[crossroads]

New Model Army has announced a new vehicle which will be released in April/May. These models are available in 3 color schemes: summer, winter and urban disruptive. The models are limited production and will be limited to 100 pieces per camo scheme. According to them this particular tank has not been released in this scale before.

The New Model Army produces metal toy soldiers and vehicles in 1:30 scale. They are comparable to King & Country toy soldiers. Common consensus is that they are not quite as good as King & Country but they are improving. The vehicles are made of polystone.

Info on the Lynx provided by www.achtungpanzer.com

Panzerspahwagen II Ausf L Luchs - Sd.Kfz.123 (VK 1303).

The final development of Panzerkampfwagen II was Panzerspaehwagen II Ausf L Luchs (Lynx) - Sd.Kfz.123 (VK 1303). This light reconnaissance tank was produced by MAN and Henschel (small number) from September of 1943 to January of 1944. An order for 800 was made but only 104 (some sources state 133) were manufactured (chassis number 200101-200200). MAN developed the chassis and Daimler-Benz the superstructure and turret. Luchs was a development of VK 901 (Ausf G) and used its modified suspension and hull. It was powered by 180hp 6-cylinder Maybach HL66P engine with ZF Aphon SSG48 gearbox. Luchs weighted 13 tons and had road range of 290km. Four men crew consisting of commander, gunner, driver and radio-operator operated Luchs. Communication equipment consisted of FuG12 MW receiver and 80-watt transmitter. The communication between the crew was by the use of the intercom.

This light reconnaissance tank saw service until the end of the war on both the Eastern and Western Front with Panzer-Aufklarungs-Abteilungen (armored reconnaissance detachments) of Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS. Reported users include 116th Panzer Division on the Western Front and 3rd, 4th and 6th Panzer Division on the Eastern Front. It is reported that 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf and 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking fighting on the Eastern Front also used Luchs. Vehicles sent to the Eastern Front were mounted with additional frontal armor plate for increase protection. Small number was fitted with additional radio equipment and antennas and served as reconnaissance communication vehicles. Luchs was to be eventually armed with (Luchs 5 cm) 50mm KwK 39 L/60 gun (VK 1602 Leopard) but only variant with 20mm KwK 38 L/55 cannon (with rate of fire 420-480 rounds per minute) was produced. The 20mm cannon was fitted with TZF6 optical sight. It is also reported but not confirmed that 31 Luchs were mounted with an open-top turret armed with 50mm KwK 39 L/60 gun and began arriving to the troops in late 1943. Also plans were made to produce recovery version - Bergepanzer Luchs, but they were never materialized. Along with Bergepanzer Luchs, scale model of Flakpanzer Luchs anti-aircraft tank based on lengthened chassis (VK 1305), armed with either 20mm Flakvierling or 37mm Flak 36 gun, was made but this project was never realized.

Summer

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Urban Disruptive

Thanks
Ronnie
www(dot)crossroadsdiecast(dot)com