1:35 Sd.Kfz.251/9 Ausf.D with 7.5cm Kanone 37

A stump on a half-track

When German panzergrenadier companies needed their own artillery support in 1942, one they did not have to ask anybody for, the proven half-track carrier got a short 7.5 cm weapon in its fighting compartment, with a barrel 24 calibers long. The soldiers called it the Stummel because of its cut-off look. It fired mainly high-explosive shells against machine gun nests and fortified houses, but with shaped-charge ammunition it could also deal with an armored vehicle, provided it got close enough.

What sets the Ausf.D version apart

The later version of the hull simplified production wherever it could. The riveted angled plates disappeared from the rear and were replaced by a single sloping wall with double doors, the side stowage bins became part of the body instead of bolted-on boxes, and the amount of welding fell overall. The two series can be told apart at a distance by exactly that rear and by the smooth line of the side with no step in it.

What to keep in mind during the build

A half-track stands or falls on its tracks and running gear: interleaved road wheels have to be aligned patiently, or the whole run will twist. The fighting compartment is open at the top, so it will be seen; it pays to paint the inside of the walls well, to stow ammunition and to add the crew's equipment. Leave the front wheels turned a little and the model comes to life at once. Aim the weapon slightly off the center line, as matches firing from cover.

Color and markings

Vehicles of this class were delivered from 1943 in a dark yellow base color, over which irregular stripes of green and brown were sprayed or brushed on at unit level. It is exactly that hand application that gives a model its character: the lines are of uneven width, the base shows through in places and worn metal appears on the raised areas. Tactical markings tended to be small and often hard to read.