1/144 PAK-43 (Panzerabwehrkanone 43)

The History

At the time Rheinmetall was developing the Flak 41, the Krupp's company  was also competing for production orders with their 8.8 cm Gerät 42 proposal. The Krupps design was not accepted for production as an anti-aircraft gun, however development continued and resulted in the dreaded 8.8 cm PaK 43 anti-tank gun and 8.8 cm KwK 43 tank guns.

Pak 43 (abbreviation of Panzerabwehrkanone 43) used a new single axle mount with the gun much closer to the ground, making it far easier to hide and also harder to hit. It was had a much stronger and more angled armour shield to provide better protection for gunners.

All versions this design were able to penetrate about 200 mm of armour at 1,000m,  allowing it to defeat the armour of any contemporary tank.

The standard armament of the Tiger II, the KwK 43 tank gun, was essentially the PaK 43 externally modified to fit into a turret.

Total production: 2,098 (from 1943 to 1945)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8.8_cm_Flak_18/36/37/41#Pak_43_and_KwK_43

FEATURES

This miniature has a range of interesting and unique features

1.    All new design
2.    Detailed PAK43
3.    Canon can traverse to the left and right
4.    Articulated support legs
5.    Compatible with KG144 & CGD towing hook systems
6.    Digitally mastered and produced using state of the art 3D printing
7.    Made with strong and flexible nylon material, extremely durable
8.    Individually hand painted and weathered

Figures and vehicles not included!.

Available: January 2012
Exclusively through:KG144@CGD

1/144 VK501 Series Munitionsschlepper & PaK 43 - KG144

1/144 VK501 Series Gepanzerter Munitionsschlepper & PaK 43

Gepanzerter Munitionsschlepper

The next KG144 release is an item  subject to many a debate and conflicting texts on the Internet, in part due to a number of companies being commissioned to produce designs, and also evolving those designs.

This configuration is based on various sources, and reflects closely the original brief issued to the Germand and Czech manufacturers for a pure munitions schlepper. It is presented here with a PaK 43 cannon.

In January 1943 the lesser known company “Weserhutte” was asked to design an armoured ammunition carrier (VK 501) for the Werhmacht. It was planned that mass production should start in 1944, however conflicting demand for resources on the German industrial war machine caused this to be delayed.

Designed to have a weigh 6 tons, it utilised the proven 6-Cylinder Maybach HL42 providing 100HP and a speed of 65 Kilometres per hour, transverse mounted. The armour thickness was specified at 20 millimetres, and was capable of stopping a 7.62 round.

The payload capacity was 1,000 kilograms providing a range of options:

- 10 Boxes (1500 rounds) of 7.62mm Ammunition

- 32 Boxes (96 rounds) of 8cm Mortar Rounds

- 15 boxes (45 Rounds) of 7.5cm s.IG Ammunitions

- 22 Rounds of 15cm s.IG Ammunition

Production was approved late 1943 for: 6000 vehicles for the infantry, and 2000 for the artillery.


PAK-43 (Panzerabwehrkanone 43)

At the time Rheinmetall was developing the Flak 41, the Krupp's company was also competing for production orders with their 8.8 cm Gerät 42 proposal. The Krupps design was not accepted for production as an anti-aircraft gun, however development continued and resulted in the dreaded 8.8 cm PaK 43 anti-tank gun and 8.8 cm KwK 43 tank guns.

Pak 43 (abbreviation of Panzerabwehrkanone 43) used a new single axle mount with the gun much closer to the ground, making it far easier to hide and also harder to hit. It was had a much stronger and more angled armour shield to provide better protection for gunners.

All versions this design were able to penetrate about 200 mm of armour at 1,000 m, allowing it to defeat the armour of any contemporary tank.

The standard armament of the Tiger II, the KwK 43 tank gun, was essentially the PaK 43 externally modified to fit into a turret.
Total production: 2,098 (from 1943 to 1945)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8.8_cm_Flak_18/36/37/41#Pak_43_and_KwK_43

Available: October 2011  from KG144@CGD eBay Store
Price: $19.90

1/144 VK501 Series “Katzchen” - KG144

1/144  VK501 Series “Katzchen”  - Kampfgruppe144

The next KG144 release is an item  subject to many a debate and conflicting texts on the Internet, in part due to a number of companies being commissioned to produce designs, and also evolving those designs.

The configuration presented is based on various sources, and critically a British Military Intelligence report that reflects some of the texts available and backs it up with measurements and photographs.

In January 1943 the lesser known company “Weserhutte” was asked to design an armoured ammunition carrier (VK 501) for the Wehrmacht. It was planned that mass production should start in 1944, however conflicting demand for resources on the German industrial war machine caused this to be delayed.

Designed to have a weigh 6 tons, it utilised the proven 6-Cylinder Maybach HL42 providing 100HP and a speed of 65 Kilometres per hour, transverse mounted. The armour thickness was specified at 20 millimetres, and was capable of stopping a 7.63 round.

Although derived from the requirement specification issued for the VK501 Munitionsschlepper, the final design was somewhat different:
 
 - The chassis was lengthened
 - The engine was repositioned to the side
-  Installation of a rear door:
     - Allowing for ease loading/unloading
     -  Allowing rear access  for Troops.
 - Removal of the side loading hatches
 - Max Speed reduced to 30 KPH
 - Payload was increased to 2,000 kg

This version of the vehicle could therefore carry increased loads and was also suited to acting as a light armoured personnel carrier for the transport of up to 6 soldiers, and is also able to retrieve stretcher based casualties.

Self-defence was provided by the MG-42 machine gun(s).

Fact or Fiction?

While this does verge on being a paper project at least one vehicle was found out “in the wild”, and became the subject of a British Army Intelligence Report submitted on 19th May 1945.
-- Click to download British Army Intelligence Report in PDF format. --

No further records have been discovered to reveal how many of these vehicles were completed, and as it does not appear that this example made it past the scrap merchant and into a museum...?

Available: October 2011  from KG144@CGD eBay Store
Price: $17.90