Tolstyy Max

[zenrat]

Tolstyy Max.  PDRV Northern defense zone.  Spring 1948.

Tolstyy Max - 17 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The 10.5 cm K gepanzerte Selbstfahrlafette (10.5 cm gun on armoured self-propelled mount), also known as the Panzer Selbstfahrlafette IV Ausf. A (Pz.Sfl. IVa) (Self-propelled anti-tank gun IV model A) was a prototype self-propelled gun used by Nazi Germany during World War II. Although it was originally designed as a Schartenbrecher ("bunker buster") for use against the French Maginot Line defences, following the defeat of France in 1940, it was evaluated for use as a tank destroyer on the Eastern Front.
Throughout most of its development it was known as 10 cm K. (Pz. Sfl. IVa), but was redesignated 10.5 cm K (gp. Sfl.) on 13 August 1941,[2] and was also colloquially known as Dicker Max ("Thick" or "Fat" Max).

Tolstyy Max - 5 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

For combat trials the two prototypes were assigned to Panzerjäger Abteilung ("Anti-tank Battalion") 521 during the invasion of the Soviet Union. One accidentally caught fire and was completely destroyed by the detonation of its ammunition, but the other fought successfully until the end of 1941. It was rebuilt by Krupp during the first half of 1942 and returned to the 521st in time to participate in Case Blue, the 1942 summer offensive in Russia.  It remained operational until July 1943 when it was captured by Red Army troops at the Battle of the Kursk Salient.

Tolstyy Max - 12 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Following the end of WW2 the Red Army Guards Armoured Division presented a number of captured, repaired, and rebuilt nazi armoured vehicles to the PDRV (People's Democratic Republic of Victoria) Republican Guard.  Amongst these was the Толстый Макс (Tolstyy Maks - Russian for Fat Max).  Most of this history was put into museums but as the PDRVs eternal border dispute with its Northern neighbour was in an active phase some bright spark realised that Tolstyy's 10.5 cm gun would make short work of pillboxes and other defensive works.

Tolstyy Max - 3 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Tolstyy was shipped North, along with the two truckloads of ammunition the Soviets had provided, and spent a month or so roaming the border blowing things up and breaking down.  Once the ammo ran out it was towed out of the conflict zone and shipped back South again to spend its retirement on a plinth.

The Model

Hobby Boss 1/48 Pz.Sfl. IVa Dicker Max.
Figure is from the Revell box scale Honest John set which is allegedly 1/54 and so is close enough - although he is actually taller than other 1/48 figures I have so go figure (sic).
He represents a logistics apparatchik as is shown by his badge of office - the clipboard.
The Dio base is one I am building for cars and small trucks between 1/48 and 1/24.  It still needs a few finishing touches.

Tolstyy Max - 1 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

[chrisonord]

Marvellous 

[NARSES2]

I like that mate ........ a lot     

[Supertom]

Ha, very nice!

[Rheged]

Big Max is well done, and I can see the diorama base getting a great deal of use in the near future.

[Captain Canada]

Looks great ! I like the shape of it.

[Wardukw]

Max is done ..i've been waiting for this build mate ,,well worth the wait   

[buzzbomb]

Good build. The base is really nice

[frank2056]

The tank looks great. So does the base! How did you make the asphalt?

[Old Wombat]

Dicker Max looks good, as does the base!  

[Weaver]

Nice one Fred - looks good.

What does the slogan on the side say?

[zenrat]

Thanks folks.

The Bitumen (Asphalt) is by AK Interactive.  It comes in a jar and you just spread it like putty.  It is a very very easy way to represent a road.  You just have to be careful at the edges but I fixed that by building the dirt over the top of it.
The base of the base is a piece of slate which is why it is the shape it is.  Rocks and gravel from the garden.
You'll see it next with the Panhard VBL which I have yet to photograph as i was waiting to finish the base (nearly there, it's got a tree and some bracken but needs a bird in the tree.

The slogan says "A gift from the workers of Kursk".