In Box Review of the Trumpeter 1/35th Scale German
Geschützwagen VI 21 cm Msr 18 [sf]
Kit number 01540
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2010
MSRP: $85.79
I was given this kit by the Editor of Cybermodeler Online when I was on staff there as a gift.
The kit is out of production but can be found at Hobbylinc, Sprue Brothers Models, Kitlinx, Squadron Shop, Mega Hobby and 1001 Hobbies.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2010
MSRP: $85.79
I was given this kit by the Editor of Cybermodeler Online when I was on staff there as a gift.
The kit is out of production but can be found at Hobbylinc, Sprue Brothers Models, Kitlinx, Squadron Shop, Mega Hobby and 1001 Hobbies.
HISTORY:
The Geschützwagen Tiger (G.W. Tiger) was a German self-propelled gun carrier of World War II that never saw service.
It would have been able to carry either the 17cm Kanone K72 (Sf) or the short barrelled 21cm Mörser 18/1 which had the same mounting; with the former it would be known as Grille 17, the latter Grille 21
It would have been able to carry either the 17cm Kanone K72 (Sf) or the short barrelled 21cm Mörser 18/1 which had the same mounting; with the former it would be known as Grille 17, the latter Grille 21
The decision to build this heavy artillery based on an extended chassis of the Tiger II came in June 1942. The first prototype was tested at the end of the war. However, due to Germany being on the brink of surrender, the vehicle never saw service, and was captured by the Allies. While several armaments were considered, the most practical guns mounted were the 17 cm Kanone 18, or the 21 cm Mörser 18.
As early as June 1942, it was decided to design self-propelled mounts for the heavier type of artillery so that the latter could be brought into action as quickly as possible, avoiding the break-down into small loads that transport by normal tractors entailed. In January 1943, such a carriage, based on the proposed Tiger Ausf B was ordered. initially, the 360° traverse was to be achieved by putting the complete vehicle on a turntable, but eventually, it was decided to simplify the design by making provision for winching the weapon off the rear of the carriage onto a 360° traverse platform carried on the back. The first prototype was at Sennelager for testing at the end of the war. Concern at the length of time needed to produce conventional heavy artillery led to an order in January 1945 for the production of heavy, smooth-bore mortars, capable of firing fin-stabilized projectiles over long ranges. Krupp and Škoda competed for the design, and Škoda produced a 30.5cm Gr. W. (Granatwerfer - mortar) prototype by the beginning of April 1945. A 42cm Gr. W. project was also underway. These mortars automatically returned to a 40° elevation for loading, the Grille, mounting this weapon, was to have four hydraulic jacks for stability when firing.
As early as June 1942, it was decided to design self-propelled mounts for the heavier type of artillery so that the latter could be brought into action as quickly as possible, avoiding the break-down into small loads that transport by normal tractors entailed. In January 1943, such a carriage, based on the proposed Tiger Ausf B was ordered. initially, the 360° traverse was to be achieved by putting the complete vehicle on a turntable, but eventually, it was decided to simplify the design by making provision for winching the weapon off the rear of the carriage onto a 360° traverse platform carried on the back. The first prototype was at Sennelager for testing at the end of the war. Concern at the length of time needed to produce conventional heavy artillery led to an order in January 1945 for the production of heavy, smooth-bore mortars, capable of firing fin-stabilized projectiles over long ranges. Krupp and Škoda competed for the design, and Škoda produced a 30.5cm Gr. W. (Granatwerfer - mortar) prototype by the beginning of April 1945. A 42cm Gr. W. project was also underway. These mortars automatically returned to a 40° elevation for loading, the Grille, mounting this weapon, was to have four hydraulic jacks for stability when firing.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Self-propelled artillery
Place of origin: Germany
Production history: Manufactured by Krupp with only 1 partial prototype built
Mass: 58 tonnes (64 short tons; 57 long tons)
Length: 13.00 m (42 ft 8 in)
Width: 3.27 m (10 ft 9 in)
Height: 3.15 m (10 ft 4 in)
Crew: 7
Armor: 16–30 millimetres (0.63–1.18 in)
Main armament : 170mm K 72 L/50, 210mm Mortar 18/1 L/31, 305mm GrW L/16 mortar, or 420mm Grw mortar
Secondary armament: 2 x 7.92mm machine guns
Engine: Maybach HL230P30 700 hp
Transmission: 8 forward, 4 reverse
Suspension: torsion bar
Operational range: 200 km (120 mi) on road
Maximum speed: 35 km/h (22 mph)
Place of origin: Germany
Production history: Manufactured by Krupp with only 1 partial prototype built
Mass: 58 tonnes (64 short tons; 57 long tons)
Length: 13.00 m (42 ft 8 in)
Width: 3.27 m (10 ft 9 in)
Height: 3.15 m (10 ft 4 in)
Crew: 7
Armor: 16–30 millimetres (0.63–1.18 in)
Main armament : 170mm K 72 L/50, 210mm Mortar 18/1 L/31, 305mm GrW L/16 mortar, or 420mm Grw mortar
Secondary armament: 2 x 7.92mm machine guns
Engine: Maybach HL230P30 700 hp
Transmission: 8 forward, 4 reverse
Suspension: torsion bar
Operational range: 200 km (120 mi) on road
Maximum speed: 35 km/h (22 mph)
THE KIT:
Trumpeter is an old prolific model company based in Macau, China. 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 box cover art shows a completed Geschutzwagen VI on a factory floor beside another one in the process of being built.
It is painted in a primer red paint.
Trumpeter is an old prolific model company based in Macau, China. 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 box cover art shows a completed Geschutzwagen VI on a factory floor beside another one in the process of being built.
It is painted in a primer red paint.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 15 medium-grey parts trees, a loose medium-grey hull tub part and a brass PE fret.
Only the brass PE fret is cello-bagged.
Trees are alphabetized.
There are 3 identical medium-grey letter A trees. They hold road wheels, drive sprockets, axles, final transfer covers, road wheel caps etc. (59 parts ea.)
Only the brass PE fret is cello-bagged.
Trees are alphabetized.
There are 3 identical medium-grey letter A trees. They hold road wheels, drive sprockets, axles, final transfer covers, road wheel caps etc. (59 parts ea.)
Medium-grey letter B tree holds the main gun support frames etc. (38 parts).
Medium-grey letter C tree holds: gun support frame side walls, gun cradle parts, tubes etc. (73 parts)
Medium-grey letter D tree holds:main gun round base plates, final transfer covers, fenders, turret parts etc. (23 parts)
Medium-grey letter E tree holds:main gun cradle parts etc. (18 parts)
Medium-grey letter F tree holds fighting compartment side walls etc.(47 parts)
Medium-grey letter G tree holds: the floor, roof, sides etc (20 parts)
Medium-grey letter H tree holds: idler wheels, exhaust, fenders etc. (29 parts)
There is no letter I tree.
There is no letter I tree.
Medium-grey letter J tree holds the sides and their supports etc. (28 parts)
Letter jumps to the medium-grey letter K tree. It holds storage boxes, engine parts etc. (33 parts)
Medium-grey letter L tree holds engine parts etc. (43 parts)
Medium-grey letter M tree holds more engine parts etc. (73 parts)
Lettering jumps to the medium-grey P tree. It holds main gun barrel section and parts etc. (30 parts)
The lone part of the medium-grey hull tub is next.
The final parts is the brass PE fret, the two lengths of black vinyl tracks. The brass PE fret holds air intake screens etc. (11 parts)
There is a cardboard wall at the end of the tray. These create 2 sections. One holds the PE fret and hull tub part. The other one holds all the other trees.
Springs are included in the kit.
I have added a set of my companies (Armor Research Co.) brass PE barrel rifling to the kit.
There are no crew figures included.
The kit includes many interior details.
Detail is excellent.
This kit is for advanced modelers because of the large amount of parts and its complexity. It is not for the beginner or novice modeler and not a weekend project for sure.
The kit includes many interior details.
Detail is excellent.
This kit is for advanced modelers because of the large amount of parts and its complexity. It is not for the beginner or novice modeler and not a weekend project for sure.