{"product_id":"rubicon-miniatures-sdkfz-7","title":"Rubicon Miniatures - SdKfz 7","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSdKfz 7\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHalf-track Artillery Tractor\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eDevelopment of the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSdKfz 7\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecan be traced back to a 1934 Wehrmacht requirement for an eight-tonne half-track.  The production vehicle first appeared in 1938 and was intended to be used mainly as the tractor for the 8.8cm FlaK gun and the 15cm sFH18 150mm howitzer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe vehicle could carry gun crews of up to 12 men in theatre-type seats with under-seat storage for various tools. The whole vehicle was spacious enough to carry their kit.  The rear of the vehicle housed an enclosed compartment for storage of ammunition, though a second ammunition carrier was desirable.  The tractor could tow loads up to 8,000kg (17,600lb) in weight.  Most were fitted with a winch that could pull up to 3,450kg.  It had a payload of 1,800kg.  The windscreen was able to fold down and a canvas roof could be erected.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe use of half-tracked prime movers for artillery was common in the German forces but not elsewhere.  Compared to wheeled vehicles, half-tracks were more difficult to maintain, they often suffered track breakages, and were slower on roads. However, they had better off-road mobility compared to wheeled vehicles.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe iconic SdKfz 7 was used throughout the war and saw extensive use in the North African Campaign where their tracks allowed them to drive through the desert sands far more effectively than trucks.  From 1938, a total of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e12,187\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eunits were built before production stopped in 1944.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe SdKfz 7 also became the basis of a number of self-propelled anti-aircraft variants based on 20mm and 37mm FlaK types in use.  The\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSdKfz 7\/1\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewas armed with a 2cm Flakvierling 38 quadruple anti-aircraft gun system; about\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e750\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e800\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewere produced by the end of Dec 44.  The\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSdKfz 7\/2\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewas armed with a single 3.7cm FlaK 36 or 43 anti-aircraft gun; about\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1,000\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewere produced by the end of Jan 45.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Highlights:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e- Two headlight options\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e- Windshield fold-down option\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e- Folded or erected canvas roof options\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e- Open or closed storage bins\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e- Base kit to build SdKfz 7\/1 or SdKfz 7\/2 included\u003cspan\u003e*\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e- Driver in normal or DAK uniform included\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eProduct Code:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e280065\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNumber of Parts:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e99\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003epieces \/\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003esprues\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlastic Kit - ABS Cement Required\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMiniatures supplied unassembled and unpainted.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rubicon Models","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44660530348101,"sku":"RU-280065","price":36.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0716\/5218\/0037\/files\/280065_SdKfz_7_a0fae562-f8f2-4d74-977d-64083c6b4306.jpg?v=1772117871","url":"https:\/\/wholesale.warandpeacegames.com.au\/products\/rubicon-miniatures-sdkfz-7","provider":"War and Peace Games | Wholesale","version":"1.0","type":"link"}