Tankers... I built this awesome tractor in 2010...
But, one moment, please !!! This is not the building of plastic kit from Riich Models, but the resin kit from ADV Azimut.
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| ADV Azimut resin kit |
As usual, first of all, let's know the history of this weird vehicle.
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| Skoda Radschlepper Ost Porsche Typ 175 |
History:
The German Army was almost totally unprepared for the climatic conditions found on the Russian Steppes after the 1941 invasion. For much of the year the land was covered in ice and snow, or the ground was churned to deep mud. To cope with these conditions the German Army requested new vehicles, and the Radscshlepper Ost (Wheeled tractor - East) was on of the designs submitted. It was a large wheeled tractor designed by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche as the Type 175, pilot vehicles being ready by late 1942.
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| Suspension and transmission in a Factory Model |
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| Skoda Ost transmission |
Production was undertaken by Skoda in Czechoslovakia and an order was placed for 200 vehicles. The Radschlepper Ost used large diameter steel wheels, commonly used on farm tractors of the period, which reduced the speed to only 15 km/h. In service the performance did not meet expectations.
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| Presentation of Radschlepper to Hitler in January, 04 -1943 |
The vehicle was initially rejected though Hitler is reported to have ordered 200 built anyway. Production ceased at 100 though and few or none served on the Ost front (the front it was designed for), several in the 1944 Ardennes Offensive. The all-steel wheels would have made for a very uncomfortable ride and it performed poorly on icy roads.
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| Skoda Ost lost in Ardennes |
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| Skoda Ost in Fance - 1944 |
The RSO weighed 7 tonnes and was powered by a 90 bhp Skoda 4 cylinder OHV engine.
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| Skoda engine - notice the characteristics of being air cooled |
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| Skoda 4 cylinder OHV gasoline air cooled engine in the tractor snout |
Road range was about 125 kilometres and a crew of three men was normally carried. There where versions with solid, perforated and spoked wheels.
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| Skoda Ost with solid wheels |
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| Skoda Ost with perforated wheels |
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| Skoda Ost with spoked wheels |
Specs:
| Skoda Radschlepper Ost Porsche Typ 175 | |
|---|---|
Type
| Wheeled artillery tractor 4x4 |
Place of origin
| Germany |
| Service history | |
In service
| 1943-1945 |
Used by
| Germany in WW II |
| Production history | |
Designed
| 1941 |
Produced
| 1942-43 |
Number built
| 100 |
| Specifications | |
Weight
| 7.000 Kg |
Length
| 6,22 m |
Width
| 2,30 m |
Height
| 3,065 m |
Crew
| 3 |
Engine
| Skoda OHV gasoline - 4-cylinder - 6024 cc - 90hp at 2000 RPM - air cooled |
Transmission
| Porsche, mechanical, 5 ahead x 1 rear |
Suspension
| elliptic springs in rigid axles |
Fuel capacity-range
| 250 l / 125 Km |
Speed
| 15 Km/h |
The kit:
The robust and spartan box kit:
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| The parts, after clean... |
I started the building by the cabin. painting the interior...
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| Notice the instruments panel (painted by brush) |
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| ...and the seat. |
And while the cabin dry, I dedicated myself to building the chassis. The instructions are confused and incomplete ...Good thing there are references available!!
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| This photo with the details of the belly of the tractor is pure gold!! |
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| The chassis kit, in its early stages of construction: |
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| Some scratch, to enhance the details |
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| Building (and scratching...) the winch... |
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| Steel cable in close... |
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| The girl, on own paws .... |
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| Belly view !!! |
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| Adding details in metal and plastic... |
Honestly, I was a little disappointed with this kit. The Azimut products are so prestigious and famous, but this is pretty simple ... Gluing the body to the chassis;
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| The ladder |
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| Stirrups... |
I repositioned the Pittman axis of steering box and decided to add some more details in metal:
I glued the cockpit after the isolation of glasses with tape: Painting ahead !!!
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| Side view |
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| Some chains in the body and towbar: |
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| The air filter in close. Notice the pipe, made with welding wire... |
Our colleague Javier de Luelmo reminded me about the vehicle exhaust. I'd forgotten. Gently, he sent me this pic, below:
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| Notice the exhaust ... |
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| Exhaust made with plastic rod and metal wire... |
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| Exhaust done !!! |
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| Using bijoux parts as body markers |
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| Uops...I almost forgot the rearview mirror ... |
Over the strips cammo, I decided to make a winter cammo ..I did my decals: generic markings of Wermacht.
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| Starting the weathering... |
And the Girl, ready for action:
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| Skoda Radschlepper Ost Porsche Typ 175 - Ardennes, 1944. |
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| Skoda Radschlepper Ost Porsche Typ 175 - right side |
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| A dirty girl !!! |
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| Skoda Radschlepper Ost Porsche Typ 175 - left side |
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| Skoda Radschlepper Ost Porsche Typ 175 |
Thanks for follow, Gentlemen ...
Bye, Tankers !!!
Hey Panzerserra!
ResponderExcluirI'm impressed by the scratchbuilt exhaust! This is real quality work you've done on this kit. I understand your frustation of not being able to build new models right now but it's cool to see your older builds with kits that are sometimes already forgotten.
C U
Thierry
Thanks for the words and incentive, Thierry...
ResponderExcluirI'm missing a lot of building something: soon, I will have a crisis of abstinence ....
big hug, my friend...and take care !!!
Hello.
ResponderExcluirI agree, especially the fact that it is great to get to see the rare models that you are so well done to all of us to see!
Wow, great build Panzerserra. I found yours via a build/review of the Riich kit on the britmodeller forum. What a fascinating vehicle! Best, Seb - http://aquestionofscale.blogspot.co.uk
ResponderExcluirThanks, Seb...all the best !!!
ResponderExcluir