I know, I've been keeping an eye on it.

I've started another Sherman, so I'm in even if no one else joins us!

Just a note of support for all you guys, your works are incredible! Cannot join in but love looking at your in progress works and marveling at the amazing skills on display. Keep up the good work gentlemen, there are those of us watching with keen interest even if we don't always comment or participate. Fascinating work.

Jim
LSA

Hi Mike - I was wondering about the scratch/conversion campaign too. In the meantime, like you and others, I'll keep doing it in the meantime. My MATV personnel carrier is wrapping up now. I'll need to focus on finishing the dio that it's a part of - but, as of now, I don't have another project in mind....maybe an interim scratch of something?

Cheers
Nick

I missed this entire 13 page thread Count me in, maybe just the kick in the pants I need to do that M51 quad .50 trailer.

Beautiful work!!!
Where did you get the WZT-2 plans ?
Do you have resin copies of their elements?

Anybody and any conversion/scratch build is welcome here.

WOW! That is quite an accomplishment you have there! I started to say, it looks too good to paint but then I saw the painted, finished version and that looks even BETTER.

Great job! Kudos.

Attn: Pat S.

I recently noted that L.Z. Models is doing a very nice set of resin US WWII tank radios.

Hi Robert, I used plans that I obtained from various sources, but would be willing to share what I have. I'm afraid I didn't cast anything as at the time I was just starting to scratchbuild.

Final result on that back-dated Skoda RSO to look like the original prototype:



Also finished iteration of the farm wagon (converted Blitz truck) to go with the RSO:

Hi Michael -

Nice work as always! The build looks great. About that truck...the torque generated by and required to turn those huge wheels must be enormous! Must have one heck of a leaf spring pack - if so, I wonder how the torque didn't wrack the leaf springs and axles off each other and/or the chassis!?

I understand the idea of the large diameter wheels, conceptually rolling over whatever may be in their path, but the strain on the suspension and driveline must be incredible...quite a truck and build! I can hear the u-joints whining from here!

Cheers
Nick

I am now working on a conversion(1:35 Opel Blitz Italeri + leftovers from Italeri's Blitz Kesselkraftwagen) and a scratchbuild(Schwerer Maschinensatz A/Sd.Ah. 24).
The result should be a Opel Blitz 3,6-42 Werkstattwagen towing a Generator Set.


I started the Blitz 6 weeks ago, but then had a hiatus for more than a month.The reason for droping the Blitz -I started the Sd.Ah.24
I did an extensive web research and was lucky enough to come across some basic measurements, that helped me get all necessary dimensions(with a pint of "gizmology", off course) from the pictures I collected.
Some pictures follow:

Greetings Nick

You are absolutely correct as to the "holy" wheels. That is why in the production vehicle the design was changed to solid wheels. In tests of the prototype, under strain, the engine torque rotated the centers right out of the large diameter perforrated wheels.

As to all that torque, the vehicle used the French concept of each wheel having its' own driveshaft. As far as I know there where no problems with the transmission of power to the wheels nor with the suspension system.

The vehicle's real problem was traction on hard pavement and on ice. They had snow cleats that could be bolted to the wheels but these were also made of steel so no help on pavement. If they had only made those cleats from rubber blocks they might have gotten somewhere.

Also the vehicle was too heavy for its' ground contact footprint and often sank into soft ground or dug a hole for itself.

Finally the mechanical brakes were horribly ineffective. Both the driver and co-driver had handbrake levers to apply extra muscle power and if all else failed there was a rear plow blade that could be dropped in case of emergency by the driver using a lever release in the cab. (Again, not much good on hard pavement.

I have been told a story (only once removed from the original author) of riding in one of these. The driver was stuck, not being able to get up a hard paved railroad embankment to the RR crossing. It took him several tries of backing further and further down the road and then trying to reach maximum speed in order to carry the vehicle up and over the RR crossing.

The extended workshop body on the Blitz is really nice and an excellent idea. Gotta put that idea in my Blitz notes for future reference! Nice clean build!

Hello. Stumbled over this thread. I know Michael's talents with trucks and his fascination.
Recently I found out that Custom-Scale products are very interesting. Now I got 2 kits on my desk.
1. Conversion to build a Sd.Kfz.7/3.
2. SdAh. 115 Wehrmacht Trailer.
Start with number 2. A bit disappointed to see a lot of detail is missing on the axles and a bit lumpy resin.
1. Will study that first, before comments. did not open it to look closer.
So that is why I'm sharing my thoughts to this thread. I think a lot of knowledge is here to find out to make this a better detailed trailer. Scratch building it will be to replace and add a lot of (extra) details.
Really enjoy this thread, hope we all can discuss this one as I will start soon the building.



Kind regards,

Robert Jan

Nice subject(s) Robert!

I corrected some discrepancies in my Sd.Ah.24- a big "thank you" goes to Michael.

Here is my almost finished Maschinensatz A:





It will get it's dust treatment once I'm ready with my Blitz Werkstattwagen.

I saw the V1 on the trailer and couldn't resist posting my scratchbuilt Vidalwagen and Dragon V2 which is now appearing as an article over on Large Scale Planes-- unfortunately I haven't mastered this Photo Bucket stuff yet, so here's a link to the article:

http://www.largescaleplanes.com/articles/article.php?aid=3168

VR, Russ

I know that article. For my Nr.1 object I will refer to drawings I found from Lead Warrior. Hard to get that kit for the Sd.Kfz.7/3. So a mix has to do the trick! Platform will be hard to get I suppose. Rocket I'm looking for will be the Accurate from the UK.

Kind regards,

Robert Jan

Angel, outstanding work on the Blitz and generator. Oh yeah!

Scratch built Sd.Ah.115 by well known S. Ohio modeler Monte Kelch.

Hi. Now after some research I've seen the same winch on 3 different spots on the trailer. On top like on the photo above, but already in 2 different positions, vertical and horizontal. another reference is my instruction sheet, says it goes with the extra wheel on the lower part of the trailer. Last one shows a winch at the back of the trailer bed. Was it a mobile unit to fasten with bolts or whatever to keep it in position?
Wheels that come with the kit. No fun. Resin of the hubs is so thin, I already pushed out one by just picking it up. So that will need some research too.
Advise is very welcome on those wheel and hubs.
Later on this weekend I will show some progress photos.

Kind regards,

Robert Jan

Hi.
Some progress on the 'Triangle'. Except for the leaf suspension all is made from scratch.
Old molds or just a bad casting on this one, I don't know.








Comment are welcome. Looking for a way to make wheel hubs.
Continue with the rear axle now.
In the same box a V-1 for transport is present. Casting is much better. Except for on stabiliser, which had a hug air bulb. Filled it with resin, no sweat.

Kind regards,

Robert Jan

Jan,
The easiest way to make wheel hubs might be just to "borrow" them from another kit. The Italeri 1/35 Opel Blitz comes to mind-- it's cheap and should be available-- the rest of the Opel Blitz kit is not up to much, so there won't be much "guilt" in stealing from it!
VR, Russ

Hi Russ. Thanks for your thoughts on this. My first intention would also be buy a replacement wheel set for the Blitz. But I need 2 axles with double air. Then on the other hand, design of the hubs is different. Only 2 holes. Mercedes LG 3000 has them, so would be better option. Last thing is that these axles are deployed for 3.5 Tons of load. 2 x 3.5 makes 7.0 to carry a maximum of 9.0 Tons. Am I right on this, or does it work different? I have no clue on this to be honest.

Kind regards,

Robert Jan