conversion of xd sdkfz 251 to armored maultier do-able?

Post by **aferguson** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 3:18 pm

i'm thinking of converting the xd hanomag to an armoured maultier complete with nebelwerfer 42. I think both were about the same size. It won't be exact but i'm wondering if a reasonable job can be done. I've got the nebelwerfer all figured out, it's the halftrack that is in question.

Opinions and ideas?

http://www.missing-lynx.com/gallery/dio ... _azuo.html

kevrut · Post by **kevrut** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 3:26 pm

Looks like a cool project to do. Good luck.

Post by **aferguson** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 3:32 pm

i don't need luck, i need ideas!

I may just do my handy dandy hide much of it in smoke (cotton baton)idea. Make what i can that looks reasonable and hide the rest in smoke and dust kicked up by the rockets that have fired....it's a cheat but one i've done many times with great success.

All 10 rockets will fire btw. My prototype rocket goes over 18 feet.

Here's a nifty clip of panzerwerfer 42's in action, it was my inspiration:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uXsXJ6Fcck

smittyrob64 · Post by **smittyrob64** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 5:25 pm

They're roughly the same size. To my surprise the 251 is slightly shorter.
The body is pretty boxy, I don't think scratch building that part would be too much trouble.

I have a bunch of photos and pics of Pw42's if you are interested.

pickelhaube · Post by **pickelhaube** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:11 pm

It looks like the running gear and track is all different. The Maultis' track looks real close to a 38 and the Hanos' track has those pads on it. The shaping of the body would be the easiest thing to do. But making the bogies and tracks that is big time work. Unless you pack it full of mud and have it swamped in gook.

Panzer_M · Post by **Panzer_M** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:30 pm

the running track on the opels are based kinda on the Bren carrier system least on the Sdkfz.4....PzWrs might have a beefed up suspension.

can't tell much on the running gear here.

Panzer_M · Post by **Panzer_M** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:54 pm

also the Sdkfz.4 and PzKpfw.I B used the same track links.

Post by **aferguson** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:52 pm

yeah i'm not too worried about the look of the track links....i'll be glad that it just has tracks.

I'm not doing one of your world class customs here, pH. Just trying to cobble something reasonable looking together, like usual.

Panzer · Post by **Panzer** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 6:38 am

For the tracks you can use old model kits track links. They will scale out okay for those thin style tracks. Sometimes on ebay you can find a seller who is selling off a bunch of tracks in a lot for a good price.

olifant · Post by **olifant** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 10:34 am

aferg, you might want to try some industrial supply houses for drive belts. They come in all kinds of sizes and "tooth" patterns. I get quite a bit of bits and pieces for customs from MMC. They are not always cheapest but do have a really slick on-line search and catalog. Hit this link and type in "drive belts."

http://www.mcmaster.com/

9th Waffen SS · Post by **9th Waffen SS** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:32 am

Panzer_M wrote:the running track on the opels are based kinda on the Bren carrier system least on the Sdkfz.4....PzWrs might have a beefed up suspension.

can't tell much on the running gear here.

That is 100% correct. However, most people think that Maultier's running gear is exactly the same as Universal Carrier gear, but it is not. They are close copies, but they are not interchangeable. A popular theory is that UC's captured at Dunkirk were used for Maultier's, but that is simply not true. They would have had to have captured over 20,000 of them! And if memory serves me correctly, they only made 65,000 for the entire war.

I did a lot of research on Maultiers a few years ago, and my research indicated that the Univeral Carrier gear, based off of a Carden Loyd system, was the basis/inspiration for the Maultier running gear.

Germany produced over 23,000 Maultiers of all types in WWII. Seeing one in 1/18 scale would be neat.

pickelhaube · Post by **pickelhaube** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 3:46 pm

Well here is a 1 to 1 scale Mauilty track with a Bren carrier as well. Next to a 1/16 scale FOV Tiger.
I also have a Panzer 38 T track link . That looks close to the Mauilty. I had a chance to get a Tiger AND a Panther track link but dragged my feet and let them get away.

Panzer_M · Post by **Panzer_M** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 6:41 pm

here is another mule. someone could turn a Indy Jone truck into this maybe.

Magirus "Maultier", not sure on the weight of the chassis..I'm guessing close to the Benz L3000 or Opel 3ton.

Post by **aferguson** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 8:02 pm

be a snap with the right running gear. The running gear is a pig, however. I think the IJ truck would be too small as well.

Now that 21c seems to still be alive and well maybe they'll make a 1/18 version of their 32x Maultier. Yeah, maybe.

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conversion of xd sdkfz 251 to armored maultier do-able?

conversion of xd sdkfz 251 to armored maultier do-able?

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