Meng SS001 1/35 WWII German Alkett VsKfz.617 Minenraumer (Minesweeper)

This is a plastic model kit, which comes unassembled and unpainted. So glue, model paints and other basic modelling tools are additionally required.

The first prototype of the VsKfz 617 Minenr?umer (minesweeper) was produced by Alkett in 1942 and was designed to detonate mines using its weight with the large shoes on the wheels designed to have three shoes with full ground contact at any given time and was steered by way of chain linkages to the smaller rear wheel.

The large hull has armour protection of between 10mm to 40mm (undersides) to withstand mine explosions and was armed with a single Pz.Kpfw I Ausf.B turret with twin 7.92mm MG34s but initial test was unsuccessful due to the weight (50 tons), slow speed and awkward steering and size making it an easy target led to the cancellation of the project before series production started.
The single surviving prototype was captured by the Russians when they overran the Kummersdorf testing grounds In April 1945 and after some testing by the Russians eventually found its way to the Kubinka Museum outside Moscow where it now resides.