Making a German half track transport

[General Blasto]

Sorry I don't have the actual number of the halftrack - too Early in the AM here I would like to kitbash one of those German halftrack troop trasports in 1:18th scale, you know, the larger one like the one near the end of the "Dirty Dozen" and I was wondering if I could build it out of a Hanomag by removing the armoured back end and building the correct back end with the 3 or 4 row of seats. Is this possible or is it a completely different underframe ??? I know I will have to change out the cab area as well, but nothing on this model is availible yet in 1:18th Thanks, Gen. Blasto

[pickelhaube]

I have thought of this custom as well. There are too many things that are different. The rear the cab the armor hood or bonnet and the bogie wheels are totaly different. The bogies were the last thing that shut down my notions of doing this custom.
I have scale plans of most of the half tracks that the Germans made. I was hoping to do a little Grief that Rommel used in Africa but the same thing . Wrong bogies so that custom went to the wayside as well.

[General Blasto]

As I recall from the movie, the bogie wheels may be close, but have holes in them, of which, I think I can remove and drill those holes. I'll go and watch the movie again to see. I also saw that cool little scout car that the machine gunner like stood on the roof behind a sheild. I was going to make one out of a kubelwagon, but it's alot beefier that a kubelwagon. I'm thinkin' using a US command jeep perhaps as the frame and building up from there Gen. Blasto

[MG-42]

You are referring to the SdKfz. 7 , which their are some reference material available , as lots of pics on the net.

21st. must do this piece , it's a perfect marriage to the newly 88 ! ... "You just can't have one without the other".

Good Luck on it ! ... but I would just wait till they put one out first.



v MG

[General Blasto]

Yeah, I could wait, but then again we could all be pushin' up daisys by the time they get around to it Whatever happened to the Kongstigers we were promised ??? The quad 50 cal on trail was announced AFTER the Kongstiger, yet they're already showin' up. Agreed, the 88 would be perfect to tow behind the SDkfz 7s. I hope that when and if they do the SDkfz 7, they have a removable top on it, in case it rains. My troops don't like gettin' wet General Blasto

[grockwood]

If you are looking to make an accurate version there are too many difference between the two. The wheels are different size, different number of holes and different shape holes. The Sdkf7 is a 8 ton vehicle and the 251 is about a ton and a half (IIRC). You would have to scratch build most of the Sdkfz.

[gary1930]

If you are looking to make an accurate version there are too many difference between the two. The wheels are different size, different number of holes and different shape holes. The Sdkf7 is a 8 ton vehicle and the 251 is about a ton and a half (IIRC). You would have to scratch build most of the Sdkfz.

I agree with all that except the 251 chassis was 3 ton. The same chassis was used for the SdKfz 11 halftrack. I scratchbuilt the last version of this:



It's finished now, but I can't locate my photos of it.

[grockwood]

Wow that is pretty cool halftrack you built.

[KAMIKAZE]

I have seen Gary's halftrack in person and it is incredible.

Mark

[zonetoys]

I would like to kitbash one of those German halftrack troop trasports in 1:18th scale, you know, the larger one like the one near the end of the "Dirty Dozen" and I was wondering if I could build it out of a Hanomag by removing the armoured back end and building the correct back end with the 3 or 4 row of seats. Is this possible or is it a completely different underframe ??? I know I will have to change out the cab area as well, but nothing on this model is availible yet in 1:18th Thanks, Gen. Blasto

Blasto
I remember seeing a series of pictures of someone that did this a while back and have finally located the link to where they had posted some text and pics of the conversion along with one of thos metal Flak 88's. Looks good even if it is not completely accurate! I have been wanting to attempt this myself. There were more images on the net of this conversion, but I have been unable to locate them! Maybe these pics will jog someones memory and they can come forward with more info!
Hope this will help!
http://www.tanksandtrolls.co.uk/famo88page.htm

[Threetoughtrucks]

If I remember correctly, the small German armored car with the machine gunner standing behind the shield at the end of the Dirty Dozen wasn't an actual German vehicle.

The movie producers wanted a real armored car to crash through the bridge wall and fall into the river. The MV group that supplied the vehicles said NO. Running German MV's are just two scarce, to wreck. So the producers did a mock-up to crash into the drink. I really don't remember whether it was a more available MV like a Ferret, or just a Land Rover mocked up. The stand up machine gunner behind the shield was just stupid looking and deserved to go into the drink.

Being on the renting end of movie work, I can say movie people will say anything to get you to be off the set while they wreck or just damage your vehicle and say "OPPs, sorry.....see my insurance agent". I did a movie where the director wanted my M-37 to "jump off a five foot wall", yeah right...... We ended up selling the director a non running truck to propell off the wall and flip and got the undamaged parts to take home. My MV group insisted only our guys drove our vehicles.....we always had young guys on hand so fat old guys with beards wouldn't spoil the movie shot. Never had a problem that way.

TTT