SD.KFZ.251/1 AUSF. C 1:35 Academy 13540

Plastic military model for assembly: Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf. C 1:35 Academy 13540

The Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf. C model in 1:35 scale from the renowned company Academy is an excellent proposition for model enthusiasts and World War II history buffs. This detailed kit allows for the recreation of one of the most recognizable German armored personnel carriers from the war, which played a key role in the combat operations of the Wehrmacht.

Model features:

• Scale: 1:35
• Manufacturer: Academy
• Catalog number: 13540
• Material: Plastic

History and use of the vehicle:

The Sd.Kfz. 251, also known as Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251, was a German half-track armored personnel carrier used during World War II. Designed by the company Hanomag, this vehicle was intended to transport German mechanized infantry, namely Panzergrenadiers, to the battlefield. Based on an earlier, unarmored model Sd.Kfz. 11, the Sd.Kfz. 251 became the most widely produced German half-track military vehicle, with at least 15,252 units and their variants produced by seven different manufacturers.

The Ausf. C version, which went into production in early 1941, was one of the most commonly used. Changes in this version included a new, one-piece armored plate protecting the front of the engine and a modified cooling system. The interior of the vehicle was redesigned, which included changes in the arrangement of crew seats and storage compartments. Additionally, the fenders were raised, improving the vehicle's functionality in difficult terrain conditions.

Combat service:

The Sd.Kfz. 251 transports were delivered from June 1939 and quickly found use in the German armed forces. The first vehicles were assigned to the 1st Panzer Division and participated in the invasion of Poland, where they performed excellently. By the end of the Polish campaign, on October 1, 1939, there were already 84 such vehicles in the troops. In the French campaign, which began in May 1940, five panzer divisions were partially equipped with these transports, and by that time, 348 had already been produced.

The Sd.Kfz. 251 was also used in North Africa, although in limited numbers, due to the involvement of only two panzer divisions. The Ausf. A, B, and C versions were widely used in the Balkans and Greece in the summer of 1941, and almost all panzer divisions were equipped with them during Operation Barbarossa. The harsh conditions of the Russian winter posed a challenge for the vehicles, but their overall mobility was good. However, summer and autumn mud posed a problem as it clogged the drive wheels.

After the introduction of the simplified Ausf. D version, production increased, but the vehicle continued to be primarily used to support panzer grenadiers, as well as for fire support and anti-aircraft defense. As the most popular German half-track transporter, the Sd.Kfz. 251 was used on virtually every front.

After the end of World War II, the vehicle continued to be produced at Skoda factories as the OT-810 armored transporter and remained in service with the Czechoslovak army until the 1980s, equipped with diesel engines from Tatra.

Assembly and painting kit. Does not include paints or glue. For assembly, separately sold modeling tools are needed (including cutters, files, tweezers), paints, brushes, and plastic model glue (e.g., Tamiya Extra Thin Cement). The photo shows a professionally assembled and painted model.