bookLeichter Zugkraftwagen 3 ton and variants Hanomag / Borgward Sd.Kfz.11
Nuts & Bolts Volume 20
Dr. Nicolaus Hettler
Published by Nuts & Bolts Books
Neumünster, Germany
144 pages soft cover

Review by Terry Ashley


This latest volume from Nuts & Bolts in on the Leichter Zugkraftwagen 3 ton half-track Sd.Kfz.11 which was the subject of three kits from AFV Club (AF35040, AF35047, AF35051) being the only kits available in 1:35 plastic to date with kits in resin from Sovereign if still available?

The book is in the usual Nuts & Bolts soft cover A4 format with 144 pages that include both English and German text and includes many B&W wartime photos and colour walk around shots of preserved museum vehicles as well as numerous 1:35 plans of different versions.

The first 26 introductory pages is mostly text with a few photos and covers the development history of the 3 ton that includes a brief technical description as well as tables showing the production numbers from the 6 different manufacturers of the 3 ton.

There is also descriptions of the armoured versions of the Sd.Kfz.11 series which are often mistaken as members of the Sd.Kfz.251 family as the front armour is very similar the 251 Ausf.D but with some differences. Most of these vehicles were equipped with the 2cm FlaK38 which again gives rise to the mistaken believe they are a variation of the Sd.Kfz.251/17 but are definitely part of the Sd.Kfz.11 family as confirmed here. Another version built on the same armoured Sd.Kfz.11 chassis was fitted with the Le.F.H 18/40 10.5cm Howitzer with two photos of this vehicle included on page 69 and would make for an interesting modelling subject.

Also included is a brief service history with Reichwehr, Wehrmacht Artillery and Anti-tank units as well as information of Colours and Markings and modelling section mostly in text with just a couple of wartime photos included.

The next 50 pages covers the many variants built on the basic Sd.Kfz.11 of which there were many as well as the five specific Ausf. Types; /1 Smoke generation vehicle, /2 Decontamination Vehicle, /3 Decontamination Vehicle with spraying equipment, /4 Smoke generation vehicle (subject of AFV Club kit AF35051) and /5 Heavy Smoke generation vehicle.

This section has mostly wartime photos (two to three per page) with the captions describing the vehicle shown to give a good overall coverage of the types and there are some excellent shots of the Engineer (Pionieraufbau) vehicle fitted the three rows on bench seats very similar in appearance to the Sd.Kfz.7 8 ton Half-track. Other types shown are the final production type with wood cab (subject of AFV Club kit AF35047) and two pages of the armoured cab type as mentioned above.

The photos included not only give overall details of the many vehicle types but also of the crew uniforms and vehicle storage with many diorama possibilities.

The next three pages have a small B&W wartime photos of six vehicles and a colour side profile illustration of each to provide a nice guide for anyone wanting to build a model of these vehicles.

Following this are 18 pages with 16 sets of 1:35 plans, most having 5 views while a couple give you just side profile plans, these include 5 view plans of all five specific Ausf.s plus other variations on the basic Sd.Kfz.11 including the Pionieraufbau and final wood cab version but not of the armoured versions unfortunately.

The next 42 pages are all in colour with overall photos and descriptions of museum vehicles with captions giving a brief description as well as numerous detailed close up walk-around shots covering details such as the suspension, chassis, engine and gearbox, driver’s station showing the dashboard and gear levers. There are also numerous detailed shots around and inside the rear body work of the basic version and five pages on the last wood cab version with shots of the engine compartment and inside the cab.

There are additional walk-arounds on the /1 and /2 types showing the rear body sections inside and out as well as three pages on the Pionieraufbau version showing good details of the rear body with shots of the driver’s compartments and rear bench seats.

Finally there are three pages with detailed shots of the special marine rescue vehicle fitted with a large rear body that includes interior shots of the rear body and the last two pages have a couple of painted Sovereign models.

Conclusion:
This is another excellent volume in the Nuts & Bolts series covering the Sd.Kfz.11 like no other previous publication with all known types covered including lesser known types such as the armoured type with 10.5cm Howitzer.

The book has a good mix of technical and development info as well as wartime photos, museum walk-around photos and extensive 1:35 plan coverage and is just the reference for those still to build any of the AFV Club kits or a good reason to build another with the additional information in this volume.

Highly recommended 9/10

Addendum to Scale Drawings: 
Unfortunately during the printing process the green titles of the following drawings were omitted:
p.79 top drawing: Hansa-Lloyd HL kl2 (prototype)
p.79 bottom, page 80 top & center: Hansa-Lloyd HL kl3 (prototype)
p.80 bottom: Sd.Kfz. 11 le.Zgkw auf HL kl5 Fahrgestell
p.98 top: 7,5 cm Pak 42 auf 3 ton Zugmaschine
p.98 center: 7,5 cm Pak L/70 in le.F.H.43 (Hp) Oberlafette auf 3 ton Zugmaschine
p.98 bottom: 8,8 cm Pak 43 auf 3 ton Zugmaschine Entwurf 2
p.99 top: 10,5 cm le.F.H. 18/40 auf 3 ton Zugmaschine

For those who have already purchased the book, you can download a .pdf file with the missing page titles HERE. This can be printed on an A4 sized self adhesive label, cut out and added to the book pages as above.

Sample pages
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Thanks to Heiner from Nuts & Bolts for the review book


Page created July 28, 2007



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