German half-track vehicle Sd.Kfz. 8 & 8.8 cm FlaK 36 gun COBI 3143 - World War II 1:35

Model Sd.Kfz.8 & 8.8 cm Flak 36 | COBI 3143:

The building set includes the German half-track vehicle Sd.Kfz.8 and the 88 mm Flak 36 anti-aircraft gun towed on the transport carriage Sonderanhänger 201. The entire set is produced in Gelbbraun colors intended for Afrikakorps units. The assembled vehicle features a steering wheel, gear lever, and a color-printed dashboard in the driver’s position. Behind the rear folding ramp, spare track links are stored, and under the removable cargo cover you will find jerry cans, an ammunition crate, and a shovel. The tracks are functional, allowing the model to move easily on smooth surfaces.

The Flak 36 gun model features foldable support legs, adjustable barrel elevation, and detailed sight controls. A notable detail is the three white stripes on the barrel, indicating assignment to the third battery. On the front of the shield, the crew has painted tallies of destroyed targets during the African campaign. The set also includes a two-part transport trailer with a tow bar that can be easily attached to the Sd.Kfz.8 or another suitable COBI vehicle.

Inside the box you will also find an ammunition crate with shells, a display block with a printed nameplate, a German officer figure with a Luger pistol, and a Luftwaffe anti-aircraft gunner figure. The 1:35 scale sets are designed to match the size of COBI railway models, which were commonly used by the German army to transport military equipment. The vehicle or gun can be easily placed on a flatbed railcar.

 
Did you know:

The Sd.Kfz. 8 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 8 / 12t) was introduced into service as a special-purpose vehicle. It primarily served as a tractor for heavy artillery pieces or, when fitted with a superstructure and gun, as a tank destroyer. Development began as early as 1934 following a German Army requirement for a wheeled-tracked, highly maneuverable vehicle capable of towing trailers weighing up to 12,000 kg and transporting infantry. Several companies were commissioned to manufacture it, the best known being Daimler-Benz, which drew on experience from the ZD 5 vehicle. Initial production encountered difficulties, and as tensions in Europe increased, Germany intensified its efforts. On August 16, 1938, Hitler sent Ferdinand Porsche to Daimler to help resolve technical problems, a move that was not welcomed by the company’s management. Pre-series production began at the end of 1938. Interestingly, before the outbreak of World War II, several dozen vehicles were delivered to the Soviet Union. The passenger seats were arranged in rows one behind another, which led soldiers to nickname the vehicle “Theater.”

The vehicle proved particularly effective during the African campaign, but German industry was unable to produce enough units to meet Wehrmacht demand. Production was expanded to additional factories, including Krupp and Škoda Plzeň in occupied Czechoslovakia. During planning for the Western campaign, Wehrmacht command recognized the need for fast vehicles capable of destroying bunkers and enemy strongpoints. Designers therefore proposed a solution using the towed 88 mm Flak gun with limited elevation angle. A total of ten such combinations were produced, but their deployment was unsuccessful. The tall silhouette of the Flak was visible from hundreds of meters away, making the vehicles easy targets for Allied forces. The last unit was destroyed in combat in March 1943. In the basic version 8, behind the driver’s wooden bench was storage space for small-arms ammunition, and at the very rear, space for the crew’s personal belongings.

Great Britain also sought to develop a half-track vehicle. The design was handled by Bedford Motors, tasked with creating a vehicle capable of operating in all terrains. When the design was nearly complete and the company was preparing to build a prototype, they were given the opportunity to examine a captured German Sd.Kfz. 8. After testing it at a proving ground, the British acknowledged the high quality of the German machine. Their own development was halted and the plans destroyed. It was sufficient to copy what was already perfected. After the war, Sd.Kfz. 8 half-tracks were also used by the Czechoslovak Army.

 
Technical specifications Sd.Kfz. 8:

• dimensions: length 7.35 m, width 2.5 m, height 2.77 m
• weight 14,700 kg
• power unit: Maybach HL85 TUKRM gasoline engine with output of 136 kW
• transmission: 7 forward gears + 1 reverse
• maximum speed 51 km/h
• fuel consumption 100 l / 100 km
  
• fuel tank capacity 210 + 40 l
• crew driver, commander + 11 personnel

Technical specifications 8.8 cm Flak 18:

• length in firing position 7.62 m, width 2.3 m, height 2.41 m
• weight 7,400 kg including protective shield
• caliber 88 mm
• range 14,860 m
• muzzle velocity 1000 m/s
• rate of fire 20 rounds per minute
• barrel life 1,500 rounds
• accuracy at 1000 m – deviation max 40 cm, at 2000 m – deviation max 100 cm.

Excerpt from the secret report of U.S. Ordnance Technical Intelligence, 1941:

“The description of the captured German Sd.Kfz. 8 vehicle examined by the EEIS unit clearly demonstrates the high technical quality of the vehicle. The vehicle was tested at Aberdeen Proving Ground and subsequently dismantled by engineers of the G-2 group. Among the most interesting findings is the installation of needle bearings, which are virtually unknown to U.S. industry and impractical for domestic use. A weakness of the vehicle is its high fuel consumption, which under load and in terrain reaches nearly 200 liters per 100 km.”

About the set :

• COBI building set 3143 Sd.Kfz. 8 & 8.8 cm Flak 36 & Sd.Anh. 201 carriage made of 975 high-quality ABS elements
• scale 1:35
• collection World War II
• number of figures 2
• pad printed – no stickers
• faithful detailing
• made in the EU
• compatible with other building block brands