Zrinyi

In 1942 the Hungarian Ministry of Defence decided to arm the Hungarian Royal Army with self propelled guns. The prototype of the vehicle was completed in the Weiss Manfred Factory in 1942. The program was about to arm these vehicles with 75 mm (Zrinyi I) and 105 mm (Zrinyi II) guns. Because of the shortage of the 75 mm guns only the prototype of the vehicle was equipped with such a weapon. In February, 1943 the Hungarian Army ordered 40 pieces of the assault gun from the Weiss Manfred Factory. After having produced the first series the Factory began to build the next in March, 1944. From the 50 pieces planned only 25-26 were assembled when an air strike destroyed the factory. The last six pieces were assembled at the Ganz Factory during the autumn of 1944. Later combat experience showed that it is useful to equip these vehicles with guard plate. The industry could fulfil the production and installation of the guard plates only at the end of 1944 and the beginning of 1945.

The model is a product of the Hungarian company Botond Models. It consists of resin, white metal and photo-edged parts. The kit also contains high detailed Friulmodellisimo track. The finished model is nice and detailed. In connection with upgrading it is useful to have some literature. For example the Hungarian Magazine Model és Makett. Assembling skill is similar to a Verlinden product. Painting can be either protective colouring (green XF-62) + yellow (Testors 1735) + darkbrown (XF-64 + XF-1) or one coloured dark green.