ALAN'S 1/35TH FLAMMPANZER II AUSF. D

PRICE: $24.98

By Ray Mehlberger

HISTORY

After the French defeat in 1940, the Wehrmacht's Pz.Kpw. II tanks were considered to be obsolete due to insufficient firepower and thin armor, and most of them were removed from front line service. At about this time, numbers of the Ausf. D tanks were converted into flame-throwing tanks and re-designated as the Flammpanzer II. This tank represented quite a change from the original light tank. Crewed by two men, flame-guns were mounted on the fenders, being able to traverse through an arc of 180 degrees to each outboard side. Fuel for the flame-guns consisted of thickened gasoline, which was expelled by nitrogen under pressure. Most of the tank's internal space was taken up by gasoline containers. Enough fuel was carried for 80 short bursts. Because the nitrogen was at fairly low pressure, the flame range was limited to 35 meters. Fuel was ignited as it left the flame-gun tubes. The short range of the flame-guns necessitated the fitting of grenade launchers to cover the advance on targets. Although the Flammpanzer suffered from short flame-gun range and thin armor, it was used in this capacity until the end of the war.

TECHNICAL DATA:

LENGTH: 4.46 m
WIDTH: 2.24 m
WEIGHT: 10 tons
ARMOR: 30 mm
SPEED: 55 KM/H
ARMAMENT: 1 x 7.92 mm machine gun, 2 x flame projectors, 6 grenade launchers
CREW: 2

WHAT'S IN THE BOX (Click on thumbnails for full image)

Four light gray sprues of parts are contained in one cello bag for the main body of the tank. The first of these trees contains the parts for the turret, front fenders, storage bins etc. 17 total parts. The second sprue holds the parts for upper and lower hull, hatches, MG, jack, muffler etc. 27 total parts. The third and fourth sprues are identical and give us the road wheels, drive sprockets, flame-projectors, tools, grenade launchers etc. 52 parts on each tree.

Another cello bag contains four identical trees of individual track links. There are 56 links on each tree.

A tiny zip lock bag holds the decal sheet, a P.E. brass exhaust shield screen, and a small sprue of lift hooks. There are 10 hooks on this sprue.

No figures are in the kit.

Decal option is just for one tank marking, all in white. You get the white outline type German cross, some turret numbers, and a symbol for the 100th Panzer Battalion, Russia 1942. Paint scheme is given as overall panzer gray.

The instruction sheet is four pages long. The first page gives the history of the vehicle in Russian, English, German, and Japanese. Seven assembly steps are given. The bottom of the last page gives the painting and decaling instructions.

I like special purpose-built versions of tanks and this kit sure fills the bill. The unusual nature of this subject is sure to draw attention in a display case and I look forward to building it. It is great to see these new armor subjects pouring out of Russia and the Ukraine lately.