Dappere soldaten uit Nederland !!!
It's time to build a rare model of a vehicle who fought in difficult conditions at the beginning of WWII and then was extensively used by their captors: Let's know this pretty and brave dutch girl: Ford DAF- PAG trekker 01Y - 1940.
History:
In 1928,
Hubert "Hub" van Doorne founded the company as Commanditaire Vennootschap Hub van Doorne's Machinefabriek. His co-founder and investor was A.H. Huenges, managing director of a brewery. Van Doorne had repaired Huenges' car several times. Huenges was so pleased with his work that he offered to finance him in business.
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| Hubert Jozef (“Hub”) van Doorne |
Hubert started to work in a small workshop on the grounds of the brewery. In 1932, the company, now run by Hub and his brother, Wim van Doorne, changed its name to Van Doorne's Aanhangwagen Fabriek (Van Doorne's Trailer Factory), abbreviated to DAF.
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| Wim van Doorne |
Huenges left the company in 1936 and the DAF company was now completely in the hands of the van Doorne brothers.
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| Hubert and Wim van Doorne |
DAF developed the
Trado conversions to convert 4×2 Ford trucks to an off-road 6×4 drive.
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| Ford based TRADO (DAF) 6 x 4 Artillery Tractor |
One of DAF's few armoured vehicles was the
M39 Pantserwagen, using developments of this Trado
drivetrain. This was too late for WWII and the invasion of the Netherlands, and only three saw combat.
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| Pantserwagen M39 or DAF Pantrado 3 |
Between 1938-1940, the Dutch Army ordered a large number of light artillery tractors or Anti-tank gun tractors from DAF. In Dutch these were called PAG-trekkers, PAG meaning Pantser Afweer Geschut (Armour Defense Artillerie). DAF built these on both Ford and Chevrolet 4x2 chassis by converting them to specialised bodywork with 3 rows of seats for 6 crewmembers and ammo storage in the back.
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| Ford DAF- PAG trekker - Dutch Army |
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| Row of Fords-DAF trekkers |
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| Chevrolet- DAF trekker |
The first batch of 56 units was ordered in mid-1938. Notice the rather small ammo-locker in the rear and extra ammo cases on the running boards. This is the 1938 Ford/DAF 81Y small locker type:
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| Ford/DAF 81Y small locker type - 1938 |
In the same year another batch was built with a larger ammo-locker, still on a Ford/DAF 81Y chassis basis:
Similar bodies were built on 1939 and 1940 chassis. These were the Ford/DAF 91Y...
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| Ford/DAF 91Y - 1939 - with German colors |
...and Ford/DAF 01Y:
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| Ford/DAF 01Y - 1940 - with German colors |
There is also a version a different version was built on 1939 chassis with just 4 seats and very large ammo storage. This type was probably used to tow the gun and a special limber, carrying the gunshield and more ammo.
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| Ford DAF with 2 rows of seats and larger rear |
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| Ford DAF with 2 rows of seats and larger rear |
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| Ford DAF with 2 rows of seats |
These vehicles were used as artillery tractors and staff-cars by the Netherlands until his defeat by Nazi Germany in May 1940.
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Chevrolet DAF trekker with his crew, in drills
Holland, 1938. |
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Ford DAF trekker with his full crew
going to the front... |
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| Ford DAF trekker in the calm days before the german invasion |
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A Chevrolet DAF under fire...
Notice the logs in the front bumper |
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End line for a Ford DAF trekker
Netherlands, 1940. |
As always, the Germans used the captured enemy vehicles to their advantage, especially in policing work and supplies in the rear lines. But when the vehicles were good and had similar mechanics, they were used even in the battlefronts. Fords-DAF served in both conditions. Hundreds were captured in great condition after the Dutch surrender in May 1940 and happily used by the Germans on several fronts.
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| Ford/DAF 91Y - 1939 - in German hands - Polizei |
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| Ford/DAF 91Y - 1939 - in German hands - Polizei |
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| Ford/DAF 91Y - 1939 - used as troop transporter |
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| Ford/DAF 91Y - 1939 - in German hands - Polizei |
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Ford/DAF 91Y - 1939 - in German hands - Polizei
Notice the license plate |
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Chevrolet/DAF used as artillery tractor, in German hands.
Russian front - with Pak 36 37mm |
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| Chevrolet DAF used as staff car in Netherlands - Polizei |
The kit for this project will be the Ford DAF - PAG trekker model 01Y, 1940, manufactured by Dnepro Models (#3597).
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| Dnepro's box kit |
As the Ford DAF model 01Y was the last vehicle produced by the strain of PAG-trekkers, the photos are rare. The best known is that from the box art:
And i found this: Ford DAF 01Y used as Command lead car, in a parade in France:
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Ford DAF trekker 01Yin parade.
WH in the licence plate |
And behold, I stumbled on this obscure composition of photos about the DAK on the internet. Look what I found !!
An Ford DAF trekker in the desert, with DAK colors and markings, with a spare-wheel field adaptation in the right-rear of the vehicle: Se below, a magnification from the pic above (sorry the blurry aspect...)
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Ford DAF trekker model 01Y - 1940, in the desert colors
DAK - North Afrika, 1941.
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I found the inspiration for my model !!!
Specs:
| Ford DAF - PAG trekker |
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| Type | artillery tractor, staff-car, personal transport vehicle |
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Place of origin
In service | Netherlands
Dutch:1940 - Germans: 1940-45 |
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| Specifications |
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Weight
Wheelbase | 1.585 Kgs
3.099 mm |
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| Length | 5.425 mm |
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| Width | 2,062 mm |
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| Height | 2,061 mm |
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| Crew | 1+5 |
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| Armor | none |
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| Gearbox | 4 forward + 1 reverse |
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| Transmission | 4x2 (rear axle) |
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| Engine |
Ford V8· Flathead - 3.620 cc
85 hp at 3800 RPM - gasoline |
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Suspension
Brakes
Tyres
Fuel tank | semi-elliptical springs
Oil hydraulic brakes in all wheels
7.00 x 17
100 liters |
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| Speed | 85 km/h |
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The kit:
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The (sturdy) cardboard box, resin parts in sealed
bags and instructions sheet.
The thing promises ... |
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A genius idea!! Parts in sealed bags with numbers !!!
Congrats, Dnepro !!! |
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| Windshield cleaners in photo-etched |
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| Metal and transparent parts in the kit |
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| A very spartan instructions |
Well, let's have some fun: Starting by the book; chassis
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| Chassis parts. Not Not folded or warped... |
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| Starting by the beginning |
Saturday, the work continues...
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| Cleaning the chassis parts...very fragile... |
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| And the chassis almost completely ready... |
While the chassis dry, I decided to start assembling the body of PAG-trekker. As the pieces do not has dowel pins for alignment of the parts, I decided to use metal fixtures for the perfect squaring of the parts. Build the engine hood and the fenders and then, I started building the row of seats ...
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| The row of seats in place, glued with cyanoacrylate and squared... |
But... Infernal Gods... When I remove the metal part near the row of seats, the metal slipped from my hands and ...
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| Oh, crap... |
The metal jig falls on the newly glued structure, crushing the pieces ...
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| Damn!! |
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| The result of the metal part falls on the banks ... |
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| #%**@**##%@!!!! |
Folks...I confess that made me want to trample everything from anger !!! But, deep breath (but very deep even ...) and ... grrrr ... come on ... I never failed to finish a kit and this will not be the first. Let's rebuild the destroyed part ... For this is that the scratch was invented !!!
"The blood go out, the experience enters"
First of all, redrawing the smashed part: Oh, crap...I don't have any drawing profile of this girl. Never mind: let's turn lemons in lemonade!!! Using my Computer to put this picture in 1/35 scale with Corel Draw 18!!!
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| Retracing the contours of the crushed part...In 1/35 scale!! |
After that, printing in paper, to test the part in the real kit:
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| It's working...It's working!!! |
I picked up two sheets of plasticard 0.5mm, glued them together in the borders and them glued paper on it, with the scale drawing...
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| The blueprint and the plasticards... |
The ideal and easier would be have cut the plastic with laser, but as we are in the weekend, we will do it in the "old school" style!! Dremel!!!
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| I love my Dremel!!! |
Making a new floor with plasticard...
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| The new floor in plasticard... |
And back to the rails!!!
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| Pheww!!!!! |
And the work continues... Styrofoam and popsicle sticks serving as height jigs. So, the backrests remain all at the same height:
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| Installing the backrests...Notice the wood and styrofoam as a jig |
Using the same method (with different high, now) for the seat cushions.
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| All cushions in position |
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| Testing the larger ammo-locker in his position |
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| Glued... |
I filled the details in the doors of the locker (very deep ..) in plasticard. I will do new details by scribing, later...
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Rear view of larger ammo-locker.
The new doors of the locker: 02mm plasticard... |
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| The ammo locker in position |
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| The DAF's belly |
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| Dry-run with chassis... |
I like to build the wheels at this stage for a perfect alignment between the suspension and the vehicle body. Dnepro offers 5 (excellent) wheels for the vehicle, but searching the Internet and in my books, I found these desert Fords with balloon tires, more suited to the sandy conditions of the African front:
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Resin spare wheels = mustard
Dnepro Models wheels = gray |
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| Notice the sizes... |
Another thing: Reinforcing resin axes, which are always fragile ...
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The transmission axle: resin pins cutted
and the preparation of surgery...
Notice the new metal axle |
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Surgery done:
Steady hands and hawk eyes to not extravasate the perforation |
And now, for something completely different:
The Dnepro Model provides an excelent engine, very well detailed. But my girl will be build with the hood closed. And it would be a waste to spend such a good engine for it not to be seen.
Then a cunning plan takes shape in my mind, my Lord!! I hate to waste !!
I will mold the lower portion of a Ford V8 engine (engine from a Quad Tamiya, that I have in my scrap box ...) and make the reproduction of the visible portion of the engine to place in the chassis front frame. To do this, I'll show to you guys (again...
see my article, here, in Portuguese...use the translator...) the technique of reusable material. It's a dental material, called Reversible Hydrocolloid Duplicator. ( for an example,
click here - I have no interest with owners - discussion only)
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The characters: Reversible Hydrocolloid Gelly and
the engine. |
It works like this: The hydrocolloid is a firm and resistant gelatin (seems silicone) at normal temperature. The gelly liquefies with the application of heat. You cut the gelatin into cubes and place in a bowl or mug. Take all in the microwave and heat the gelatin. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT NOT ALLOW BOIL. The boiling of the gelatin would result in the formation of THOUSANDS OF BUBBLES ...
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| The gelatine in cubes... |
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In the microwave...Do not allow the boiling...
Test the ideal temperature and time of heat in little portions... |
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| The gelatine in liquid stage |
Very important: Wait gelatin cool slightly. Excessive heat can deform the piece-master. Test in your back-hand. Now , you can shed the thick liquid on the piece, covering the whole or in part ...You can cover the whole play. then just cut the gelatin with a scalpel to release the piece ... In my case, iIjust molded the lower part of the engine
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A tip: put the gelly case in a plate with cold water, to
accelerate the solidification |
The best part: There is no waste ... The liquid left over and the mold that after used can be re-liquifed, returned to the container all and closing the jar.
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Returning the material is left to the container.
When cool, it turns gelatin and can be reused. |
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The container with part cooling
Notice the ice cubes in the dish with water |
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The rests of hydrocolloid, after cool.
Can be reused, too |
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The gelatine in the container...
Notice the incisions in the gelly... |
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Removing the part with gelly of the container
It's will facilitate the removal of the future casting part |
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| The engine out of the gelatine... |
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| For casting, dental acrylic...Easy, fast and cheap... |
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Acrylic under initial polimerization...
Hurry, shed the acrylic into the mold... |
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| Mold full with acrylic... |
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| Stiffening... |
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| Ten minutes later.... The new half-engine!!! |
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The mold come back to vase... For future use or re-use for another project.
Easy and fast!! |
While the acrylic hardens a little more, we align the front wheels. Beware the jigs !!!
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| Front suspension under construction... |
And... Chassis and suspensions in place: Notice the metal parts for reinforcement (green arrows) and the engine (red arrow).
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| Ford DAF- belly view... |
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| The girl, with sandy shoes!!! |
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| Front bumper |
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| The exhaust system (ICM spare part) and the camshafts (Dnepro and scratch) |
Now, it's time to scratch the rounded borders in the entrances of the seats rows...
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| Gluing plastic rods... |
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| Done!! |
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| Other side.. |
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Fuel tank under the first row of seats...
Italeri's Opel Blitz spare part...
The Dnepro part is too beautiful to be so hidden,
I'll save for future projects |
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| Testing the canvas |
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| Primer vallejo white |
As I said before, my girl will be Afrika Korps. I like to drawing a guide for my markings: Afrika Korps, Weapons Repair Company - Engineers; North Africa, 1941.
This picture, besides being the inspiration for the balloon tires, gave me the idea to make the white band of aerial reconnaissance on the engine hood.
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| Notice the white band in the hood. |
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Desert yellow - Notice the tape
masking the white band of aerial reconnaissance
on the engine hood |
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| Starting the color caracterization... |
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| ...love this part... |
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| Notice the original Dutch green under the yellow cammo... |
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| Future, to prevent silvering... |
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| Jerry-cans, canvas doors and canvas top under painting... |
Decal time; Let's see the guide, again:
New pics from my workbench:
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| Canvas and jerry-cans in position... |
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| The spare-wheel is a good touch!! |
Final steps: The desert vehicles are usually overloaded with many stuff ...A good place for rollbeds and tarpaulins were the top of the fenders. But the fenders of the Ford are curved ... Time to improvise:
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Value Gear stuff: flat !! Let's round it... the tools:
a curved surface, tweezers and boiling water... |
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The rollbed in boiling water by 20 secs.
Beware of too long time ... |
Take the rollbed in boiling water with tweezers and ...
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| Compress the rollbed in the curve surface, forcing the ends down ... |
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| ... And hold for 30 seconds! |
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| Then, cool the piece in cool water |
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| The rollbed curved |
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| Testing...testing.. |
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| The standard flat and curved Value Gear stuff,,, |
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| Uops...Curved too much. Hot water again and... |
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| Much better!! |
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| Cool!! |
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| Notice Value Gear crates on the rear rack... |
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More details; canvas doors (Dnepro) in red arrows
and belts in the jerry-cans (green) |
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| More painting... |
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| Crates in the rear... |
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| Almost there!!! |
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| Windshield and their wipers... |
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| Stringed crates... Notice the shovel, on the left side |
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| An always useful roll of thick rope! |
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| Tail lights! |
And the girl was finished: Dutch Ford DAF- PAG trekker 01Y - 1940, captured by Germans and attached to
Deutsches Afrika Korps, Weapons Repair Company - Engineers; North Africa, 1941.
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Ford DAF- PAG trekker 01Y - 1940 - Afrika Korps,
Weapons Repair Company - Engineers
North Africa, 1941. |
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Ford DAF- PAG trekker 01Y - 1940 - Afrika Korps,
Weapons Repair Company - Engineers
North Africa, 1941. |
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Ford DAF- PAG trekker 01Y with Kojak and
Rover, the dog. |
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Two desert girls: Ford DAF- PAG trekker 01Y - 1940 with
British Crusader Mk I, for size comparison |
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Ford DAF- PAG trekker 01Y - 1940 with
British Crusader Mk I, for size comparison |
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Ford DAF- PAG trekker 01Y - 1940 - Afrika Korps,
Weapons Repair Company - Engineers
North Africa, 1941. |
I loved build this project. It was a vehicle that I wanted to build a long, long time ... The Dnepro kit greatly facilitated my life. When the pieces broke, I thought it would be a total loss, but with patience and plasticard, one can almost all!! I love our hobby!!
See you soon, Gents !!!
Mais um belo projeto. Acompanhando sempre.
ResponderExcluirAtt.
Marcos Garcia
@Marcos garcia: Valeu, Marcão...fique ligado...
ResponderExcluirBad day my friend ;-) but It looks much beter with the new build with plasticard.
ResponderExcluirI thought that I was the only modeler to have some disasters with the building of my models ;-) I hope the following building will be more cooooool.
@Alain: Disasters are always a possibility... The cool thing is try to turn broken eggs in omelettes !! Big hug, my friend!!! It's always a pleasure see you, here!!!
ResponderExcluirMaster modeller, girl grows, accident corrected technical data found ...
ResponderExcluirThanks, Stana!! Hugs!!
ResponderExcluirBeautifull and very exotic subject!
ResponderExcluirGreat Work
Wonderful work as usually my friend. Your jobs are always very attractive and a good source of inspiration for me.
ResponderExcluir@Thierry: Glad to see you again, Tish !! Thanks, man!!
ResponderExcluir@Alain: Thank you, very much, Alain. Thanks for your kind words and encouragement !! Be well and all the best, my friend.
Fantastic description and photo's; a beautiful model. Tell me when you do other TRADO models; I am a (15mm / 1:100) Fan!!
ResponderExcluir@Ria: Thanks a lot, my friend!!! Good modeling!!
ResponderExcluir