I thought I would start a build log instead of cluttering up the “what did you do today” board. I am open to constructive criticism and feedback.
My goal is to recreate a facsimile of a 251/3 IV Ausf D belonging to Kurt Meyer of 12th SS HJ. This one contained the new modular radio frame rack (found in Normandy on Hill 512). This particular radio rack contained Fu11SE100 and Fu12SE80 radios. These vehicles retained the frame antenna and also required a 9m telescopic mast for the Fu11SE100.
Since there is no aftermarket of this particular radio rack I had to sketch out the design in 1/10 scale of what I assume are the measurements. This took me a few hours to complete.
Been working on the radio rack for my 251/3 IV. It is slowly getting there, lots left to do. It’s been very fiddly and time consuming. I am hoping I can pull off modifying the 100 W.S. to look somewhat decent, time will tell that one!
Most of this is in place with sticky wax and will be painted separately. I have more fiddly bits done, but forgot to add them for the pics! I have some things on order as the AFV Club stuff was sub-par; tracks, MG42, MG34. My hope is to have this ready for paint by end of December.
Ya lots of aftermarket and most will be used sparingly. I don’t have a stash of AM stuff, this is only my 2nd model since 1983. Other AM is due to a lot of scratch building of stuff, now and future. I’m a kid in a candy store with everything that is available these days.
Some of the replacement parts are just because AFV Club quality is not par for me.
Not that it affects anything at this stage, I believe that the heading picture doesn’t show Meyer’s command half track, but that of Heinz Harmel, CO of 10SS PD “Frundsberg”. At least that’s how this picture is captioned in Yves Buffetaut’s “The Waffen SS in Normandy”, second volume covering July 1944, Operations “Goodwood” and “Cobra”. There seems to be a convention that virtually any photo showing young SS men in Normandy be branded as “HJ”, when in fact there were five SS Panzerdivisionen in Normandy, 1SS “LAH”, 2SS “Das Reich”, 9SS “Hohenstaufen”, 10SS “Frundsberg” and 12SS “HJ”, in two corps, ISS PzKp and IISS PzKp. In addition, 17SS Panzergrenadierdivision “Gotz von Berlichingen” was also present in the US sector. Yet many of the stock shots could come from any of these units, generally the clothing is similar although photos showing the ex-Italian Uboat leathers and Italian camouflaged suits are more correctly identified as “HJ”. Soldiers wearing “Adolf Hitler” cuff titles don’t necessarily belong to “LAH” either, as drafts of experienced personnel from this unit, “Das Reich” and “Totenkopf” amongst others were posted to be the backbone of the newer units, like “Hohenstaufen”, “Frundsberg”, “HJ” and “Gotz von Berlichingen”. Many veterans continued to wear their prized “founder members” unit titles, even when their new unit had its own.
Yes you are right it is Heinz Harmel’s 251/3 IV in Normandy. The Harmel photo is one of two I have seen of his vehicle 221. I haven’t found many pictures of a 251/3 IV.
These were brand new 251’s just added to Group West ToE and the allocations were not all delivered prior to 6 June. These 251/3 IV are very particular vehicles in early D-Day days.
Researching pictures or any additional information on this group of vehicles is very limited. Its been painful to be truthful trying to find additional information. The best information I’ve found is a PDF on the radio rack that was found in Normandy which probably belonged to Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg 251/3 IV.
So, a lot of common sense (haha), guesswork and freedom of expression s going into the construction of this model. Unless I can somehow get proper confirmations.
A few more bits and bobs to be assembled and added. I will also add a light skim coating of putty all over for texture. I still need to build the 9m telescopic antenna.
