RPM 1/35 POJAZD SZTURMOWY "MINENRAUMER" (GERMAN ASSAULT VEHICLE MINE EXPLODER) KIT NO. 35100 MSRP: $43.95
GREATMODELS PRICE: $36.25 |  | HISTORY by George Prada This strange AFV was found by the Soviet troops at Kummersdorf proving grounds in 1945 and was then stored at the Soviet military base in Dresden. In 1947, it was delivered to Kubinka proving grounds for tests together with other German AFVs. The tests could not be completed because the minesweeping mechanisms of the mineroller were badly damaged during the transportation and only movement and tactical tests were made. The design was the joint project by Alkett, Krupp and Mercedes-Benz and construction was finished in early 1942. The appearance of this AFV was very strange and unusual. The vehicle's body was mounted on the heavy gun frame with the cabin containing the fighting compartment, engine and the turret from PzKpfw I armed by the two MG-34 machine guns for close defense. The body armor was 20 to 40mm thick. The bottom had to withstand the explosive power of mines and was 80mm thick. There were inside armor plates in this AFV. Turning the mineroller was done by the small steering wheel placed in the rear part of the body. Driving was done by turning of the steering wheel and via the gear selector. The wheels were mounted with 75mm wide brake shoes that were controlled directly from the fighting compartment. The moving parts of this mineroller were caterpillar trucks with shoe pads fixed onto the driving wheels. They were similar to those used on wheels of the German heavy field guns in the WWI. The explosives theoretically could not damage those pads. The tests showed that the weight of this AFV, its low speed and height made an easy target for enemy artillery. This AFV was constructed under the influence of high panzer losses on the Soviet minefields. It was to go before the tanks in the offensive operations. It appears that the designers understood that this AFV was useless in comparison with the ordinary tanks mounted with mineplows and was abandoned at the proving grounds. Today Alkett-Raümgerät can be seen in the Museum of Armored Forces in Kubinka in Russia. These vehicles were designed and built by Alkett. The vehicles had special FEET around the circumference of each wheel, that utilized centrifugal forces to hammer at mines and explode them. The vehicles used a twin machine-gun armed turret from the Pz.Kpw. I tanks. The vehicle's designation was the Alkett "Schwere Minenraumer" or heavy mine clearer. These vehicles were huge, reverse bicycle arrangements...steered by their rear wheel. TECH DATA: Length: 6.5m (21.33 ft.)
Width:3.17m (10.40 ft.)
Height:1.28m (9.19ft)
Armor thickness: 34-40mm
Weight: 55tons
Engine: 300hp
Speed: 15-20km/h
Armament: 2 x 7.9mm MG34 machine-guns in a fully rotating Pz.Kpw.I turret.
Crew: Three The Kit The kit comes in a lid and tray type box. The box art shows two minenraumers, with the leading one crashing through a wood fence. There is a knocked-out Russian T-34 tank in the background. The box art also says "Operation Zitadel, 1943". Is this really where these were used in combat??? Again, I came up with no information as to that. Information, on the web, was next to nil about these beasts. What's in the box?: There is one battleship gray tree of parts and five chalk white ones in the kit. Tree A is the smallest tree and it almost looks like something was lopped off one end of it. It contains the parts for the Pz.Kpw. I turret. This turret can be assembled with its hatch open and there is a few detail parts inside, consisting of a gunners seat and a storage bin of sorts. It would take more stuff to really detail it out in there. The tree also holds the supports for the rear wheel...which steered the vehicle. There are four identical letter B trees. These hold the three wheels, the iron FEET that go around the circumference of these wheels and all the connecting hardware for them. There is also individual chain links...to build a chain from...link by link to connect the body of the vehicle to each side of the rear maneuvering/steering wheel. I doubt that I will want to use these, as you will have to cut a slot in them to put them together...they are molded as solid ovals. I will look for some appropriate...and to scale...metal log chain at my hobby shop to use as an alternative. It will look better anyways. The final tree of parts is letter C. It holds the vehicle's body parts. The body is built up from a floor, side pieces, top and separate glacis plate. All the hatches can be positioned as open, but there is no interior detail parts what-so-ever provided. Heaven only knows what the insides of this thing looked like. I doubt any pictures or drawings anymore exist of its interior? The instructions are one sheet, that is folded to create four pages. Page one begins with a very short history of the vehicle in Polish only. This is followed by instructions of how to wet the decals and apply them and a drawing of the decal sheet. Strangely, no instruction or drawing is given as to the decal placement on the vehicle...but I can guess at where they probably go. You get a swastika flag...for air identification by friendly aircraft. You have to put the swastika together from two separate pieces. This is to get by the anti-swastika laws in Germany. There are two types of national crosses, a couple of weight info stencils, and some white tactical marks. The flag, obviously, will drape over the roof of the vehicle. The three crosses that you choose will go on the sides and maybe the nose...as on the box art. The tactical marks (which I have never seen before) will go front and rear. I don't know if these tactical marks are accurate, or not, for a German mine exploder? The bottom of page one gives one paint scheme of earth yellow with a overspray of a wavy line that is probably either dark green or red brown. The bottom of the page gives parts tree drawings for trees letter A & B. You will have to constantly refer to these drawings, by the way, to identify parts..as the parts sprues do not have part numbers molded on them next to the parts. This gets to be more time consuming during assembly and does create a extra chore. Too bad! Page 2 begins with a parts tree illustration for tree letter C. There is also a explanation for color numbers...but strangely these are NEVER shown anywhere in the instructions as to paint something those colors. The bottom of the page gives us the first seven assembly steps. Page 3 continues with assembly steps 8 through 18. Page 4 gives the final steps...numbers 19 through 30. It appears that, with careful assembly, the wheels will turn and the iron FEET will be fully functional afterwards. Neat! The small decal sheet completes the kit. The kit is well detailed and there are a lot of tiny parts that will take very careful handling to remove them from the trees as they are extremely delicate looking. I see what looks like heavy weld seams that are on the glacis plate on the box art drawing. I don't know if that is an accurate rendering of how the vehicle actually was?? The kit part for the glacis does not show these welds...but they could be easily added I guess. One side panel of the box lid shows four photographs that were taken in the Kubinka museum of the vehicle that resides there. Unfortunately, they are not very good to see a lot of detail. Conclusion If you like the off-beat and unusual in armor subjects this kit should be just your joy. I know it will draw some real stares from your friends on your display shelves. This kit really fills it's box..bulges the top of mine anyways. Highly recommended with only the few reservations already mentioned. Some main body interior stuff would have been nice. Some real metal chain, and better marking instructions. | 
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