Introduction:
With the release of the Munitionsschlepper PzKpfw.IV Ausf.D/E (kit #00362) and Munitionsschlepper PzKpfw.IV Ausf.F (kit #00363) Trumpeter have re-packaged their excellent kits of the Mörser Karl-Gerät 040/041 Initial and Late versions (kit #00208 and #00209) into this one kit without any of the railroad transport trucks and supports that better pairs up with the Munitionsschlepper kits.A total of 7 Mörser Karl-Gerät 040-041s were produced between July 1940 and May 1942 with the first six used operationally but it is not known if the final Nr.VII was deployed. The first two Nr.I and Nr.II where built on the Initial Lower Hull with 8 rubber tyres road wheels and the redesigned suspension with 11 steel road wheels used on Nr.III to Nr.VII.
The Initial version Nr.I and Nr.II used 170mm (wide) track with 133 links per side driven by a sprocket with 17 teeth while the re-designed Late version had 240mm pitch track with 94 links per side and a drive sprocket with 12 teeth. But take note that Nr.III used a 250mm pitch track with the same 94 links per side if you wanted to build this particular vehicle.
They were initially armed with the 60cm mortar but later re-designed to also use the smaller 54cm mortar for greater range on the orders of Hitler in 1942 and the designation Geraet 40 refers to the 60cm mortar version and Geraet 41 to the 54cm armed Karl-Gerät. The modified vehicles could have the mortar type interchanged depending on operational requirements and the list below shows the Mortar type fitted to each vehicle.
- Nr.I “Adam” Set up to use both the 60cm and 54cm Mortars
- Nr.II “Eva” Used the 60cm only throughout her service life
- Nr.III “Odin” Used the 60cm only throughout her service life
- Nr.IV “Thor” Set up to use both the 60cm and 54cm Mortars
- Nr. V “Loki” Set up to use both the 60cm and 54cm Mortars
- Nr.VI “Ziu” Used the 60cm only throughout her service life
- Nr.VII Type fitted unknown
The kit:
The kit contents are the same as for the previous kits therefore I will direct you to the individual reviews of the Initial Version (kit #00208) and Late Version (kit #00209) for the full detailed rundown to save re-inventing the wheel and just describe what you get in this new kit in terms of the parts and versions you can build.This kit includes both the Initial and Late lower hulls and respective 8 and 11 road wheeled suspensions as well as the correctly toothed drive sprockets and tracks for the two versions but you have to make the choice early which version you are building as only one full Karl-Gerät can be built from the kit, not two.
There is also the choice of 60cm or 54mm mortar barrels as with the previous kits and included with this kit is the two metal 60cm rounds from the Munitionsschlepper kits and a revised etched fret with parts for the Karl-Gerät and the heavy 60cm round but strangely there are no 54cm rounds included so these will have to be sourced elsewhere if you build this version?
A revised decal sheet is also provided that includes the vehicle numbers I through VI in white with III to VI in both white and black depending if used on the Panzer Grey or three colour Dark Yellow/Dark Green/Red Brown cam schemes, note Nr.I and II were only finished in overall Panzer Grey.
Also included are the vehicle names for ‘Adam’ and ‘Eva’ in while only with ‘Thor’, ‘Loki’ and ‘Ziu’ in both white and black for a choice of paint finish with the font style matching available photos nicely. There is no name decal included for Nr.III ‘Odin’ as all available photos do not show the name applied as they do for the other vehicles.
To help with the painting a large double sided sheet is included with colour five view illustrations of the Initial version in overall Panzer Grey and the Later version in the three colour scheme to give a guide to the cam scheme and decal placement.
Also included in the kit are the eight figures from the German Artillery Crew Set #00406 which is a little strange as these are designed for the K5 Railway gun and some of the poses may not match the Mörser Karl? You should also note you only get the figures, helmets and person equipment and not the additional weapons included with set #00406.
A case in point is the two figures holding the shell rammer rod which is not used on the Mörser Karl with its shell loading tray and a better choice may have been the German Artillery Crew (Mörser Karl) set #00409? But a better choice still is the Dragon German Artillery Crew (set #6201) which is designed for the Mörser Karl and while the figures are in more relaxed poses are better quality overall.
Conclusion:
The quality and detail included in these Karl-Gerät kits are well know from the previous releases and depending of your choice of suspension and mortar will build into impressive models with the decal sheet providing markings for all deployed Karl-Gerät.Giving you this choice in a kit without the rail transport trucks is better suited to the Munitionsschlepper kits for an action diorama and is a good excuse to buy another of these excellent Mörser Karls kits if you haven’t already?
Highly recommended 8.5/10
