Zvezda 1/72 German 105mm Howitzer

KIT #: 6121
PRICE: $4.95 SRP
DECALS: None supplied
REVIEWER: Scott Van Aken
NOTES:

HISTORY

The 10.5 cm leFH 18M superseded the 10.5 cm leFH 18 as the standard German divisional field howitzer used during the Second World War. It was designed and developed by Rheinmetall after the war broke out in an effort to get more range from the basic leFH 18 design. A muzzle brake was fitted and the recoil system adjusted to allow the use of a more powerful charge and new long-range shell. Generally it did not equip independent artillery battalions until after the Battle of Stalingrad in 1943. 53 were also exported to Finland, where they were known as 105 H 33.
THE KIT

This is another of Zvezda's war gaming kits and as it is an artillery piece, with figures, it is in 1/72 scale. Complexity is not the main word to use for this snap kit. There are about a dozen pieces, and you won't use them all. Thanks to the muzzle brake this one seems to be the M or modified version as mentioned in the brief historical section. Even these could be horse drawn and so the wooden wheels. You have an actual option on this one with the option to have the trails open or closed. There is an ID flag that attaches to the base to identify it during the war game.  As with others in this series, there is a movement card (though it is not shown in the parts scan).

Instructions are provided and there is some painting information on the back of the box, which basically shows several views of a completed kit. As with many of these items, there are no decals. I should also note that these are snap kits. No need for glue, and while the parts are rather small, it should make an acceptable kit for the youngsters in the house.

CONCLUSIONS

This kit is part of a number specially done for Zvezda's 'Art of Tactic' game system. It should make into a very nice and quickly built model in its own right and is really perfect for new modelers thanks to its snap construction.

REFERENCES

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LeFH_18M 

July 2011 

Thanks  towww.dragonmodelsusa.com for the preview kit. Get yours at your local retailer.

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