Nuts and Bolts are known for publishing highly illustrated titles that are particularly useful for modellers. This recent issue covers the 15cm sIG 33 (Sf) auf PzKpfw.1 Ausf B self-propelled gun as well as the 15cm sIG 33 towed heavy infantry gun. The 15cm sIG (Sf), better known to modelers as the Bison I was built by mounting the gun including its wheels onto of the chassis of a Panzer 1B. Approximately 38 such conversions were undertaken and these AFVs served in France, Balkans and on the Eastern Front. The towed 15cm sIG 33 was widely deployed and was used by some smaller European armies after the war.

Contents

This Nuts an Bolts title by Jürgen Wilhelm is in the series’ revised format and features an extensive 160 A4 pages with approximately 375 photos, plus colour profiles and scale drawings with text in both German and English. David Parker, who is behind AFV Modeller, was responsible for designing the graphics layout. Overall I found the layout was professional, and logically structured for ease of reference. For example related photos are grouped together and all the background chapters are clearly and systematically written. The photos vary in size, with 3 photos per page, and the captions are informative in pointing out key features.

The opening pages provide background material on both the towed gun (1.5 pages in English) which includes explanation of the five main variants and also the ‘Bison’ self-propelled gun (4 pages in English plus charts etc) . The later is described in considerable detail and includes the technical development and specifications, deployment, camouflage and markings, and a table accounting for known photos of each specific vehicle by campaign. A one-page diagram visually presents the order of battle for a company equipped with the self-propelled gun and accompanying half-tracks, trucks, cars and bikes. Given the limited references previously available on these subjects, most readers will find much new material in this section.

Sixty-nine pages present a chronological visual history of the self-propelled gun, which included many photos that were new to me. These b/w photos tend to be of the vehicle’s exterior and provide much detail on the external fittings, hull, markings and how the crew’s adorned them, but unfortunately there is limited coverage of the interior layout. As there are no surviving examples, there are no photos of a museum vehicle. The in service photos also cover the accompanying soft-skinned vehicles especially the 1 tone Sdkfz 10 Demag half-track (available as 1/35 model from Italeri). Five pages of colour profiles depict six different vehicles with between one and three views each. These profiles are based on photos in the book. John Rue provides four pages of 1/35 scale plans with five views, two cut away plans and three sketches of key detail, which would be useful to modellers, especially those who are scratch-building the superstructure.

The towed 150mm sIG is covered with twenty-four pages of b/w wartime photos that illustrate the different versions of the gun. These photos show how different versions of the gun were towed by horses or vehicles, such as 1 ton Sdkfz 10, and 3 ton Sdkfz 11 and 251 series, half-tracks. Other photos cover the gun being operated by the crew on the front line. Colour photos of several surviving guns are included to show close-up detail from almost every angle and would also be useful when detailing the gun either as a towed version or when mounted on the Panzer I B. Again John Rue provides scale plans and line sketches of features such as the various types of breech.

Seven in progress and completed colour photos cover a 15cm sIG 33 (Sf) auf PzKpfw.1 B (Bison) by Tony Greenland which was built by combining the hull from the Italeri Panzer I ausf B and a Pit Road white metal sIG 33. Alan Hobby have released a 1/35 model of the ‘Bison’, but its standard is typical of many Russia kits and it would benefit from extra detailing and/or the replacement of the hull with one from the new Dragon Panzer I ausf B. New Connection’s conversion set for the Italeri kit includes the Alan sIG 33 gun and resin pressed-steel wheels.

Recommendation

This recent Nuts and Bolts volume offers a valuable reference on the 15cm sIG 33 (Sf) auf PzKpfw.1 B (Bison) and the related sIG 33 infantry gun. The combination of the background history, technical drawings and ample photos makes this volume ideal for modellers wishing to detail the respective models or undertake a conversion project. Given the limits of the current Alan Hobby ‘Bison’ kit, this book should be very helpful for many modellers. Definitely recommended.

Thanks to Paul Owen for providing the book.

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