Tamiya Wespe COMPLETE 08-29-10

Thanks Svenne! Yes the Wespe was built on a modified Pz II chassis. They had to lengthen the rear hull area in order to provide enough space for the recoil on the leFH18 and give the crew enough space to man the gun. They also of course rearranged the engine location to the middle and changed the driver's compartment, added some additional shock absorbers due to the added weight and changed center of gravity but all of the components (engine/transmission, suspension, hull, etc.) were essentially the Pz II design. HTH!  

hedorah59

Wow! I really, really, REALLY like this build! The German SPGs are some of my favorite subjects, and you made yours a masterpiece. I've said it berfore and I'll say it again, I really appreciate all of you who take the time and effort to share your builds and techniques with us I learned a lot from your posts. Bill. Now I just need to get my rear in gear and apply this knowledger to a model kit! 

Excellent, Inspiring and Generoues as allways!
I was curioues when I saw the first greyish colour layer, but you balance that so well with the following washes and filters.
Never payed much interest in the Wasp before, was this built on a Pz.II chassis?

Thanks
Svenne

redleg12

Now...another little factoid....if you hold a one meter stick (like the artillery aiming post) and some one measures the size in mils using a binocular or aiming circle reticle....there is a table which will convert the mil measurement to distance!!

YES!!!  Now you're talkin' my language!!!

Range = HOT-Mt/HOT-milsx1000!!!!  Oh, yeah, range estimation BABY!!!!!

bbrowniii

redleg12:

US aiming posts.....fyi...are 1 meter each half section. They do not double as anything else!!

 

HA!!! Speak for yourself, Artyman!!!  Mortar aiming posts are considerably shorter (ours are in a bag - eight sections, each about 18 inches - 2 bags per gun).  And my aiming stakes have been known to double as a helmet rest, a pointer, a back scratcher, a 'whack the sleeping PFC in the head'-er, a replacement for a missing tent stake... ahh the list goes on...

Thanks for the research and info, Redleg!!  I now know more about German aiming stakes than I've ever needed to.

Hummm...little stake for little bullets.......yep, it makes it simpler to hump and you won't hurt each other with the smalle size

Now...another little factoid....if you hold a one meter stick (like the artillery aiming post) and some one measures the size in mils using a binocular or aiming circle reticle....there is a table which will convert the mil measurement to distance!!

OK, now measre the angle and whip out your M17 plotting board and plot the gun positions on the ground.....Next up, putting a round through a bathroom window at 30KM ....Fun stuff....LOL

Rounds Complete!!

redleg12

US aiming posts.....fyi...are 1 meter each half section. They do not double as anything else!!

HA!!! Speak for yourself, Artyman!!!  Mortar aiming posts are considerably shorter (ours are in a bag - eight sections, each about 18 inches - 2 bags per gun).  And my aiming stakes have been known to double as a helmet rest, a pointer, a back scratcher, a 'whack the sleeping PFC in the head'-er, a replacement for a missing tent stake... ahh the list goes on...

Thanks for the research and info, Redleg!!  I now know more about German aiming stakes than I've ever needed to.

Kirk,

Thanks for the kind words! Like you, I'm a big fan of self-propelled guns/artillery. In fact 3 of my last 4 builds were in that category. I'm glad to hear that the threads are helpful for you in terms of picking up techniques and such. Be sure to post your own work when you get your next project going!

Wow! I really, really, REALLY like this build! The German SPGs are some of my favorite subjects, and you made yours a masterpiece. I've said it berfore and I'll say it again, I really appreciate all of you who take the time and effort to share your builds and techniques with us I learned a lot from your posts. Bill. Now I just need to get my rear in gear and apply this knowledger to a model kit! 

Doubling as a cleaning staff explains the long length!!

Yep....glad to have been of service....learn, teach and have fun.....a perfect example!!

US aiming posts.....fyi...are 1 meter each half section. They do not double as anything else!!

Rounds Complete!!

So the short answer is, it's both an aiming stake AND a cleaning staff...which explains why there's only one per gun/vehicle. Thanks Mike! Learned something new today.

Ok....this was a hard one.....see attached

http://www.lovettartillery.com/Aiming%20Stakes_Bore_Brush.html

Now, after printing and scaling from the photo the base pole(with pointed tip) is 1,785 mm or 70.27 inches...@ 1/35 = 2.00 inches long

The top (with bore brush on end) is 1,575 mm or 62.00 inches....@ 1/35 = 1.77 inches long

The red & white stripes are ~ 200 mm or 7.85 inches....@ 1/35 = 0.22 inches

Hope that helps all you Germaholics get layed   

Now don't use your dirty minds.....but, using this

http://www.lovettartillery.com/Field%20Artillery%20Aiming%20Circle_%202(0-6400%20Scale).html

with the aiming stakes will allow you to get .......

Gun laying is the process of aiming an artillery piece, such as a gun, howitzer or mortar on land or at sea against surface or air targets. It may be laying for direct fire, where the gun is aimed similarly to a rifle, or indirect fire where firing data is calculated and applied to the sights. The term includes automated aiming using, for example, radar-derived target data and computer-controlled guns.

Now I know what your were thinking....everywhere the artillery go they get layed!!!

(Now Megan....I played nice...I cannot change the terms used....any thoughts of foul language is strictly in the mind of the reader.....I will send you a copy of FM 6-50 if you doubt me!!)

Hope this helps my Germaholic friends

Rounds Complete!!

Thanks James!

Boyd, if anyone can get to the bottom of this mystery, it's Mike! Of course if he finds out that it really was old Mr. Miller's cleaning rod masquerading as an aiming stake in order to sell more kits and run off with the fortune, we can always just blame it on those pesky kids and be done with it!

wbill76

Thanks Mike, let me know if you find anything as I would love to be able to say for sure one way or the other for the future.

Alright, redleg is on the case!!  He's the man that can get to the bottom of this mystery!

as ever, fantastic build, and your eye for detail is fantastic. the camo is very aesthetically pleasing too.

Thanks Mike, let me know if you find anything as I would love to be able to say for sure one way or the other for the future.

JMart, hey there stranger! Glad to see you're still around, it's been a while! I'm glad to hear the WIPs are helpful and hope you stop by more often.

Bill - I rarely post anymore, but still read (and bookmark and study) your WIPs.Thanks again for sharing your builds AND techniques. And yes, I will consult closely your WIPs when I build my own kits :)  cheers 

Bill - Sorry I am late but OUTSTANDING......very nice as usual.

I am going to have to look up some information on the German aiming stakes.....something strange there!!

Simply beautiful

Rounds Complete!!

Thanks Jose Luis! Looks like Wespe fever is in the air!

Marc! It's like I've seen a ghost! Glad to see you stopping by these parts again. As for wills, I'll be sure to go make the edits right now...would hate to give you an ulterior motive towards my early demise.

Been away from the armor forum for a bit but if i didn't come back to see this masterpiece, well... I never would have realized what a loss that would have been.

Definitely my favorite of your builds so far.  Whatever you do... DO NOT will that to me.  I might have to send some "Sopranos" to come down there and rub you's out

Greeeeeeeat!!

A really nice camo and a really masterfully subtle and effective weathering! .... you did it .. I now need to make a Wespe!!!

Wow Steve, had no idea I had such influence on your growing stash! Thanks for the comments as always and have fun at AMPS!

tigerman

Hi Jester nice to see you around again. I'd love to see your interpretation of the Wespe.

Yeah, I hope to finish it one day. Just down to the road wheels and one run of tracks and some weathering. Sooo much to do, sooo little time!!

  Bravo my friend!!

   You know Bill, because of you I've added to my stash a Tiger P,StuG IIIG, Nashorn and two Panzer III's! Now it  looks like this will be on my list when I go to AMPS.

  You sir are a bad influence (but in a good way)

Thanks Andy, but I would hate to be responsible for any marital strife. Modelers engage in lobbying their significant others at their own risk!

Bill, I have to agree with the guys here that Wespe is one of the best.   I am afraid you have shown us guys that spending thousands of dollars to expand your workspace has made a difference in your modeling skills.  I predict we will be hearing from the guys making big plans to expand their workspaces in near future and help from us how to deal with upset wives. 

Looking forward to your next build!

Jet, thanks as always for the kind words!

Rob, sounds like a busy schedule indeed, just don't let the deadlines burn you out in the process! (pun intended btw).

Bill, it looks like you have another great masterpiece to add to your shelf. Nicely done.

Hi Bill

I have a few rust buckets planned, but for right now I am trying to get a model done in time for the up coming show. After that work on my T69II will continue, and a lot of writing to do. That is about it for now.

Looking forward to your next  build buddy.

Rob

Thanks MR, high praise indeed from the Feld Marschall even if you are an unreformed polygamist! I've been playing around with different pigment mixes/combinations and continue to tinker with it, glad you like the result!

Rob, always a pleasure to see you around...it means there's something getting rusty in the shadows...any hints as to what your next bucket 'o bolts project is going to be? Inquiring minds want to know...

Bill I have to echo what the others have said, this definitely one of your best pieces so far.

Looking forward to the next WBill masterpiece.

Rob

www.scratchmod.com