We look at them in our preview…
Preview update: Colour profiles added to Takom’s new Sd.Kfz.201/1 kit…
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 moulde We look at them in our preview…
Preview update: Colour profiles added to Takom’s new Sd.Kfz.201/1 kit…
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…
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. The Sd.Kfz.250/3 “GREIF”, or “Griffin”, halftrack was one of Rommel’s most notable command vehicles. 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. This halftrack’s rubber tracks were either missing or worn away. This new Takom kit:
This is the continuation of Takom’s Sd.Kfz.250 kit. It has the same features as “GREIF”, though there are 5 marking options in total. Hopefully the other kits in this group :-). will follow suit. Here are some of the latest CADs..
The new kit details: front and back views, with the photo-etching in gold. Here are some of the CADs. It’s a great base, since modellers are going to want to use their own figures to make it “unique”. Both red and blue are included. Takom has added these great options because you can clearly see them in photos at various times. Photo-etch is included in the kit. It includes grilles and straps as well as brackets and number plates. 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..
Here you see the five profiles included in this boxing, with the three Afrika Korps famous command version plus two other in German grey…01001010That is all we have on this one for now – keep tuned for more info on the kits soon…01001010