FAMO - Schwerer Zugkraftwagen 18 t - Sd.Kfz.9 - Crane and cargo version - a case report

     Kollegen!!! 

      I have an addiction: build similar kits in pairs, to save time and research ...

Sd.kfz.9 cargo and Sd.Kfz 9/1crane version towing a Tiger

      So, I'll show to you guys a couple of gorgeous German twins girls; Similar, but not identical ...

      Uops...wrong pic... The correct is this Tamiya girl, in two versions, in double building: Schwerer Zugkraftwagen 18 t SdKfz 9 - FAMO. 

Tamiya FAMO

      As I had two of these kits in my closet, I decided to build this pair at once (in 2010). But, first of all, let us know the history of this big lady.

History:

      The Sd.Kfz. 9 Schwerer Zugkraftwagen (also known as "Famo" ) was a German half-track that saw widespread use in World War II, and the heaviest half-track vehicle of any type built in quantity in Nazi Germany during the war years. Its main roles were as a prime mover for very heavy towed guns such as the 24 cm Kanone 3 and as a tank recovery vehicle. Approximately 2,500 were produced between 1938 and 1945.

Schwerer Zugkraftwagen (Heavy tractor)18 t SdKfz 9 - FAMO

      The Sd.Kfz. 9 had a ladder frame chassis. Power was provided by a Maybach 12-cylinder, water-cooled, 10.838 litres (661.4 cu in) HL 108 gasoline engine of 270 horsepower (270 PS). It had a syncromesh ZF G 65 VL 230 transmission with four forward and one reverse gears. It had two fuel tanks, one of 90 litres (24 US gal) and the other of 230 litres (61 US gal) capacity.

      Both tracks and wheels were used for steering. The steering system was set up so that shallow turns used only the wheels, but brakes would be applied to the tracks the further the steering wheel was turned. The drive sprocket, like all German halftracks, had rollers rather than the more common teeth. The rear suspension consisted of six double sets of overlapping, interleaved roadwheels mounted on swing arms sprung by torsion bars. An idler wheel, mounted at the rear of the vehicle, was used to control track tension. The front wheels had leaf springs and shock absorbers.

      The upper body had a crew compartment common to all versions. This had bench seats, one for the driver and his assistant, and another for the crew. The rear portion of the upper body was adapted for the vehicle's intended role. The artillery model had two extra bench seats for the gun's crew and space for its ammunition.

FAMO SdKfz 9 artillery version

       The cargo or towing version had just two storage compartments mounted in the front of the cargo compartment, one on each side, that opened to the outside.

FAMO SdKfz 9 towing version

      The windshield could fold forward and was also removable. A convertible canvas top was mounted at the upper part of the rear body. It fastened to the windshield when erected.

      The Sd.Kfz. 9 was designed to have a towing capacity of 28 tonnes (28 long tons; 31 short tons). This was adequate for medium tanks like the Panzer IV, but two or even three or four were necessary for heavier vehicles like the Tiger I, Panther or King Tiger.

Two SdKfz 9 towing a Panther tank

Two SdKfz 9 towing a Ferdinand/Elephan destroyer

A Famo SdKfz 9 and a SdKfz 9/1 towing a Tiger tank

  It towed Sd.Anh 116 low-loader trailers to carry disabled vehicles.

FAMO SdKfz 9 towing a Panzer III in a Sd. Anh. 116 trailer

FAMO SdKfz 9 towing a Panzer III in a Sd. Anh. 116 trailer - rear view

FAMO SdKfz 9 towing a captured Matilda II in a Sd. Anh. 116 trailer

      Preliminary design of all the German half-tracks of the early part of the war was done by Dipl.Ing. Ernst Kniepkamp of the Military Automotive Department (Wa Prüf 6) before the Nazis took power in 1933. His designs were then turned over to commercial firms for development and testing. Fahrzeug- und Motorenbau GmbH (FAMO) of Breslau received the contract for the 18 t (18 long tons; 20 short tons) heavy towing tracked vehicle. Their first prototype, the FM gr 1, was completed in 1936. It had a 200 horsepower (200 PS) Maybach HL 98 TUK engine and was only 7.7 metres long. The F 2 prototype appeared in 1938, but differed only in detail from its predecessor.

      The F 3 appeared in 1939 and was the production version. The design was simplified over the course of the war to reduce costs and the use of strategic metals. Some vehicles produced by Tatra had its 12-cylinder, air-cooled Type 103 diesel engine fitted. Large spades were added at the rear of the chassis during the war to improve the vehicle's ability to recover tanks and other heavy vehicles.

      A new upper body was used for the Sd.Kfz. 9/1 which mounted a 6 t (5.9 long tons; 6.6 short tons) capacity crane in lieu of the crew's bench seat and the cargo compartment. It was issued to tank maintenance units beginning in September 1941.

SdKfz 9/1 6 ton. crane in action

      A larger, gasoline-electric, 10 t (9.8 long tons; 11 short tons) crane was fitted on the laterSd.Kfz. 9/2, but this required outriggers to stabilize the vehicle before operations could begin.

Sd.Kfz. 9/2 lifting a Tiger turret

    In 1942, was placed order for 112 self propelled 8.8cm Flak 37. The first prototype vehicle was completed at the end of October 1942. From July to September 1943, a total of 12 production vehicles 8.8cm Flak 37 (Sf.) auf s. Zgkw. 18t - a self propelled 8.8cm anti aircraft gun - were produced. The armoured upper body was 14.5mm thick armour riveted plates. The gun itself had limited traverse because of the armored cab and could only be fully traversed with the gun elevated. A platform with drop-down sides was fitted for the gun. During combat, these stabilizing legs had to be folded down for reasons of stability. The vehicle weighed 25 tonnes, was 9.32 metres long, 3.67 metres tall and 2.65 metres wide. 40 rounds could be stored in ammo boxes at the rear. Due to the increased weight of the vehicle, the chassis had to be strengthened.

    All 12 serial vehicles were assigned to Heeres-Flak-Abteilung 304 of 26. Panzer Division. They were used in Italy from 1943 to 1945.

FAMO 8.8cm Flak 37 Selbstfahrlafette auf 18 ton Zugkraftwagen
in AA firing position

FAMO 8.8cm Flak 37 Selbstfahrlafette auf 18 ton Zugkraftwagen in firing AT position

      Vomag of Plauen began producing the Sd.Kfz. 9 in 1940 and Tatra joined in the last years of the war. 855 were on hand on 20 December 1942. 643 were built in 1943 and 834 in 1944. Approximately 2,500 were built in total.

Specs:

Sd.Kfz. 9
Type	Heavy half-track
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Service history
In service	1938–55?
Used by	Nazi Germany Romania
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designer	FAMO
Designed	1936–39
Manufacturer	FAMO, Vomag, Tatra
Produced	1939–45
Number built	approx. 2500
Variants	Sd.Kfz. 9/1, Sd.Kfz. 9/2
Specifications
Weight	18,000 Kg
Length	8.32 metres
Width	2.6 metres
Height	2.85 metres (overall)
Crew	depends on body type fitted
Engine	10.8L Maybach HL 108 petrol, 12-cylinder, water-cooled 270 horsepower (270 PS)
Payload capacity	2,620 Kg
Transmission	4 + 1 speed ZF G 65 VL 230
Suspension	torsion bar
Ground clearance	44 centimetres
Fuel capacity	290 litres
Operational range	260 kilometres  (road) 100 kilometres (cross-country)
Speed	50 km/h (road)

The kits:
      As I say, to do this double project, I used two FAMOs from Tamiya.  Old kits, but very good and easy to build. My idea was to use a Bilstein crane in resin, which had built years ago and that was leaning in a corner of my workshop, waiting for the right carrier ...The other FAMO would be a cargo version.

Bilstein 6 ton. crane - resin - Panzerserra's kit.

     
      For the crane version, I had to transform the kit Tamiya through plastic surgery. There are conversion kits on the market, but I like doing things on scratch ... It's part of the fun! This picture  below was my inspiration. Notice the crane's base (rigid) and a toolbox in the rear of the loading platform. These are characteristics of the early versions of the SdKfz 9/1.

SdKfz 9/1 - early version

      The later versions had a joint at the base of the crane and did not bear the toolbox in the aft.

SdKfz 9/1 - late version

      Well, starting the fun...Engines: As I would leave the engines exposed, I sweat in the detailing and painting

Gentleman, start your engines....

engines and transmissions in colors

The two chassis...

..with the engines( dry-run)!!

              Painting the chassis in Panzer-gray:

chassis painted

      While the chassis paint dries, I was taking care of the wheels ... So many!!

Wheels in barbecue sticks, for painting....

Painting the wheels...

drying...

drying...

...and in the suspensions!!!

front wheels

front suspensions and axles...

ready to build...

The front wheels and reels winch of the chassis:

engine and transmission: starting the weathering...

close-up

Used !!!

Notice the chassis winches

       For now, the building of the girls are in parallel ... soon, they will differentiate.

The snouts of the FAMOs...

       And now, the buildings will differentiate enough. Notice the differences between the tractor version and crane version.

observe the red arrows ... all this will be removed and the side,  cut

surgery in the crane version

       The cabin's floor of the crane version with details already removed:

 details already removed: green arrows

crane and tractor...side by side.

cabin's sides of the crane version: surgery done !!!!

      And the cabins built ... Compare the two girls:

The two cabins..Notice the differences!!!

       In the crane version, I cut the back part of the cabin, just to seize the support of the cab in the chassis. I cut in the green arrows and discarded the part in scratched red.

I used only the lower portion of the part

After cutting, testing  the  cabin's support in the chassi

belly view - no differences!!!

      And the front view of the cabins:

      As the sides of the hoods will be opened, parts of firewalls should be seen. Details made ​​with copper wire and pieces of my scrap box.

details with scrap parts.

the two cabins

with panzer-gray...

dry-run with snouts...

making the steel cables of  the chassis winches

..and building the cabins in the chassis...

The tractor version...

Using telephone wiring to transform the air filters hoses

the radiator rods in metal...

...and painted in panzer-gray

the steel cables...

..done!!

       The radiators dont have hoses !!!!

      To build the radiator hoses, I used the plastic isolation of the eletric wires

stripping the wires to use the isolators ...

       Very good, indeed!!!

hoses in place...

   After that, more surgeries...more complicated, this time...

Notice the tractor and crane versions: belly view of the cargo bed

tractor left; crane right: the two boxes will be cut.

Surgery done...

Sanding the cargo bed in the crane version...

Done !!!

The cargo bed supports: no differences in the belly view!!!

Notice the air filter in place (red arrow) and the cargo beds painted

          For the crane version, I made a new plate in the cargo bed. Scratch with plasticard...

I used scrap Photo-etched and rivets made with sprue.
The scribing was easy...The crane place was cut with compass...

      The Bilsten crane resin kit came with parts to adapt the crane to FAMO or a Bussig-Nag. I kept these parts and I used them to complete the assembly in my FAMO...

The Bilsten crane resin parts in place (blue arrows). Scratch in metal in the red arrows.

Testing the crane pads in the cabin's rear

Making the transporting supports of telescopic detachable legs:

Telescopic legs in place...rear.

Telescopic legs - front and rear, in place...

Detailing the pads...

Pads in place (dry-run)

And my workbench...Bilsten crane in dry-run. Notice the tractor version and in the background, A Guy Ant (you will meet this rare girl, soon !!)

Scratch in plastic: toolbox and wheel locks...

       Gentlemen, I found this picture and I loved the fuel/water (?)  drums on the sides of the crane:

SdKfz 9/1 crane - The Lady of the lake !!!

      I decided to reproduce the arrangement with the drums: Making the suports with balsa wood:

Notice the balsa wood...

and the drums in place...

      While the glue wood dry, I decided to finish the weathering of engines ....

Engines ready

close-up

      Between the hood and the firewall is a gap in the original vehicle. This gap is filled with a tarp. I simulated this canvas with putty softened in thinner

mmaking canvas with putty

Canvas done...

...In both girls...

      Now, It's time of painting...The girls under preparation...

Using paper as masks

The crane will be panzer-gray with yellow strips. The tractor will be dark-yellow with green-brown cammo

The crane version

The tractor version

The crane with Bilster

      While cammo dry, I will build the LBL tracks. I always hate this step... I built a jig with popsicle sticks:

Tracks under construction...

The  tracks done!!

Painting...and...

In the tractor and...

in the crane.

Adding the seats !!!

Seats in the crane version. Notice the drums...

I had to redo the wiring crane, because the boom is fixed in its support.

     I chose for my crane version the markings of 10th Panzer Division. As I did not have decals of these markings, the simbols were made with brush and steady hand...

The Bison of 10th Panzer Division

The Bison marking in the front fender...

The Bison marking in the side of the FAMO

The Bison marking in the rear..

      In the tractor version, I applied Future to prevent silvering...

Using decals from my spare box...(number 2 and license plates)

Wermacht!!!

And Luftwaffe; Gen.Kommando Flak-Korps II le.Flak-Abteilung 74

side view

Luftwaffe FAMO: rear view

Keep distance !!!  I'm a bad girl !!!

Tying the drums with ropes

The spare wheel locked by a chain...

The instrument panel painted ...Notice the chains in the pads...

Notice the weathering...

The tractor version, with cargo...

Starting the weathering...

     I had two motorcycles, lost in scrap box ... They are BMW and Zundapp, but without sidecar, like this:

BMW R66 - Wermacht - Russia, 1941

German Luftwaffe motorcycle messenger with a BMW R35

Messenger with Zundapp solo - Wermacht

     And the girls in the cargo area of Famo:

Two motorcycles in the cargo area; Zundapp and BMW

      And the Girls were ready !!! The Luftwaffe girl first : Tractor number 6 from Gen.Kommando Flak-Korps II le.Flak-Abteilung 74. European front.

SdKfz 9 - 18 ton - FAMO - tractor version

SdKfz 9 - 18 ton - FAMO - tractor version - right side

Kojak and his cousin approved ...

Huge girl!!!

      And the SdKfz 9/1 - crane version. FAMO number 2 from 10. Panzer-Division - Afrika.

SdKfz 9/1 with Bilsten 6 ton. crane

SdKfz 9/1 with Bilsten 6 ton. crane - Notice the crane arms tied in the front bumper

A bucket of wine...

Thanks for follow, 

Kojak approves !!!

Auf Wiedersehen, for now !!!