Thursday, August 22

Takom's new art & a BIG box combine their Sd.Kfz.201/1 & 3's + Rommel figure...

Takom has combined their new 16th scale Erwin Rommel figure, 35th scale Sd.Kfz 250/3 halftrack "GREIF" & their earlier Sd.Kfz.201 in the one big set for modellers. We look at the new art for extra info in our preview...

Takom's new art & a BIG box combine their Sd.Kfz.201/1 & 3 + Rommel figure...

Combining the three into one BIG box...
Takom has added two of their latest Sd.Kfz.250 Halftracks in 35th scale and their recent 16th scale Erwin Rommel figure to make one of their prized "Big Boxes" combining the three in the one set. We look at all three with this new art which has let us know a few more things about the kits themselves.

Sd.Kfz.250/3 "GREIF" Rommel's command half-track
From Takom
Kit No# 2194
1/35th scale
5 marking choices
Two figures included
Grey Injection moulded plastic + cable + Photo-etch parts...
Price: $42 USD from @Hobbylink Japan
The Subject: Erwin Rommel's "Greif" Sd.Kfz250/8 halftrack...
The "Desert Fox" had plenty of notable command vehicles during his time in command of the Afrika Korps. One of the most notable was the Sd.Kfz.250/3 halftrack named "GREIF" (English: 'Griffin'). This was a standard vehicle upgraded if you will with not only the regular western desert extra jerry cans and stowage, but with all of the radios and signal gear & the radio aerial frame that Rommel needed to communicate with his units in the line and the rear (if he was up front as in all the propaganda of the time showed).

Rommel amidst advancing units in his Sd.Kfz. 250/3 command vehicle "GREIF"
Saying that it was just a standard halftrack wasn't really correct then, as "Greif" featured an Sd.Kfz.250/Z Panzeraufbau armoured superstructure that had unique characteristics such as a vision port in the rear door and a different overhanging shape at the rear. 
Although there were also photos of the similar command vehicles; "ADLER" (Eagle) and "IGEL" (Hedgehog),  GREIF was the one that was most captured by propaganda reels, mostly shot in late spring/early summer of 1942, around the time of the Battle of Gazala, and the final assault on Tobruk (26 May to 21 June 1942).
The racks of jerry cans were a distinctive theme of recon and long distance halftracks. We noticed that this halftrack had it's rubber trackpads either worn off or removed. A common thing with these halftracks in the western desert.

This new kit from Takom:
This kit is a continuation of their Sd.Kfz.250 kits, this one has all of the features that would match up with "GREIF" - thought there are five marking choices in total , hopefully the others in this group :-). Take a look at some of the CADs below..

The new kit's details in CAD: the front and rear views of the vehicle, showing the small amount of photo-etch in a gold colour.
The impressive array of radios for the vehicle is shown here, 
In the kit there are also two 1/35th scale figures included. The driver and Erwin Rommel himself. This is a good base to start from, as modellers will want to add their own figures anyway to be "unique" :-)
A lot of features/ options are offered in this kit. They are shown in both red and blue. From photos, you can see these options at different times, so it is great for Takom to add these. Alternate tyres, stowage, bags, a blanket, that cable and backpacks are included, sculpted digitally by the designer Jason Wong.
There is photo-etch included for the kit, showing grilles, straps, brackets & number plate amongst other parts. A cable is included for the front which matches the photos we have of the vehicle.
Apparently there are workable tracks for this kit - but whether you would want to actually turn them is something else.
The main reason for workable tracks is the positional suspension that has some range of movement..



Sd.Kfz.250/1 Half-track
From Takom
Kit No# 2184
1/35th scale
4 marking choices
Driver figure included + stowage
Grey Injection moulded plastic + cable + Photo-etch parts...
The Subject: Sd.Kfz.250/1 
The Sd.Kfz. 250 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 250; 'special motor vehicle') was a light armoured half-track, very similar in appearance to the larger Hanomag-designed Sd.Kfz. 251, and built by the DEMAG firm, for use by Nazi Germany in World War II. Most variants were open-topped and had a single access door in the rear.

Leichter Schutzenpanzer Sd.Kfz.250/1 number 102
Eastern Front, 1944.
The Sd. Kfz 250 was adopted in 1939 to supplement the standard half-track. Production delays meant that the first vehicle did not appear until mid-1941.

SdKfz 250 neu light armoured halftracks Balkans 1943
The le.SPW Sd.Kfz.250/1 Ausf.B (neu) weighed in at just over 5 tons, and it was manufactured by Demag from the end of June 1943 for the German Wehrmacht of World War Two. The "Neu" had room for six soldiers and was equipped with two MG 34s with 2010 rounds, was later produced by a total of four different companies.

The SdKfz 250 ausf B "neu" in the Balkans 1943


Erwin Rommel
From Takom
Kit No# 1022
1/16th scale
Designed by Jason Wong
Grey Injection moulded plastic

We are sure this guy needs no introduction. He can be seen here in CAD lifting his Field Marshal's baton. Interestingly, he is seen here in a rather standard uniform, without some of the more unique Western Desert gear (no eye goggles etc). One might think you could use him for either a desert or a French scene before D-Day, or even any time after he became a marshal.
The figure in CAD form - He is also designed by Jason Wong. 

That is all we have on this one for now - keep tuned for more info on the kits soon...
You can see more about Takom's kits on their website or on their Facebook page.