Wednesday, January 24

Preview: 1/16th scale Sd.Kfz. 251/22 Pakwagen on the way from Das Werk

Das Werk have offered a sneak Preview of their latest 1/16th scale German halftrack, the Sd.fz. 251/22 Pakwagen. This will be popular with modellers after a quality rendering of this type with that big gun in a big scale. We have CAD images & some info on it in our preview...

Preview: 1/16th scale Sd.Kfz. 251/22 Pakwagen on the way from Das Werk

Sd.Kfz. 251/22 Pakwagen
From Das Werk
1/16th scale
Kit No #DW16022 
Coming in 2024.
Suggested Retail Price starting at 109 Euro from the MBK Model store
The subject: The Sd.Kfz. 251/22 Pakwagen
The Sd.Kfz 251/22 was used by German forces in the later stages of World War II. A a self-propelled anti-tank gun, it was developed and produced in small numbers. Mounting the 75mm PaK-40 - a powerful anti-tank gun on a halftrack is less than ideal, but did provide much needed mobility for anti-tank guns to support infantry in defensive positions.
These vehicles were based on the Ausf D version of the widely used Sd.Kfz. 251 half-track. These vehicles were produced both as new vehicles and as field conversions. Conversion kits were shipped to field workshops for conversion of late style Sd.Kfz 251/9 with the shorter 75mm gun. Due to the chaotic final stages of World War II, the exact production number is difficult to ascertain.
Even in the late stages of World War II, the PaK-40 was a potent anti-tank gun. It could be accurately used at longer distances and at range where it was still effective against the vast majority of soviet and allied tanks. The main limitation of the the SdKfz 251/22 is the limited traverse and elevation of the gun. Unlike many tracked tank destroyers the SdKfz 251 halftrack cannot pivot. 
A limited number of shells were carried. Cramped internal arrangement probably reduced the rate of fire compared to the towed variant. The downside of the Sd.Kfz 251/22 is that it is somewhat overweight. The recoil forces probably increase wear and tear and the weight and load of the gun hampered the vehicle's mobility somewhat.
The steel armor of the Sd.Kfz 251 Ausf D halftrack provided protection against small arms fires, especially at extended range. The Sd.Kfz 251/22 is an open top vehicle. Aside from the gun shield the gun crew and commander are exposed when operating the PaK-40.
After World War 2 it was used in quantity by Yugoslavia into the early stages of the Cold War.

The kit from Das Werk
An evolution of their 1/16th scale halftrack series, Das Werk has produced some CADs of their latest incarnation, the Sd.Kfz. 251/22 Pakwagen. They reveal a little about the design and options in the kit. We will look at them to see what we can see...

Although the hull parts are not clear, this is a great illustration of the detail inside that can be seen from above.
The details of the innerworkings of the halftrack. The full engine looks like all it needs are some wiring, the dashboard is detailed. The complex wheel pattern for the tracks looks simple, but detailed in it's execution. Movable torsion bars are shown in blue on this drawing, meaning you can show this effectively on broken ground.
Three types of front visor ports are supplied in this kit, as well as two different track patterns.
The 7.5cm PaK 40 and ammo is shown here. There are two types of muzzle break ends supplied also.
There are two engine deck types included with this kit

For more information on this kit check out their site at this link on the Das Werk Website
This kit is not on the webstore yet, but it will no-doubt come up for sale first on the MBK webstore...