1/72 Sd.Kfz.165 Hummel Late Production w/NEO Tracks

The Sd.Kfz.165 Hummel consisted of a 15cm sFH 18 L/30 howitzer mounted on a Panzer IV chassis. It was produced from late 1942 onwards because of an urgent need for artillery that could keep pace with Germany’s panzers. Its combat debut occurred during the titanic Battle of Kursk. More than 700 vehicles were built by the end of WWII. An easy identifying feature of Hummel Late-Production variants is the straight glacis plate for the driver’s/radio operator’s compartment.

The Neo tracks are a super-convenient track solution that comes with pre-assembled straight runs where applicable, and they can be realistically sagged and shaped by hand. Other parts come as individual links to allow them to perfectly conform to the shape of sprockets, etc. For this kit, everything needed to produce an accurate Late-Production variant of this Hummel is included in the box, and the engineering is top notch. The 15cm howitzer, which is fully seen inside the open-topped fighting compartment, is resplendent in rich detail, as is the rest of the interior. There are even photo-etched parts available to take detail to the next level. This “bumble bee” is a honey of a kit, and modelers will want to get one while they’re still available.