The Retrokit (now
Solfig) model represents a captured French Lorraine armored tracked
carrier converted to a self-propelled gun mounting a German 15-cm
sFH 13 Lang field howitzer. The vehicle is interesting in being of
French origin, mounting a howitzer taken by the Belgians from the
Germans after WW1 and captured back by the Germans in 1940 (this is
not the same weapon as the 15-cm sIG33 Infantry gun).
Another version of the Lorraine Schlepper vehicle also mounted the
10.5-cm leFH18/40 howitzer.
The vehicle was used in North Afrika and France. The box photo appears
to me to show a vehicle in a two tone camouflage in Normandy, France.
I see no German national or unit marking, and no vehicle number. In
the front, the driver’s front plate is open. The engine is located
behind the driver.
The kit has about 32 cast resin parts. Detail and quality of the parts
is very good. Each side of the suspension and tracks are done as one
piece and are done well. The sFH 13 gun looks accurate and only needs
the muzzle drilled out a bit more. At the bottom center is the radio
set and to its left the rear spade. Several small parts like the handwheels
came broken. I don’t know how the parts will fit but exterior
and interior detail look plentiful.
Because of the number of small delicate parts I recommend this kit
for display modeling rather than as a wargaming modeling.
Retrokit’s only significant negative aspect is the lack of clear
assembly instructions. An exploded-view drawing showing placement
of all the parts would be very helpful. Because of the lack of good
assembly instructions I cannot recommend this kit to novice builders
of resin models. Neither decal markings nor crew figures are included.
At the top is the version that served in Afrika, below the version
that served in France. The only discernible difference I note with
the Normandy version is that it has an extra road wheel mounted on
the exterior of the gun compartment and a radio antenna.
References
- Encyclopedia Of German Tanks Of
World War Two, by Peter Chamberlain and Peter Doyle, Arms &
Armour Publishing, (1978 and 1999)
- http://www.landships.freeservers.com/sFH13.htm:
Great website covering WW1 artillery and AFVs.
- Panzer Tracts No. 10, Artillerie
Selbstfahrlaffetten, by Thomas Jentz & Hillary Doyle. (2002)
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(ex-Retrokit)
