Sd.Kfz.232 (8-Rad) - Germany’s Long-Range Eyes in the Desert

The Sd.Kfz.232 (8-Rad) was one of Germany’s most capable long-range reconnaissance vehicles of World War II. Designed for speed, endurance, and communication, it featured eight-wheel drive, excellent cross-country mobility, and a prominent frame antenna for long-range radio operations. These vehicles were widely used in the early years of the war, particularly in North Africa, where mobility and situational awareness were critical.

Early deployments saw many Sd.Kfz.232 armored cars shipped in their original factory-applied brown finish before later being repainted in desert yellow. In practice, not all vehicles were repainted in the field, and some retained this earlier color scheme, especially during transitional periods of the North African campaign. This model represents one of those vehicles operating in its original desert brown finish.

This build is based on Tamiya’s Sd.Kfz.232 kit and was a straightforward, enjoyable project with excellent fit and engineering throughout. Weathering was kept appropriate for a desert environment using dust pigments and restrained paint chipping to suggest operational wear. The large frame antenna is finished in its original German gray, providing contrast and highlighting one of the vehicle’s most distinctive features.

E-100 Tank Destroyer - A Postwar German “What-If” Concept

The E-100 Tank Destroyer represents a speculative post-war evolution of Germany’s late-war heavy armor concepts. Based on the E-series chassis, this build depicts a vehicle envisioned shortly after 1945, incorporating late-production features and experimental modifications that were being explored as the war drew to a close.

This 1/35 scale model is Trumpeter’s E-100 Tank Destroyer and features a newly installed black lacquer barrel along with an added aerial protection plate for the crew. More than fifteen modifications and refinements were made during the build, including hull surface texturing, drilled-out machine gun barrel, an empty fire extinguisher bracket, airbrushed stencils, detailed sighting optics, and a fully equipped front spare track holder with mounted tracks.

Weathering was kept controlled to reflect a vehicle in limited service or evaluation rather than prolonged combat use. The overall finish balances realism with a clean, late-production appearance, emphasizing the imposing size and presence of the E-100 design while remaining grounded in plausible late-war German engineering practices.