Finally, after 4 months of quite hard working, I have succeeded to finish painting and writing the review for the set that I consider as the most complex and spectacular in terms of 1/72 WWII German gun and figures kits. It also depicts a favorite issue for me, namely horses.
In fact, the present topic wishes to bring a modest contribution to the promotion of the need of 1/72 WWII German cavalry and horse-drawn vehicles and to raise awareness of various manufacturers on the issue. More than 80 percent of WWII German transport was based on horses and in our scale we can count the kits featuring such horses on the fingers of one hand…
The review is definitely the longest I have ever written, but I hope that those having enough time and patience to read it to find some interesting and uncommon things there.
The numerous images present the content I used from three boxes of the same kit, one standard and other two conversions. Not only figures, but also guns, horses and limbers have been converted using Preiser and scratch built items. Making conversions was a real pleasure, especially bearing in mind that all the parts of this Revell set are practically scaled up Preiser products.
I do hope you will find the present post quite interesting and any comments or observations are highly welcome.
Cristian Florescu
REVELL 1/72
“German Artillery”
Manufacturer |
Revell |
|---|---|
Scale |
1/72 |
Set Code |
02515 |
Year |
1995 |
No. of Figures |
15 |
No. of Poses |
15 |
No. of Horses |
7 |
No. of Horse Poses |
7 |
Additional Items |
2 Cannons 10,5 cm leFH18; 1 artillery limber; various accessories for cannons; gear and weapons for soldiers |
Size |
Medium/High |
Material |
Soft Plastic |
Colour |
Gray |
Flash Level |
Medium |
Glue-ability |
Satisfactory (Super Glue Gel) |
Conversion-ability |
Difficult |
Optimal Period |
1939 - 1945 |
Review:
The horse within WWII German Army played a huge role and the paradox rests in that even the army who invented Blitzkrieg, assessed as one of most mechanized and with the best motor vehicles, was also the one using, for the last time on large scale in a war, the oldest mean of transportation. In fact, WWII German Army was the one employing the greatest number of horses, and pack animals in the history of mankind wars. The aspiration for a fully motorised army remained just a beautiful and unreal dream of the German High Command, which according to statistical data, was forced to make use of around 1,100,000 horses during each year of war. Contrary to the opinion that their number decreases in the Late War period, the reality was that after 1943 the number of horses serving with the German Army had been enlarged. The situation mainly happened due to Allies strategic bombardments of motor vehicle factories, the production being seriously affected while the horse-breeding farms escaped untouched. Another determinant source was always available and at hand, civil population’s horses being put in requisition by German soldiers when situation required, the army-men having no hesitations in applying the order. In this respect, within 1939-1943 over 1,200,000 horses had been taken from civil population and for the last two years of war their number is unknown. The establishment of a great number of farriers, veterinary units, and specialised hospitals for horses stresses once more the care and importance attached by the German High Command to this mean of transportation. While life expectancy for a motor vehicle limited at several months, for horses was settled at four years. Simple maintenance and resources for propulsion that could be found almost anywhere and anytime, not like petroleum, stand out as key features for enhancing the part played by horses in the harsh conditions in which their masters were forced to fight. Furthermore, to the massive number of horses should be added an unknown sum of mules, donkeys and oxen, all giving an essential input to the movement of WWII German war machine.
The position enjoyed by the noble animal within the German Army during the entire period of war can be as well highlighted through simply comparing the number of horses incorporated in a German infantry division. A 1939 such division registered approximately 5,300 horses, 1,100 horse-drawn vehicles, 950 motor vehicles, and 430 motorcycles while a 1944 infantry division enrolled about 4,600 horses, 1,400 horse-drawn vehicles, 600 motor vehicles, and 150 motorcycles. Significant for the Late War unit is reducing of motor vehicles and the increment of horse-drawn transportation. Another proper example on the matter might be the reports stating that on June 22, 1941 the German Army entered in Russia with about 600,000 motor vehicles, including 3,500 armored as well as with over 750,000 horse-drawn vehicles. Moreover, the figures do not take into account the number of horses used by cavalry/mounted infantry or other pack animals.
The contribution of horse was particularly amplified in rough conditions for motorised transportation, provided either by the Eastern Front, with its lack of paved roads and a huge amount of mud or by the large number of mountains in regions such as Balkans and Transylvania. Where motor vehicles failed to pass, the horse was called to manage the situation, as the one and only alternative for going forward. Nevertheless, it is completely wrong appreciating that the involvement of horse narrowed strictly to the just mentioned areas. Tones of images and films shot in the period clearly demonstrate their wide-spread utilisation on each and every front the WWII Germans fought. Starting with Poland, Norway or France and ending again with France or Germany in 1944/1945, the horse is a common presence, as a faithful partner of soldiers on the rack. In fact, weighting the overwhelming number of animals with the motor vehicle one, it might be said that during WWII in Europe, the horse embodied the main and most reliable mean of transportation for the Army acknowledged as having the best motor vehicles, but by far, in not enough amounts. It is estimated that around 80% of the WW II German transport was horse-drawn, which again, it is a quite shocking percent.
Existing since the beginning of war, and with roots going centuries back in old Prussia, WWII German cavalry/mounted infantry gained a more significant responsibility after the invasion of Russia. Both within Wehrmacht and Waffen SS there were established many cavalry/mounted infantry regiments, corps, divisions and brigades. Horses and various pack animals were usual appearances also in Fallschirmjager units, German paratroopers being frequently photographed as riding horses or donkeys. At the beginning of war within WWII German Army activated a single independent cavalry unit, 1st Cavalry Brigade, transformed in 1st Cavalry Division after the Polish campaign. Another important data related to WWII German cavalry is 19 September 1939, when cavalry as an individual army was abolished, but cavalry divisions and other units continued to exist until the end of war. Incorporated in “mobile troops” (Schnelle Truppen) together with reconnaissance, tank, antitank, bicycle, motorcycle and armored infantry units, cavalry, no matter the front, fulfilled major tasks such as reconnaissance, communications and quick interventions for filling the gaps in the front lines or occupying key objectives, as well as executing attacks against advancing or retreating enemy. At the middle of the war, except Cossack cavalry divisions and corps, there were founded in Waffen SS few cavalry divisions. Two of the most well-known Waffen SS mounted units are the 8th SS Kavallerie Division (Florian Geyer) and 22nd SS-Freiwilligen Kavallerie Division (Maria Theresia). Due to their accessibility in forests or other difficult terrains, some cavalry units received the unpleasant task of combating partisans, thing that cast a shadow over a number of platoons/regiments of the units implied.
Regarding the “classical” image of cavalry, a point of interest is that in Poland, 1939 seems to take place, for the last time in history, the final major “sword charge” opposing a German cavalry unit versus a Polish Uhlans unit. In the spirit of old times and although they had the advantage of spotting the enemy first, the Germans chose to charge the Polish with the swords, a pretty stupid decision, to fight Uhlans with their favourite weapon. For few centuries Polish Uhlans had maintained their fame as the best cavalry of Europe and of course, they did not encounter many problems in defeating those too proud and brainless Germans. As an irony of faith, the Polish soldiers had not time to enjoy the victory, while chasing the retreating Germans they entered in the cross-fire of the MGs of another Wehrmacht unit, being decimated. Probably in order to prevent the appearance of similar foolish ideas and considering its usefulness in modern warfare, the German High-Command removed the sword from the endowment of their cavalry units. This weapon can be seen at German cavalry only in the first year of war, generally in its scabbard attached to the saddle.
However, the role of standard cavalry is overshadowed by the great variety of horse-drawn vehicles employed by WWII German Army, either for towing artillery guns or carrying ammunition and other stuff an army needs. German Divisional horse-drawn transport addressed to infantry was divided in battle (Gefechtstross) and support or supply transports and as earlier pointed out, 80 percent of the total WWII German transport was horse-drawn. The vehicles towed by horses usually received various prefixes in the WWII German ordinance. Army vehicles were registered as (Hf.), artillery vehicles as (Af.), infantry vehicles as (If.), engineer vehicles as (Pf.), communication vehicles as (Nf.), vehicles of administrative troops as (Vwf.) and there were others without prefixes. Several of the most famous horse power vehicles were Hf1, Hf2 Hf7, Hf11, Hf12, If8, If4, Af12, Af4 as well as artillery limbers called after the towed gun such as LfH Limber 98E and LfH Limber 18, but the list is much wider. Furthermore, the Werhmacht appealed not only to various types of civil coaches, carts or wagons, but also photos of those times feature some more than strange and funny field conversions pulled by horses. Regular appearances consist in cars without engine or cut in two halves, the back part being used as a chart.
As stated by the several examples and figures above supplied, giving emphasis to the gigantic use of horses within the WWII German Army, in the 1/72 scale the distinguished contribution of this reliable friend is extremely poorly reflected. Moreover, it can also be easily noticed that the number of horses is superior to the one of the motor vehicles and this reality is far to be illustrated at 1/72. In the scale, the remarkable quantity of WWII German tanks, assault guns, trucks, cars and other motor vehicles, depicted in all their types, variants and field conversions have by far exceeded the underprivileged figure of available horses. Mass production kits aiming cavalry and horse-drawn vehicles can be counted on the fingers of one hand, represented in the scale by Revell - “German Artillery”, Force of Valour - “German SS Cavalry Division” and HaT - “WWII German Mounted Infantry”. Even cottage industry reps have not rushed to appropriately consider the horse in WWII German Army service, adding to the topic only several sets such as CMK - “Wehrmacht Mounted Infantry”, Minaturas Alemany - “German Field Kitchen with Soldiers”, TP Models - “Fahnenschmiedwagen Hf.1/13” and “Schwerer Feldwagen Hf.2”. A further offer on the theme comes from Wespe Models’s “Horse Drawn Convoy” delivering two wagons, but no horses. Likewise, because it might aim the 13th Waffen SS Mountain Division “Handschar”, an ugly sculptured but proper equipped horse for portraying WWII German cavalry is encountered in Odemars’s “Bosnian Infantry”. Even its rider might be used with or without head removed for embodying a soldier in the WWII German Army. For quite a long time, HaT has made public their intention of producing two subject matter sets, “German Horse Drawn Multi Purpose Vehicle” and “German Horse Drawn Artillery Limber”, but based on company’s main focus of their WWII collection, the kits will address predominantly to wargaming.
Doubtless, the most complex set on the topic is the hereinafter reviewed one, namely Revell “German Artillery”. The kit proposes to the hobbyist not only a horse drawn artillery limber with the appropriate number of horses, crew and cannon, but also another gun in firing position, its crewmen, and a rich range of related accessories. In spite being labeled as Revell, in fact we are in the presence of scaled up Preiser products and for an accustomed viewer, each and every item induce the marvelous atmosphere offered by most of Preiser sets. Revell has the merit of increasing the scale and gathering in the same box several Preiser kits previously released in the 1/87 (HO) scale, specifically “Horse drawn field howitzer 10,5 cm leFH18. Marching” (set 16513) and “Gunners for 10,5 cm leFH18” (set 16537). Furthermore, the cannon in firing position looks like being taken from Preiser’s “10,5cm leichte Feldhaubitze leFH 18/40 (set 16534)” but leaving aside its specific muzzle brake for matching with the towed gun which is a regular leFH 18. The first quoted Preiser set portrays the horses, limber, towed gun and eight figures, the second aims seven crewmen for leFH 18 and the last features the related gun in action. Revell had the brilliant idea of combining under the title “German Artillery” the above mentioned Preiser sets, making available in the 1/72 scale a great market product and filling a serious gap in the scale. Nevertheless, this kit does not stand as the single example of Revell-Preiser collaboration, Revell’s “German Armoured Infantry” also scaling up Preiser’s “Panzer Grenadiers. The German Reich 1942” (set 16504). These sets have remained the only examples of cooperation between two of the most famous German companies activating in Braille Scale. However, extremely attractive and on uncommon subjects Preiser sets containing horses wait their turn for scaling up, the target groups aching for them. The best choice for fulfilling this desiderate would be Preiser, scaling up by themselves their own HO sets fortunately becoming a tradition at this company in the last period.
A special issue is opened by Revell’s decision to switch the well-known Preiser’s hard plastic to the soft one fitting their facilities, fact appreciated as a serious drawback. Even considerably smaller, Preiser’s HO versions of all components are better than those encountered here, especially the thin details appearing much sharper. The soft plastic is to blame for swallowing some of the great efforts put in by Preiser sculptors in highly detailing all parts. In addition, perhaps due to the employed material and for moulding reasons, Revell was forced to apply slight modifications at two figures, changing the position of the right hand of a rider and linking to a spade an artillery-man. If in the original set the rider in case was petting his horse with that hand, in Revell’s interpretation, he ended to caress his own forehead or to clean his sweat, still plausible and fine approaches. The other modification is even more insignificant, Revell just putting together the gunner and the spade. Anyway, this case illustrates in the clearest manner the disadvantages of soft plastic. For achieving their natural and vivid poses, avoid mutilations and excess of material, Preiser has adopted the multi-part approach, a nearly impossible thing with the soft plastic utilized by Revell. Being cast as a single piece, this figure arrives in a quite forced position, with an odd joint of upper trousers and shirt as well as with some excess of plastic in the neck area. Furthermore, Preiser delivers their figures without weapons and gear, leaving to the modeller the option of endowing his figures as he wishes. Again, due to the material employed, these Revell figures diverge from their HO cousins, coming already equipped with some weapons and gear. Casting the minis in one piece, excess of plastic found an excellent opportunity to install in narrow places such as the shoulder stocks or mutilating some of the items of equipment that at their origins are really outstanding. Mostly addressed to diorama builders, Preiser figures are delivered without bases, but the present Revell product targets both diorama builders and wargamers. In this respect, the last own contribution of Revell was attaching on bases not only the crewmen of the cannon in action, but also all horses. At least concerning horses, Revell would have better refrain from basing them, because the well calculated initial Preiser report between animals and limber was modified. Even without bases these horses possess a good balance and additionally, they are fixed to the limber through plastic traces, so no chance to fall aside. Considering the just stated issues, it is highly recommended to remove the bases of the horses in order to achieve a more realistic appearance of the hippo-train.
Content is delivered on two sprues enclosed in a standard Revell box for 1/72 figures, presenting in the artwork the determinant components of the set and several soldiers in close positions with those encountered inside. On the back of the box we receive a painting guide for Revell colours as well as a drawing of the cannon while on one side we get few historical data on the matter. In general on the back of Revell boxes there are showed drawings of the special things available inside. Seeing only the cannon, after opening the box, an uninformed customer will have the great surprise of finding inside a huge number of special items referred neither on the box nor in the title. The included instruction sheet is quite useful not only for assembling the cannons and limber, but also for finding out the manufacturer’s vision on how to arrange the team of horses and place the crew of the gun ready to open fire. These are pretty useful guidelines while both the limber arrangement and the crewmen of the gun in action have as starting point some well-known photos. It is Preiser’s strong point and very much appreciated characteristic to inspire the poses of their figures from reference images, mostly published in Signal magazine. This time, considering the large number of army-men as well as that the complete team of six horses and limber hardly emerge together in clear photos, the sculptors from Preiser were forced to appeal to more images, combining them for creating the present masterpiece. On the other hand, although some of the stances are not identical with those of the real soldiers featured by the references, these are still closely linked and identified without any doubt. No orientation is given regarding the spare accessories distributed to the troopers such as gas mask containers, Zeltbahns, bread bags, helmets or Kar98Ks. Bearing in mind the poses, attire and the fact that some figures have already been endowed with few items, we may assess these accessories as designed either for furnishing the limber or emplaced around the gun in action as belonging to its crewmen. Preiser almost always issues in their 1/72 figure kits various spare gear and weapons, allowing the hobbyist to equip the troopers as he wishes and the present set makes no exception in this regard.
Similarly, no indication referring to the glue that should be used is available, and on account of the material, only super glue can have success. With super glue gel is achieved a quite satisfactory bond, sometimes facilitated by the pin and hole system adopted by the producer for joining most of parts requiring assembly. The quality and durability of the bond makes us thinking once more at Preiser’s hard plastic and how good it could have been if this product had been issued in that plastic.
Taking into account the content of the set and for acquiring a better picture, this has to be split in several chapters and the first will refer to the cannons. The box delivers not one, but two 10,5 cm leFH18, which was the standard WWII German divisional light gun howitzer, bringing it in two of the most common hypostasis, the firing and travelling positions.
The development of 10,5 cm leichte Feldhaubitze 18 was initiated in 1928-1929 by Rheinmetall and the first pieces were delivered to the Army in 1935. The cannon was maintained in service until the end of war, seeing combat on all fronts, not only in the service of German Army, but also together with their allies such as Romania and Hungary. Being a haubitze, it could act both as a howitzer and a gun, in anti-tank role often and successfully distinguishing in Africa and on Eastern fronts, areas where the lack of specialised anti-tank cannons was acute. For increasing the range, a more powerful propellant started to be utilised by 1941, but the recoil became much too heavy for the carriage. In order to solve the problem, a muzzle brake was adopted, revising also the recoil mechanism and equilibrators. The new type was listed as 10.5cm leFH18M (M coming from mundungbremse/muzzle brake). Drawn either by light tractor (Sd.Kfz 11 being the dedicated one) or by a six-horse team together with a limber, the 10,5 cm leFH18 was too heavy for its calibre. The request of the German High Command for a lighter version was fulfilled in 1943 when it appeared the 10.5cm leFH18/40. The new model implied a modified 7.5cm PaK40 chassis and the 10.5cm leFH18M gun and its shield, the latest version also changing the PaK40 wheels and tyres with wider ones. That was intended to become the standard, but like in plenty of other similar cases, it had never succeeded to substitute the older models of leFH18 which continued to be seen on the front line until 1945.
In conformity with the organization scheme provided for by KStN, a horse-drawn battery of leFH18 consisted in four cannons and their limbers pulled by sixteen heavy and eight light horses, transporting twenty eight troopers while the commanders of each gun rode a saddle horse. Based on the number of guns and figures fit in by the Revell kit, we might assess not only that we get almost half of a battery but also that it introduces the initial type of 10,5 cm leFH18 due to the lack of muzzle brakes. The absence of muzzle brakes borders the ideal period to 1939-1942, but still the kit can be used all over the war. An equal number of parts (ten) are necessary for putting together either the firing or travelling cannons. The assembly is facilitated by the pin and hole system adopted for all parts and not only for better resistance, but also for keeping all the pieces in normal positions, these need to be glued. Being manufactured in soft plastic, the standard modelling adhesive has no result, but a quite satisfactory job is done by super glue. Advocated is the gel one because for few seconds, the pieces may be rearranged for better matching, a major advantage in working with soft plastic. Both types of wheels have the proper size and feature plenty of fine and accurate details. A nice touch are the appropriate shields for each gun, for the one in action the shield coming opened while for the towed cannon it is folded in the transportation position. Made of soft plastic, it is almost normal that tools to be modelled on the guns and not separate, but their visibility gets better after painting. Fortunately, pieces remained unharmed by the quality of the material are the sight mounts and we have the possibility to recognise one more time the high class of Preiser sculptors. Even if tiny details like shield rivets do not make a strong impression, these are there and the assembled guns appear in scale and succeeding to catch almost all the distinct features of a 10,5 cm leFH18. Few small details either miss or are not so obvious or even mix with others and should be searched on the guns switching the product in the best light. The absence of hand wheels sets out as an annoying thing, in soft plastic probably it was impossible for Revell to correctly reproduce them. At a closer look there could be identified even the pins waiting for the related holes of the hand wheels, but these would not come, at least from this kit. Hand wheels from modeller’s spare parts box will find their place really easy while the cannons feature the necessary devices where the hand wheels would have been installed. It is also advisable drilling holes in the muzzles, in soft plastic the operation being extremely easy and attainable with a large array of tools. In case of owning more boxes of the same kit with the purpose of bringing some diversity, a proper and effortless conversion of the gun might consist in changing the wheels of one cannon with those of the limber. There are plenty of references attesting 10,5 cm leFH18 with wooden wheels (only for horse-drawn transportation) and even much more showing the artillery limber using the standard metal wheels of leFH18 and the gun with the wooden wheels of the limber. An extra option is available for the cannon in action, its right spade being duplicated, one featuring a crewman attached to it and another without even if the figure can be easily removed from the spade.
For the guns there are provided a good number of well detailed related ammunition cases as well as boxes for powder bag containers or cartridges, excellent for topping up credible scenes. Particularly dedicated to the cannon ready to fire, in some extent the boxes might be added even to the gun in travelling position. An adequate location for emplacing several such accessories represents the trails, as some reference images reveal, the place is in full accordance with the practice of the 10,5 cm leFH18 crewmen. Except a wide range of gear and ammo boxes, the trails were often used to transport hay or grains for the horses. Diverging from 1/72 howitzers kits, predominantly offering spare projectiles, here we have the great pleasure of encountering not only a couple of sets of projectiles in their wooden cases and two projectiles in individual wooden cases, but also two large boxes. Designed for 10,5 cm leFH18 powder bag containers or cartridges, the boxes come closed and opened featuring just the empty racks. Moreover, it should be underlined that the just described boxes and cases are completed by various cannon accessories held by several of the crewmen of the gun in action which will be later addressed in the chapter dedicated to figures.
A key component of the set is the artillery limber on account that except the present one, the vehicle has been completely ignored in the 1/72 scale. Bearing in mind that in our case it tows a 10,5 cm leFH18, its identification name was leFH Limber 18 (sechsspg.leichte Feldhaubitzen, Protze) but to the same vehicle could be hooked a caisson or different cannons such as leIG18, PaK35/36 etc. Incorporating metal and wooden parts, the leFH Limber 18 was planned to carry four crewmen and their personal weapons, gear and ammunition for the related gun. Developed from WW I German artillery limber that, by the way, remained in service during WWII as well, the leFH Limber 18 was pulled by a six horse team grouped on three pairs. Formed by two light and four heavy horses in conformity with KStN, such a team normally not all the time reached the authorised strength. Infringements of regulations registered in plenty of situations dictated by front circumstances and a larger number of light horses in a team had to manage the burden. Apart from four leFH 18 gunners travelling in the limber, KStN provided for that three other members of the crew to ride the team horses. The procedure in force stated that soldiers should have ridden the left hand horse of each pair, the application of the norm being also sustained by the greatest amount of references on the matter. Nevertheless, there exist few images showing troopers riding the right hand horses, but these must be regarded as exceptions, most surely imposed by field conditions. The limber was driven by the riders, each of them controlling the other horse in pair. Extremely rare reference materials show an army-man from the artillery limber gaining control over the last pair of horses through bridles. If situation required, that could be easily achieved through quickly fitting bridles.
Same like the cannons, Revell’s leFH Limber 18 is distributed in ten parts and is extremely easy to assemble. The pin and hole system was chosen once more for easing the operation and the pieces truly match very good. It is a matter of minutes for finishing it and although the parts stay together, the use of superglue for all pieces is again compulsory, otherwise some might stay in abnormal positions. Nicely sculptured emerge the wooden bench seats of the main box as well as the hook for towing the cannon. The four Kar98 fixed in the racks, representing the personal firing weapons of the seated crew, are other good items despite featuring a flat inner side which becomes hard to spot when setting the racks in their places. The limber pole and the devices for fixing the first pair of horses are pieces that have to glue to the limber and for both two front pairs of horses the kit supplies a system that must be stuck to the limber pole end. With this purpose, its regular hook was replaced by a hole, the inexactitudes of the invented mechanism, being partially hidden and hard to spot after emplacing the horses in the dedicated locations. On the other hand, the device facilitates setting the ensemble formed by the first two pairs in a number of positions. A little bit simplified on account of the scale, most of the characteristic parts for connecting the horses to the limber are satisfactory. For assuming their roles, each horse of the limber has