichswehr Military Automotive Department, but final design and testing was farmed out to commercial firms with the understanding that production would be shared with multiple companies.
Borgward was chosen to develop the second smallest of the German half-tracks and built a series of prototypes between 1934 and 1937. However development was taken over in 1938 by Hanomag who designed the main production version, H kl 6.
The chassis formed the basis for the Sd.Kfz. 251 medium armored personnel carrier. Approximately 9,000 were produced between 1938 and 1945, making it one of the more numerous German tactical vehicles of the war. It participated in the Invasion of Poland, the Battle of France, the Balkans Campaign and fought on both the Western Front and the Eastern Front, in North Africa and in Italy.
Nine were also received by the Kingdom of Romania in late 1942.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Light half-track
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1938–1945
Used by: Nazi Germany, Kingdom of Romania
Wars: World War II
Designer: Hanomag
Designed: 1934–1938
Manufacturer: Hanomag, Adlerwerke, Horch, Škoda, Borgward
Unit cost: 22,000 Reichsmarks
Produced: 1938–1945
No. built: Approx. 9,000
Variants: Sd.Kfz. 11/1, Sd.Kfz. 11/2, Sd.Kfz. 11/3, Sd.Kfz. 11/4, Sd.Kfz. 11/5, Sd.Kfz. 251
Specifications (late Sd.Kfz. 11):
Mass: 7,200 kilograms (15,900 lb)
Length: 5.55 metres (18.2 ft)
Width: 2 metres (6.6 ft)
Height: 2.15 metres (7.1 ft)
Crew: 2 + 6
Main armament: none
Engine: 4.1L Maybach HL42 TRKM petrol 6-cylinder, water-cooled of 100 horsepower (100 PS)
Payload capacity: 1,800 kilograms (4,000 lb)
Transmission: 4 + 1 speed Hanomag U 50
Suspension: torsion bar
Ground clearance: 32 centimetres (13 in)
Fuel capacity: 110 litres (29 US gal)
Operational range: 240 kilometres (150 mi) (road), 140 kilometres (87 mi) (cross-country)
Maximum speed: 52.5 km/h (32.6 mph) (road)
THE KIT:
Trakz Armor Products is a model company that is based in Perth, Australia. They make many resin model kits. I have only a few kits by this company and I think I got them from an Australian pen pal years ago.
The kit comes in a blousy end-opening type box. It is 2 ¼” too long and 1 ½’ too wide.
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. (there are no decals in this kit). Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a color photo of the cover on the halftrack, that is parked on a city street. The halftrack is camouflaged.
The kit contains just one very heavy tan resin part. It must weigh a pound or over. If I use this canvas cover, I will ream out a lot of the resin from the bottom of it with a power drill to lighten it.
Trakz Armor Products is a model company that is based in Perth, Australia. They make many resin model kits. I have only a few kits by this company and I think I got them from an Australian pen pal years ago.
The kit comes in a blousy end-opening type box. It is 2 ¼” too long and 1 ½’ too wide.
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. (there are no decals in this kit). Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a color photo of the cover on the halftrack, that is parked on a city street. The halftrack is camouflaged.
The kit contains just one very heavy tan resin part. It must weigh a pound or over. If I use this canvas cover, I will ream out a lot of the resin from the bottom of it with a power drill to lighten it.
The part is highly detailed. There are no instructions included and this kit really does not need them.
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