Review – Butler’s Printed Models 1:100 (15mm) Wespe

I’ve had these two Butler’s Printed Models 15mm PLA Wespes in my collection since at least 2020, still not painted much beyond their battle-ready state. But as one has already taken part in Second BRYANSK (Spring 1943) as part of 47 Panzergrenadier Division in October 2021, a review is probably long overdue.

The print is well up to the usual standard for PLA models and comes with a separate 10.5cm gun that can be set at the desired angle. It also makes building the ammunition carrier (Munitionsträger) version simple.I filled the fighting compartment with a couple of PSC gun and tank crews. The usual print striations are visible, but can be smoothed out with a couple of coats of gloss varnish. At the time of writing BPM now offers a resin print for about 50% more than the PLA version.

The Wespe was a Zwischenlösung (interim solution) for an original specification that called for a 360 degree traversing gun that could be dismounted and emplaced in defence. Common sense prevailed though and the Wespe was built on an extended Panzer II chassis with an open-topped casemated design.  626 chassis were built in total, plus 159 Munitionsträger,  according to Wikipedia. They served in the Artillery Regiment of a Panzer Division alongside the 15cm Hummel (bumble bee) that was based on the Pz III/IV chassis with 705 chasses produced and 157 Munitionsträger. It can be seen that the ratio of ammunition carriers to artillery pieces was about 1:4, which argues that more softskin carriers were also kicking around in the logistic chain

Less clarity was shown in the various designations seen in the link below:

“Leichte Feldhaubitze 18/2 (Sf) auf Geschützwagen II, dated from July 1943. During its service life, the vehicle received several slightly different designations. These included G.W. II ‘Wespe’ für le.FH 18/2 (Sf) auf Gw II from August 1943, Geschützwagen II in November 1943, leichte Panzerhaubitze auf Sd.Kfz.123 [This was later allocated to the Luchs] in May 1944, and le.F.H.18/2 auf. Fgst.Pz.Kpfw.II (Sf) (Sd.Kfz.124) in October 1944“

10.5 cm leFH 18/2 (Sf.) auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II ‘Wespe’ (Sd.Kfz.124)