This is a limited production Collector model World War 2 Haltrack M3 Ardeny, it is a high quality heavy gauge steel plate construction which is a fine representation of the real thing.

The model has the following features

Detailed chassis
All round rubber tyres and working belt tracks
Operational steering
Opening bonnet which reveals detailed engine block
Rear gate opens
Side doors open and lock in with a latch
Spring Suspension
This product also includes a display stand and comes boxed in a nice gloss burgandy display box with window.(information booklet is also included about the history of the halftrack armoured personnel carrier, 5 languages. cz, d, e, f, gb)
Includes a de-tachable sub-machine gun
2x fuel cans, pick and shovel)
A true winner to add to the militaria collection
Scale 1:24, [L: 28.5cm's, H: 8.5cm's, W: 9.5cm's]

Other Info

Batteries not required
CE Approved
Not Suitable for children under 14 years of age
Manufactured in Europe

History of the Halftrack

The second half of the thirties was characterized by the lack of suitable means of mechanization for the transport of artillery. The classic lorry didn’t fulfil the gunner’s demands for terrain and mobility. The US Army had to solve the problem of ensuring an efficient tractor. During the concept choice the halftrack vehicle was preferred over the full-track tractors because being complicated contructionaly and demanding financially/ the development of the new tractor was based on the very successful French vehicle Citroen Kagvesse B2 produced already in 1921. A new experimental production model arose thanks to the linking up of the halftrack bogie with the body built on the basis of the light armoured carrier M3 Scont Car.
The model was demonstrated already in 1939 and identified as the T 14 halftrack. After demanding experiments and tests a verifying series of 105mm howitzer tractors was produced and delivered to the armed forces as M2 Halftrack Armoured car.
The successful application of the German cars Hanomag, initiated further application of the halftrack, after the vehicles. New versions of the model were developed.
After the battles in Tunisia the armouring was intensified and an oil-radiator was mounted into the oil tank of the engine. The additional construction changes were proved so that the halftrack vehicles were broadly implicated all over the battle-fields of WW2 under the most difficult climate conditions, in the dust and mud.
The greatest producers of the halftracks were: White motor camp, Autocar, Diamant T Motor, International harvester. During 1941 – 1944 about 53813 pcs of halftracks in various styles were produced.