chaosbunker.de
20Jun/260

Ambush Miniatures – E-10 and E-25 Tank

Today we are covering a topic that has a long tradition here on the Chaosbunker: a tank review!

The occasion is the new Kickstarter campaign by Ambush Miniatures, The War is not over – Panzerdivision Cerberus, which focuses on numerous prototypes and "what-if" concepts from the late years of the war. The campaign covers six different vehicles in total: the E-10, E-25, E-50, E-75, the Panzerkampfwagen Löwe, and an additional Flak variant, all in 28mm scale (approximately 1:56). In today's review, we are taking a closer look at two tank destroyers: the E-10 and the E-25.

Ambush Miniatures - The War is not over Panzerdivision Cerberus

But let's start from the beginning and introduce the company behind the campaign. Ambush Miniatures may not be immediately familiar to everyone. Ambush Miniatures is the result of a merger between Heer46 and Air Raid 36/46, two long-time tabletop hobbyists who have combined their passion for World War II miniatures and vehicles under a new name. Heer46 has previously released many historical and "what-if" designs in both 15mm and 28mm scales, while Air Raid 36/46 had established itself in the market with a broad range of 1:200 scale models for aerial combat. Together, they now aim to pool their experience and capacity to bring further ideas to life.

At the heart of the new campaign, Panzerdivision Cerberus, are the armoured vehicles of the E-Series. The E-Series was a German development programme from the Second World War intended to replace the wide variety of existing tank and tank destroyer types with a standardised family of vehicles. Multiple weight classes were planned, ranging from light vehicles up to the heavy E-100, in order to simplify production, maintenance and spare parts supply. The "E" stood for Entwicklung (development), representing the next unified generation of armoured vehicles. None of these vehicles ever reached serial production, however; the project remained at the drawing board stage.

4Oct/180

Heer46 Carro Armato P43 Bis

Following the Krupp-Steyr Waffenträger from Tuesday, today we unpack and build the Armato P43 Bis by Heer46.

Heer46 - Carro Armato P43 Bis Heer46 - Carro Armato P43 Bis

This is another tank from the resin series produced in cooperation with Rubicon Models. The Armato P43 was an Italian heavy tank that was developed by FIAT and Ansaldo, but never left the draft stage. The sources why the development stopped are not clear, some say the design was dropped in favour of the lighter P26/40 tank, but it is likely that the resources were just not available after the armistice of Italy with the Allies in 1943 and the Axis had other things valued higher than Italian tank development. Only two mock ups were build, but as mentioned before not further progressed. The tank was intended to weigh around 30 tons and have a 420-430 hp diesel V12 engine. The name Carro Armato P43 stands for armoured vehicle, P for pesante - Italian for heavy - and the number '43 most likely standing for the development year.

2Oct/180

Heer46 Krupp-Steyr Waffenträger

There is a new range of 1:56 scale resin kits produced by Heer46 in cooperation with Rubicon Models, as an addition to Rubicon extensive plastic range. One of the vehicles offered as part of this assortment is the Krupp-Steyr Waffenträger.

Heer46 - Krupp-Steyer Waffenträger Heer46 - Krupp-Steyer Waffenträger

Among the several Waffenträger (and their blueprint / papertank / prototypes) the Krupp Steyr Waffenträger is one of the less known vehicles. And like many of his kind, this tank destroyer never actually saw service. Only a similar concept of this Waffenträger, known as the Ardelt project was produced and can be seen nowadays in the Kubinka tank museum in Russia. Two wooden models and one trial Waffenträger were produced in 1944, that had a chassis constructed by Steyr mainly using parts from the RSO (Raupenschlepper Ost), and armed with an 8,8 cm KwK 43. This was the base for the model we see here. Due to the turret, and in combination with a small mobile ramp, the firing arch of this Waffenträger was amazing versatile. As this is a rather special vehicle, there aren't that many further information available. Most may know the Waffenträger from games likes Warthunder or World of Tanks.

14Sep/180

Heer46 8,8 cm Pak 43

Heer46, the German resin forge for small series, released this 8,8 cm PaK 43 late 2017 / early 2018 and it fits well, with this week's anti-tank gun theme. I have covered their Panther F-Schmalturm and Sd.Kfz. 247 Ausf. B on here as well.

Heer46 - 8,8-cm-PaK 43 Heer46 - 8,8-cm-PaK 43

Initially designed by Krupp as a competition to the 8,8cm FlaK 41 (the second generation of the 8,8 cm Flak 18/36/37), it was reworked and went into production in 1942. The first units were mounted to the Nashorn tank destroyers, later in mid 1943 available on cross outrigger or split rail carriages (as PaK 43/41).

7Nov/170

Crisis 2017 Haul

Of course, no event coverage is really completed without the haul, the loot, the goodies that you've brought home. So let's see what I got myself this time.

Crisis 2017 Goodiebag - Tinsoldiers of Antwerp

22May/160

Heer46 Panther F Schmalturm

As Heer46 announced, that they will expand their range from 15mm / 1:100 into the 28mm / 1:56 scale, i was really, really excited. After the SdKfz 247b, one of the latest novelties is the Panther F Schmalturm.

Heer46 - Panther Schmalturm

14Apr/160

KV2 finished, KV1 and Panther M10 in progress

The captured KV2 / PzKpfw 754(r) is finished. I did final touches on the armour, and finished the tracks. After painting the colours, drybrush and wash, i added homemade mud-paste and model gras.

Bolt Action - Captured KV-2 PzKpfw 754(r) Bolt Action - Captured KV-2 PzKpfw 754(r) Bolt Action - Captured KV-2 PzKpfw 754(r)

3Nov/150

Heer46 SdKfz 247 Ausf. B

This will be released at the Crisis this weekend, but i am lucky enough, to already have one here for an unboxing - the SdKfz 247 Ausf. B by Heer 46.

Heer46 - SdKfz 247 Ausf. B Heer46 - SdKfz 247 Ausf. B

13Feb/150

January reinforcement

I didn't have the chance, to show you what was new in January in the chaosbunker. At the HdR Szenario, i took the chance and bought some of the Heer46 novelties. Denis offers some special dice from time to time, so i pre-ordered a few Crusader dice and the Gebirgsjäger dice, which due to the impressive stag head will fit nicely in a fantasy setting (lets say Westeros Baratheon). Then he had the first one of a new range of 1:56 / 28mm miniatures for World War 2 and a new 1:100 / 15mm B4 203mm howitzer.

Heer 46 Dice Heer46 Offizier Heer46 Russian Howitzer