German Tractor with Fla-MG151/20 Drillingslafette auf Sd.Anh.Ost

MiniArt, 1/35 scale

Reviewed by Zack Sex

FirstLook   

MiniArt’s Lanz Bulldog combination kit—also released as German Tractor with Fla-MG151/20 Drillingslafette auf Sd.Anh.Ost—is a fascinating late-war subject. For modellers familiar with colour footage of German forces retreating westward through Czechoslovakia in 1945, this unusual pairing will look instantly recognisable.

The Lanz Bulldog itself was a remarkable tractor produced by Heinrich Lanz AG, with more than 220,000 built. Central to its success was the single-cylinder, two-stroke Akroyd engine. This hot-bulb design used low-pressure fuel injection onto a heated ignition surface, allowing it to run on a wide variety of fuels—diesel, petrol and even low-grade or waste oils. In the fuel-starved conditions of 1944–45, this versatility made the Bulldog especially valuable.

MiniArt complements the tractor with the Sd.Anh.Ost 1.5-ton trailer and a MG 151/20 Drilling anti-aircraft mount. The Sd.Anh.Ost trailer was purpose-designed for the Eastern Front, featuring four hollow metal wheels that could be removed and replaced with sled runners for operation over snow and ice. Period photographs frequently show these trailers towed by Raupenschlepper Ost (RSO) and Radschlepper Ost vehicles.

The MG 151/20 Drilling is equally interesting. Originally developed for Luftwaffe aircraft, these triple 20mm cannon were adapted late in the war for ground use, mounted on a simple pedestal. The result was a high-rate-of-fire weapon effective against both air and ground targets, more commonly associated with the Sd.Kfz. 251/21.

The kit itself is essentially three models in one, and construction is best approached in sub-assemblies—tractor, trailer and Drilling. The parts breakdown is typical of MiniArt, with fine detail and some small photo-etched components, though nothing overwhelming. Careful study of the instructions, along with test fitting and light sanding, will pay dividends—particularly with the gun mount.

The finished combination captures the improvised, resource-strapped nature of late-war German equipment perfectly. It is an eye-catching and historically evocative subject that stands out in any collection.

Highly recommended, and full credit to MiniArt for tackling such an unusual and compelling 3-in-1 release.

Purchased by the reviewer