251 Halftracks GB 1 October '08 - 8 June '09

The nice thing about this book was that it came in both polish and english.   Funny really, with a last name such as mine, Mendrzycki, you would think I would know some.  But I don't know a word and my father only knows a couple of swear words.  But if anyone would like to know what the book says about a variant just let me know and I'll post it.

The book was a good buy. I got it off ebay from aberdeen book store.

moose421 wrote:

The nice thing about this book was that it came in both polish and english.   Funny really, with a last name such as mine, Mendrzycki, you would think I would know some.  But I don't know a word and my father only knows a couple of swear words.  But if anyone would like to know what the book says about a variant just let me know and I'll post it. The book was a good buy. I got it off ebay from aberdeen book store.

Either or both of the telephone versions would be nice to see. thanks

Sd Kfz 251/11    (gerat 911)- Mittler Fernsprechpanzerwagen, or armored telephone vehicle. Mass: 8,500 kg. Crew;5, Arnanent tow MG34 or MG42 machine guns with a reserve of 2,100 rounds.

The prototype was orderd on January 15, 1942, and serial production began in August 1942 with Ausf. C chassis.

The carrier was used to lay long-distance telephone line. Two versions of the vehicles were produced with cable trailers,  the Fledkabeltrager 6 (gp) or Feldkabeltrager 10 (gp).  The Sd Kfz 251/11 cable laying mast and a drum for the telephone cable coil were installed over the carrier's right front fender or in the fighting compartment.  Sd Kfz 251/11 vehicles were frequently equipped with "Enigma" coding/decoding machines.

Sd Kfz 251/19 Mittlerer Fernsprechbetriebspanzerwagen (Gerat 919) is a mobile telephone communication vehicle.  It was equipped with cable laying devices, telephone switchboards and a system for assembling overhead cables.  It was used in areas of direct contact with the enemy, where laying telephone lines by a communication patrol met with serious difficulties.  Sd Kfz 251/19 carriers were build on Ausf. A_D chassis.

hope this helps you a little ps1scw.

Kim

WOOHOO... My /17 Flak 38 has arrived with a Lion Roar barrel.

Would it being totaly out of place to see a flag ties over the hood or something as an ID?  I picked up some really neat Archer flags too. 

I don't see why not. Any evidence of any 251's with aerial recognition flags out there? Any variant?

Certainly would look cool...

moose421 wrote:

Sd Kfz 251/11    (gerat 911)- Mittler Fernsprechpanzerwagen, or armored telephone vehicle. Mass: 8,500 kg. Crew;5, Arnanent tow MG34 or MG42 machine guns with a reserve of 2,100 rounds. The prototype was orderd on January 15, 1942, and serial production began in August 1942 with Ausf. C chassis. The carrier was used to lay long-distance telephone line. Two versions of the vehicles were produced with cable trailers,  the Fledkabeltrager 6 (gp) or Feldkabeltrager 10 (gp).  The Sd Kfz 251/11 cable laying mast and a drum for the telephone cable coil were installed over the carrier's right front fender or in the fighting compartment.  Sd Kfz 251/11 vehicles were frequently equipped with "Enigma" coding/decoding machines. Sd Kfz 251/19 Mittlerer Fernsprechbetriebspanzerwagen (Gerat 919) is a mobile telephone communication vehicle.  It was equipped with cable laying devices, telephone switchboards and a system for assembling overhead cables.  It was used in areas of direct contact with the enemy, where laying telephone lines by a communication patrol met with serious difficulties.  Sd Kfz 251/19 carriers were build on Ausf. A_D chassis. hope this helps you a little ps1scw. Kim

Thank you, did you uncover any pics?

This is all I could find on the /11.

Sorry dupes, I was wrong on the pictures of the /14.  My book has a pic of the /12 ands two of the /15.  Might be able to do one of them.

Wow, more cool scans. No shortage of interesting schemes for this one, fellas!

I'm really getting quite fired up for this one...see me building more than one for sure (obscure variant in my future). If any of you are interested in doing a /2 sometime, just go snag yourself kit 6246, the Ausf. C Rivetted version, and 6215, the Kraut mortar team.* All of the sprues in the Cyber Hobby /2 box (with the exception of the side-mounted rockets for that variant - same as 6284) are retreads from those kits. Save yourself a few bucks over the highly inflated CH price.

*Hermes was spot-on with those guys!

moose421 wrote:

Is that a Stuka Zu Fuss with WINTER CAMO???...that's my assigned build, yeah baby!!!

SMJmodeler   if you would like, I can scan a couple more pictures of the inside of the stuka version.  Two show the  layout of the interior for storage of the rockets.  One with the rockets and one without.  Also another shot of a crewman moving a rocket out of the interior.

dupes  One of the pictures of the /15 from the book has shows a partial shot of the interior.  The angle is from the front on the hood.  It seems that the /12  has the scissor scope, frame antenna and a fug 8 radio.

Can't wait till this build kicks off.

this is great~!

I decided to up my personal modelling "ante" and instead of building the old Tamiya 251/9 OOB, I got the AFV kit instead.... and the Voyager PE set       .. will be my first attempt at armor PE and a non-Tamiya kit. I also got the SdKfz. 251 in Action from one of Squadron's recent sales.

I may have to drop 1-2 of the GBs I signed up for, to give this one its due attention and time... :)

moose421 wrote:

dupes  One of the pictures of the /15 from the book has shows a partial shot of the interior.  The angle is from the front on the hood.  It seems that the /12  has the scissor scope, frame antenna and a fug 8 radio. Can't wait till this build kicks off.

Heh...you're telling me! Let me try and figure out which other variant(s) I'll be doing - but I have a feeling that I'd like to see that interior shot either way.

Jmart -  very cool! Glad to see this GB is helping you broaden your horizons. I have a good feeling that you won't be let down by the AFV Club kit... Don't forget when doing that Voyager PE that you don't have to use every single piece.

moose421 wrote:

SMJmodeler   if you would like, I can scan a couple more pictures of the inside of the stuka version.  Two show the  layout of the interior for storage of the rockets.  One with the rockets and one without.  Also another shot of a crewman moving a rocket out of the interior.

Please do...thanks!

Bish wrote:

How would you guys rate those voyager PE sets. I normally use Aber with Eduard as my second choice. But i just did a search and found a couple of places in the UK that sell voyager. I notice they have sets for kits i have that i haven't been able to find any AM for and woundered what they were like compared to the others

I'm no PE expert, but I got a look at a TON of the voyager offerings at the vendor table at Nationals.  They are big $$$ ($30+) but the amount of brass in the box is incredible!  If you have the tools and the patience, they seem like the obvious choice.

Thanks Dupes. I have noticed they do a PE set for the E-25, which i had given up on, so i will start with that. They also do some nice looking sets for 251's which could come in handy. But i have everything for my /17, an Eduard set and an armoscale barrel, so looking forwards to getting as mutch done in Oct as i can before i go away. Could be moving house around same time but luckyly i can just take my kit to camp and do it there in peace. Will be a great GB and looking forward to learning a few tips for the future.

SMJ I don't mind forking out a bit extra for a decent product. I seen some of the reviews on the perth site and they deffinatly looked packed sets.

SMJmodeler   Here are those scans of the interior shots of the stuka.

dupes  Here is the tow pictures of the /15 that my book has.

moose421 wrote:

dupes  Here is the tow pictures of the /15 that my book has.

Very interesting. The /15 is listed as the "Artillery Flash-Spotting" variant, so I'm guessing that the cylinder looking dealie there is some sort of lens. I saw that same piece of equipment in another photo for the "Sound Spotting" variant, and though it was a big microphone or something. Guess I'll have to raid the spare parts box and see what I come up with...

dupes wrote:

moose421 wrote: dupes  Here is the tow pictures of the /15 that my book has.   Very interesting. The /15 is listed as the "Artillery Flash-Spotting" variant, so I'm guessing that the cylinder looking dealie there is some sort of lens. I saw that same piece of equipment in another photo for the "Sound Spotting" variant, and though it was a big microphone or something. Guess I'll have to raid the spare parts box and see what I come up with...

dupes,

In the top picture, at the bottom left, is that the 'cylinder looking dealie' you are refering to?  Kinda looks like some sort of spot light to me... 

In other news, I am getting ramped up for this build.  Spent about an hour this morning picking through the AFV box... man there is a ton of stuff in there!!!  Got out the ol' highlighter and marked some of the things on the instructions that I want to be careful not to forget, and sorted out the sprues for the 251 and for the LeFh...  When does this thing start???  Truth be told, it doesn't seem likely that I will jump right on this.  I have to finish up my Stug IV for the Urban Armor GB (hope to put that to rest next week) and then build a Pz III for a GB over at the Models in Scale (www.inextension.com for anyone interested)...  So the 251 is almost to the on deck circle!!!  The good thing about starting a little late is I'll be able to see what everyone else is doing and poach all your good ideas!!!

bbrowniii wrote:

dupes, In the top picture, at the bottom left, is that the 'cylinder looking dealie' you are refering to?  Kinda looks like some sort of spot light to me...

Ahhhh...yes, you can just make it out in the top pic too. I was looking at it more in the lower picture, where you can see it overhanging the front of the chassis. It has to be something to do with the "Artillery (fill-in-the-blank)" nature of the 12-15 variants, because they all seem to have the spotting scopes, and then an additional piece of equipment. This one definitely looks lens-ish. I'll have to dig up that other pic I have of the one that looks definitely microphone-ish.

Hey dupes,

This is kinda off the current subject, but since we are getting geared up to kick off and I hope to take a good number of pics, this question will be timely (I hope).

A while back, in another thread, you posted a link to a guy who built a $10.00 photo booth - I think it was basically a cardboard box with some paper as filters - do you still have that link?  could you post it again?  I'd like to try to improve my photos with this GB (as well as my modeling skills!!)

dupes wrote:

I don't see why not. Any evidence of any 251's with aerial recognition flags out there? Any variant? Certainly would look cool...

On that Russian language site that someone (Moose..?) posted the link to is a pic/drawing of a 251 C (a /1 I think) with a flag/air rec panel.  The caption says 'East Front, 1942'.  Looks pretty cool to me...

Guys/dupes:  Here is a nice build of a 251...it's on P.6 of the new Dragon Catalog.  I'm not sure what variant it is but I like the amount of weathering it shows....just thought I'd share it...

That's the /17 Schwebelafette - kit 6292 (which I just won on Ebay with the Eduard PE, btw ). Bish's assigned variant.

I've been looking at that pic a lot myself...great build.

moose421: Thanks for those interiors of the Stuka, I'm starting to get excited about this GB!  I bought some figures posed lifting the artillery, maybe I'll position them so they look like they are loading the interior...should add a bit of interest to my build!

dupes: Keep in touch with your suppliers for available Stuka's...Tamiya, Dragon, AFV...I still need to buy my kit!