1:18 RSO/01 Raupenschlepper Ost

[grunt1]

First of all for those of you interested in the Puma, Schwimmwagen, etc.. Those are headed toward the finishline and I'll have more updates this month.

The RSO is a new project with prototypes by Thanksgiving and ideally availability before Christmas. We'll see how that goes.

This will be the RSO/01 which has the rounded metal cab. The RSO/02 and RSO/03 had the slat sided "box" cab. This is a great vehicle to tow any of your other 1:18 items like the Pak 40, Nebelwerfer 41, Pak 36 or even the LeIG 18 around.

[pickelhaube]

Hey Grunt ,

This looks great !!

The RSO was Mg-42's favorite German vehicle.

He asked me many a time if I was ever going to build one.

I have been thinking since his passing if I would find the time to make one.

I am very happy that you are doing this.

I am sure Mitch is smiling now .

[smittyrob64]

Well, you beat me to it. Started modeling one to make 1:18.
I will be all over this, very interested in an RSO, I would like to make an RSO/4 pak 40 as well so I'd be looking at 2.
Are you using 3DS max?

Rob>

[Jnewboy]

RSO would be great!!

[grunt1]

Thanks guys, this should be pretty cool. Shapeways has taken down their rubber like material so I won't be able to do flexible tracks like I had hoped. Otherwise, this is a pretty straightforward model.

There are a lot of good tools, from 3DS Max($$$) to Google Sketchup. It really depends on what you are doing. I tend to do so small parts in Sketchup because the UI is so simple. Sketchup implodes when you load anything complex into it, at least for me, so I have to use Meshlabs, Blender or other tools to make tweaks to an existing larger or more elaborate model.

[flyboy_fx]

Wow, Mitch wanted one of these so bad. I will get one and paint it just like he would have wanted!

[grunt1]

I'm trying to size this puppy for 1:18 scale and am getting conflicting data regarding the width (enough to make a difference) from Bradford's line drawings in 1:35 scale and more general reference sources like wikipedia. Anyone have a solid source like a blueprint or something?

That or.. I have an actual RSO/01 about 2 hours from here and can get measurements. The challenge is how do you measure the width of a vehicle like this? Measuring the back of the truck bed width would be easy but or something like the outside edge of a left track link to the outside edge of a right track link.. not sure ..

[Jnewboy]

I dont know the best way to measure it, I would just scale up from 1/35 print like you said, no one on here is going to take a mm ruler to it I doubt. Since you are going into bigger stuff like this and the Puma I thought you should consider doing something small you can make using the same chassis like a 38t, from which you could make a Hetzer, Marder III and even a Flakpanzer 38t !



You already have the gun done for that one!!

[smittyrob64]

Let me know if these help

[grunt1]

Thanks! Looking at the various drawings I am wondering if the discrepancy is due to some of the survivors having a mirror, mirrors or none at all. Bradford's drawings have no mirrors. I found two books that I ordered on "schleppers" so we'll see if those crack the mystery. If not, I'll head up to Auburn and check the real thing.

[Jnewboy]

Have you ever considered doing a Natter? it is small and very cool!!!

[grunt1]

Yes if I did an aircraft that would be the first one, assuming there was interest.. It is really easy.

[Crazy Kraut]

very very interested in the Natter
regards from Germany
Sven

[YT]

So excited for the RSO! I need to get off my duff and order some of your other kits.

[normandy]

A Natter might be Cool.


....and the RSO to pull it.