Raupenschlepper Ost (RSO/01)

Location: Auto und Technik Museum Sinsheim, 74889 Sinsheim, , Germany

Date: October 1997

The Raupenschlepper Ost (RSO) was designed and built by Steyr of Austria and built under licence by Graf & Stift (Austria), Auto Union (Germany) and Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz (Germany). It was designed specifically for the Eastern Front and its main purpose was as a gun tractor, but other uses included snow plough, ambulance, anti-tank carrier and amphibian. Continue reading

Panzerkampfwagen VI SdKfz 181 Ausf. E Tiger I, Schwere Panzer Abteilung 503

Kit build with scratchbuilt modifications by Peter Bleasdale

Unit History

Schwere Panzer Abteilung 503 was sent to Russia in January 1943. It fought in southern Russia, received new Tigers in Spring 1943, and fought in the Battle of Kursk and later with Panzer Regiment Bäke near Cherkassy. Withdrawn in April 1944 and refitted. Sent to Normandy with Tiger Is and Tiger IIs. Destroyed in Normandy and the German retreat. Re-equipped with Tiger IIs and sent to Hungary. Renamed s.Pz.Abt. Feldherrnhalle in December 1944. Continue reading

Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-9 “Brown 4”

Fw 190 D-9 “Brown 4” W.Nr. 500647 of 7 Staffel, II./JG26 as it appeared at Hustedt, near Celle, April 1945.

Colour Profile by Claes Sundin

Photography by Mark L Tucker

B&W photographs courtesy of Eagle Editions

DML/Dragon “modified” Fw 190 D-12 1:48th Scale

Background

This Fw 190D-9 “Brown 4” W.Nr.500647 of 7. Staffel, II./JG 26 was found by the Canadians at Hustedt airfield near Celle in mid-April 1945. It was one of 2 aircraft that had to be left behind when II. Gruppe JG26 abandoned the field on 10-11 April. Attempts by the Germans to destroy the aircraft were only partly successful.

What makes these photos special is that they provide further proof that there were Fw190D-9’s with the tail of the Ta152. Previously only one photo of such a D-9 was known, an aircraft of werknummer 500645. Continue reading