Sd.Kfz. 254 interior build

[nimrod484]

Thanks Dan, KoSprueone and SSGToms!!
And the latest is just some more finished bits and pieces.

The little driver’s dashboard…

Completed equipment on right lower hull…

Floor and radios added…

The Eduard Torn radio in coloured PE is very nice, I think!
Merry Xmas everyone.

[KoSprueone]

Merry krismas. Nice rack! Radio rack, I mean

[Nito74]

That’s some amazing scratch work… wow congrats on all that work, research and sharing it with us.

[nimrod484]

Thanks, happy you like it.

[nimrod484]

So, all radios wired up, seating done and some crew equipment…

Then put the roof on and added rest of engine wall and driver section…

It’s all closed up now with right side and rear added. Everything fitted together without any pinging sounds so that was a relief.
Will finish the underneath of the vehicle and post a few piccies of that. The rear radio operator headset and mic will be on a figure.
A really fun project and gave me some idea of what the crew might have experienced… cramped…

[SamS]

The attention to detail is just fantastic!! Great work thus far!!

[SSGToms]

Incredible detailing. Your scratchbuilding is impeccable.

[Nito74]

Superb work Jeremy !

Glad you could close up everything without any issues.
Looking forward to see the rest of this build

[jpwaller]

Great skill and research interpretation Jeremy It seems such a shame to shut everything up, but we all know that great detail is in there. Will the back doors be open to allow some glimpse in on the phenomenal work? From the Stahlhelm colour I assume this will be a DAK vehicle?
BTW where did you source the MP40 ammo pouches?

[Dan]

Great work

[nimrod484]

Thanks Sam, Matthew, Nito74, Dan and John.

John,
Yes all hatches will be open but not much will be visible overall of the inside, engine or underneath.
Yes, it is for a DAK diorama.
1/35 DAK Artillery Ranging Sd.Kfz.254, Sd.Kfz.11, leFH18 - Armor/AFV / Dioramas - KitMaker Network
The pouch is from an AFV Sd.Kfz. 251/6 I built a while back and trashed for spares.

[Dioramartin]

@nimrod484

but not much will be visible overall of the inside,

If ever there was an overwhelming reason to install an interior LED (mimicking a/the light which must have been there…?) this surely is it.

[KoSprueone]

Outstanding interior detailing

[jpwaller]

I agree Tim, these images are from a great project by Alessandro Jug at ML SdKfz 253.

and really show how this would enhance the interior visibility, but if Jeremy has already closed it all up it’s probably a bit too late for lighting.

[nimrod484]

Hi Martin, yes, it never even occurred to me about an interior light and where it may have been.

Thanks, KoeSprueone.

And John, that is a great post for several reasons.
Firstly, it is a great thread on that vehicle as an artillery support vehicle and the interior. Which lead me to research it for any hints about what may have been inside the SdKfz254 which it superseded.
Secondly, and more importantly, as I was looking at related images on Google, I came across this image of an SdKfz 250/12 interior. And what hit me in the face was the two shorter containers next to the longer familiar telescopic stand holder as shown…

What is this, I said to myself! Having already researched about the length of the telescopic stand and found this info about the telescopic stands - Gestelle 31 is 98cm when folded in holder and Gestelle 40 is 95cm when folder in holder, both too long for the SdKfz 254 interior setup.
So, I found and downloaded a manual for the SdKfz 250/12 to confirm what the two shorter containers shown are…

So, it seems that the Gestelle 40 could be in two parts both of which were about 70cm in length. I had never seen this information before, but I believe it is much more likely that this Gestelle 40 version was in the SdKfz 254 (as for the 250/12) than two EM34s and the shoulder support.

It is perhaps too late to modify my interior, but a big thank you, John, as you led me indirectly to this new info.

[jpwaller]

Glad it helped you nut that issue out with the aid of the D Manual (great resources at Bushmakow website), well done Jeremy

[Nate_W]

Unbelievably cool! I’ve always wondered how a little interior light would work and it seems to work perfect. Your painting skills are really impressive.

[nimrod484]

Thanks, Nate.

So, doors will be open and, following reference photos, have added details.

Here are the views with the open hatches…not much to see!

Extra details not in kit are:

1. behind each wheel there are small stop brackets (in PE) to prevent the suspension going to high when wheels are moved up.
2. at each side of back door, there are stops (in white plasticard) to prevent the doors being opened more than 90 degrees to the chassis.

And PE, primer and base coat done… it all went together well though I had to glue parts of each section gradually to get the correct fit eg bit of back of hull, then bit of side, and so on

This is the bottom as per the reference pics. Interesting, I think.

So, basically, it is a complete vehicle more like the real one inside and outside apart from wheels and tracks and doors.

Plan is to paint highlight colours and weather and fade less than accompanying vehicles in diorama.

[Dan]

Are you going with kit wheels or are you going to replace them?

[nimrod484]

Going with DEF Model unsagged set as wheels are up…