ESCI / ITALERI Sd. Kfz 11 Tractor with Pak 40 Kit

vs.

Modell Trans Sd. Kfz. 11 HKL Tractor Kit

As the title states, this is a 1/72 model comparison of two German light towing tractors of the WW2 period (however with no discussion of ESCI’s Pak 40 towed antitank gun included in the ESCI kit and part of at least one other ESCI model kit). The ESCI kit should be re-released by Italeri model company soon, or already has been. I did not measure the kits for exact scale.

Vehicle History For The Modeler

Though I do not see this vehicle modeled often at shows and at internet sites, it was one of the more important and common German softskin vehicles of WW2, serving from before 1938 till 1945, on all war fronts. Its chassis and suspension was the basis for the Sd. Kfz. 251 APC halftrack. The Sd. Kfz 11 was produced not only in Germany but also in Czechoslovakia and Hungary. [A photo I have of the Hungarian produced version shows a hard square cab similar to the Modell Trans kit but with the metal rear of the ESCI version, and it tows a Hungarian produced 4-cm Bofors AA gun.] Approximately 8800 of the Sd. Kfz 11 halftrack were produced.

Versions include the Sd.Kfz. 11 three-ton towing tractor, the Sd.Kfz 11/2 decontamination/detoxifying vehicle, and the Sd.Kfz. 11/1 fog/smoke-laying vehicle (actually the Nebelwerfer & rocket launcher towing vehicle). Both of the variants depicted by ESCI and the Modell Trans can be modeled towing: the Pak 40 antitank gun, the le FH 18 10.5-cm howitzer, the sIG 33 15.0-cm howitzer, light & medium towed antiaircraft guns (20-mm, 37-mm and 40-mm); and the assorted German towed rocket launchers (Nebelwerfers).

Kit Comparison

ESCI / Italeri

This old ESCI kit has just been released by Italeri however without the Pak 40 AT gun I understand. The ESCI kit depicts the original medium towing tractor with the sheetmetal body, ammunition storage compartment in the middle sides, and seating for six gun crewmen in the rear. The model has about 75 gray colored injection-molded styrene plastic parts, not including the link & length styrene tracks which has about 45 parts.

The molding is very, very good and though I haven’t assembled it yet, I consider this one of ESCI’s better kits for detail. An exception to this is the seat texture: a bit course that should be smoothed down.

Though I believe it should have the same roadwheels as the Sd. Kfz. 251 armored halftrack this halftrack model comes with slightly different roadwheels than the ESCI 251 halftrack model. This strikes me as extra work for ESCI in engineering the molds, so go figure. Overall the suspension looks like its cast pretty well. My model comes with the same hard styrene link & length tracks as ESCI/Italeri’s Sd.Kfz 251 kits and typical on many ESCI models. Unfortunately these tracks have no interior detail or track teeth!

The underside is well detailed (and as the Modell Trans kit appears based on the ESCI kit the same goes for their model also). Several decent crew figures are included.

Model Trans

The Modell Trans Sd.Kfz. 11 depicts one of the late-war variants with a simplified cab and pressed paperboard and wood cab and bed. I have not found a lot of information on this version but I believe it was produced in 1944 and 1945. As seen in the scans, the kit comes with fewer parts than ESCI kit (about 24) but appears definitely based on the ESCI plastic kit.

As we see in the scan of the parts, the suspension (wheels & tracks) is mostly cast as a one-piece unit (a left and right side), except for the outer roadwheels which are separate. This casting & assembly method impresses me as an ideal compromise between totally individual wheels and tracks, and the entirely one-piece unit common of wargaming pieces. A plus for Modell Trans is that they added track teeth.

Like in Azimut’s 1/35 scale model built by Tony Greenland, Model Trans’ kit comes with nicely done cargo of boxes and two fuel drums (just like what is in the Azimut kit). No figures are included.

Instructions

ESCI / ITALERI

The ESCI instructions are the typical, step by step exploded-view drawings showing pretty complete assembly instructions. Parts are numbered. Arrows show where the parts connect.

Model Trans

On examining the Modell Trans instructions we notice that they consist of a very nice four-view line drawing of the vehicle but no parts list or typical exploded-view drawing common to most resin, metal or plastic model kits. If we are familiar with the vehicle and with assembling resin kits, this lack of clear instructions should not hinder us much. Fortunately the suspension is essentially already put together. Still, good instructions would be nice and may preclude this model from beginner modelers.

Markings & Painting

The ESCI model comes with water-slide decal markings for three German vehicles. The decals include two sets of German crosses though I have found the crosses very rare on softskins. Extra license plates will be used on my Modell Trans kit. Being used from 1938 till 1945 the ESCI version may be panzer gray, Afrika tan or panzer yellow with brown and green camouflage patterns.

The Modell Trans kit includes no markings (though the box art has a unit marking on the fender and a transport stencil on the door). [While on the subject of Modell Trans’ box art, when I saw this box-top photo it immediately occurred to me that it was very, very familiar. It turns out it’s a photo of one of Tony Greenland’s 1/35 scale Azimut model from Mr. Greenland’s photos at Panzermaniacs modeling website and also in Mr. Greenland’s excellent book Panzer Modeling Master Class. Now, Modell Trans 1/72 scale kit is a nice model, but advertising a professionally built 1/35-scale model as your 1/72 scale kit strikes me as a bit deceptive.] Modell Trans’ version of the 3-ton tractor is of 1944-45 vintage so should be panzer yellow. I believe that Tony Greenland’s ambush scheme camouflage seems highly unlikely to me as the ambush scheme was more labor intensive and primarily for AFV’s that are in need of hiding from foes close by.

Conclusions

Both kits are well detailed and accurate 1/72 scale models. If it were not for the poor assembly directions Modell Trans would be suitable for novice builders. Both kits would make superb display models or wargaming pieces (assuming fit and assembly goes well). Either model can be modified to one of a number of variations such as a straight wooden cargo bed.

References

German Light Half-Tracked Prime Movers, 1934-1945, by Reinhard Frank, Schiffer Publishing Ltd. (1997). A great, inexpensive softcover book covering the 1-ton Sd.Kfz. 10 and the 3-ton Sd.Kfz 11 halftracks with period photos and historical information.

Tony Greenland’s PANZER MODELING MASTERCLASS, Windrow & Greene Publishing (1995). An excellent hardcover book on constructing and weathering German WW2 models in 1/35. The book included several photos of the late-model Sd.Kfz. 11 featured by Modell Trans company.

http://membres.lycos.fr/panzermaniacs/html/present.htm Panzermaniacs website with reference photos of the Sd.Kfz. 11 halftrack and a photo of Tony Greenland’s model.

http://ipmslondon.tripod.com/armourreferencearticles/id31.html London IPMS website with Reference photos of the late version of the Sd.Kfz. 11 halftrack.

http://www.panzer-modell.de/referenz/in_detail/sdkfz11/sdkfz11.htm German website with good detail reference photos.