Sd.Kfz.4/1 (15cm) Panzerwerfer 42

[Paul A H]

Sd.Kfz.4/1 (15cm) Panzerwerfer 42

1:72 Roden

The Sd.Kfz.4/1 Panzerwerfer was developed for the Wehrmacht following their experience at the hands of the terrifying BM-13 ‘Katyusha’ rocket launchers used by the Soviet Union during Operation Barbarossa. The prototype Panzerwerfer was produced in early 1943 and was comprised of a ten-barrelled rocket launcher mounted on an Opel Maultier half-track chassis, a design that had already proved its effectiveness in the rough conditions found on the Eastern Front. An ammunition transporter capable of holding thirty rockets was produced simultaneously to the Panzerwerfer itself. The four crew were protected by armour plating of varying thickness and an MG-34 machine gun. Around 300 Panzerwerfers were produced by the end of the war.

Roden’s latest small-scale armour kit arrives in a compact, end-opening box adorned with the usual high-quality artwork depicting a whitewashed Panzerwerfer in action somewhere on the Eastern Front. Inside the box are six sprues of grey plastic, two tracks moulded in a flexible, black material and a small decal sheet. The quality of the mouldings is exactly what you would expect from a Roden kit; clean, free from flash and adorned with lots of beautiful detail. Unusually for a 1:72 vehicle kit, a complete engine is provided and this is where construction starts. No fewer than fourteen parts are used to make up the six cylinder Opel unit and it should look fantastic once completed. Construction then moves on to the drive train and running gear. As with the engine, Roden have packed in plenty of lovely detail. The springs on the suspension swing arms are particularly nicely rendered.

Once these sub-assemblies are complete, construction can move onto the chassis and body shell. Happily for fans of super-detailing, all of the crew hatches and the engine cover are separately moulded and may be posed open. This is a really nice touch by Roden, set off by the inclusion of the engine and interior parts for the crew compartment including seats, controls and spare ammunition. Once the interior parts are in place, the upper and lower body shell parts can be joined. The running gear assembled at the start of the build can then be fixed in place and the soft, flexible tracks added. I personally would have preferred link and length hard plastic tracks, but the flexible items look nice enough.

Next up is the rocket launcher itself. The rocket tubes are moulded in top and bottom halves which allow for a hollow appearance but will mean the parts will have to be carefully cleaned up in order to remove the seams. Another nice touch from Roden is the fact that the pioneer tools are moulded separately. This will make painting much easier and, along with the rather nice MG-34, will add a nice finishing touch to the model.

Roden are usually pretty generous with the colour options and this kit is no exception. Four different schemes are provided:

• Sd.Kfz 4/1 Panzerwerfer 42, 7th Brigade Wehrmacht Rocket Artillery, France, May-June 1944;

• Sd.Kfz 4/1 Panzerwerfer 42, unknown unit, Western Front, 1944;

• Sd.Kfz 4/1 Panzerwerfer 42, 78th Artillery Regiment, 7th Panzer Division, East Pomerania, Gdynia, Spring 1945; and

• Sd.Kfz 4/1 Panzerwerfer 42, Heeresgruppe Weichsel, March 1945.

The first scheme is an all Dark Yellow machine, the second and third Dark Yellow/Brown/Green and the fourth is a whitewashed scheme as depicted on the box artwork.

Conclusion

This is an excellent kit that will no doubt please modellers of small-scale AFVs. The high part count and superb moulded detail, together with the provision of an engine and full interior, puts this kit right up with the very best 1:72 armour kits available. Highly recommended.

Review sample courtesy of

Review sample courtesy of