COBI Sd.Kfz. 251/9 Stummel Set 2283

COBI's Sd.Kfz. 251/9 Stummel is a 1:35 model built from 485 blocks, with working track links, rubber-tired front wheels, an opening rear door, a movable gun and multi-colour brick camouflage. An armoured grenadier figure with double-sided prints and a printed nameplate are included.

One chassis, twenty-three jobs

The Sd.Kfz. 251 was the standard German armoured personnel carrier, and its real significance is how many other things it turned into. Twenty-three official variants were built on the same hull: ammunition carrier, radio vehicle, ambulance, engineer vehicle, anti-aircraft mount, flamethrower, mortar carrier, rocket launcher, infrared searchlight vehicle for night fighting.

This is the 251/9, the fire-support version, and the nickname explains itself once you see it. Stummel means stump: the 7.5 cm StuK 37 in the front of the hull was a short, low-velocity gun built for throwing explosive shells at buildings and gun positions rather than for punching through armour. The first ones appeared in 1942.

The layout was a compromise all through — an open roof, thin armour, and tracks at the back with steered wheels at the front. It carried infantry to the edge of the fighting and gave them something heavier than they could carry.

In the COBI range

Part of the 1:35 historical vehicle series. Note that COBI's other Stummel, set 2288, is a different vehicle: the wheeled Sd.Kfz. 234/3. Both carry a short 7.5 cm gun, which is why both got the same nickname.

Specifications

Pieces: 485 · Figures: 1 · Scale: 1:35
Model dimensions: 17 × 9 × 7 cm (6.7 × 3.5 × 2.8 in)