Thanks guys. When I look at a few colour charts from the various paint suppliers they are all over the place. In reality I guess there wasn’t a unit that stayed original once it got into the field. They would all be subjected to various maintenance and weather conditions.
bruce
I need some help. I’m looking for some images or information.
Behind the seats are the rifle holders. 5. The parts in the kit are way too small to install the rifles supplied. But it maybe just how Trumpeter designed the parts.
What I need is an image of the rifle holders preferably with a rifle in them. I’m happy to scratch build or modify the kit holders. The rifles are nice so I don’t want to modify them.
thanks
bruce
Sorry no rifle…
http://fahrzeuge-der-wehrmacht.de/Bilder/Zgkw_5t_PM_15-1.jpg
http://fahrzeuge-der-wehrmacht.de/Bilder/Zgkw_5t_PM_14-1.jpg
H.P.
Thanks. It helps. I think my issue is that the Trumpeter parts are too large, hole too small, and will need to be filed down. The rifles simply wont go through the molded part. See image.
bruce
The molding process probably didn’t allow the proper dimensions so the designers had to choose:
Compare the relative sizes of the outer dimensions and the metal thickness on this:
compared to the Trumpeter parts
I suspect that there wasn’t much free space in the 1:1 clasp either.
Why bother designing a clasp if the rifle can be inserted/removed without opening the clasp …
Cut narrow strips of thick aluminum foil and bend the clasp from thin copper wire.
Sd.Kfz. 7 at Jacques Littlefield collection
Thanks guys. I found a solution. I used a bigger hammer. Nah what I did was cut the back of the clamp, the part against the seat back. Then force the rifle through the hole. This has to be done hard enough to open up the hole without breaking it.
petbat they look the part. In hindsight because the rifles are so prominent the clamps need to be better than what is in the kit. ‘Next time’ I’ll use after market parts. Take note if you are considering this kit.
The image below shows a dry fit and how the gun clamps are very ‘chunky’.
bruce
Robin I’m a bit slow but I’ve just discovered Militracks. Never knew such a thing existed. I’ve spent/wasted an hour or three watching various videos. Number 1 lesson is the variety of halftracks. The internet is a great source of images. I’ve now come to the conclusion that if I get it ‘wrong’ there will be the real thing out there somewhere. Even if there isn’t an image of it. So I may go easy on the hammer in the future!
But these halftracks are growing on me. The variety could build a nice collection of all shapes and sizes.
bruce
A complete collection of halftracks would be really impressive.
The Germans had a LOT of them and in many different sizes, with/without armour, with/without weapons 
Robin I’ve had a quick look at what 1/35 scale kits are available. But I don’t see many/any by ‘top’ manufacturers such as RFM, MiniArt etc etc. Trumpeter have a few but I would like to venture on with an alternative supplier.
bruce
Bronco have or had better Sd.Kfz. 6 variants than Trumpeter.
Tamiya Sd.Kfz. 9
AFV-Club Sd.Kfz. 251 and Sd.Kfz. 11 variants
Dragon (like’em or hate’em) had a fair selection of Sd.Kfz. 250 and Sd.Kfz. 7 variants and the US halftracks
Trumpeters Sd.Kfz. 8 are the only game in town
ICM do some Maultiers
The masochists among us can also choose Zvezda and Italeri
Thanks Robin. I have an AFV Club 88mm to go behind my current build. If it works out I may go with what I can get from AFV Club. Choice is limited here in Australia. I looked at Sprue Brothers. They have a lot of choice. But I’m wary of buying from an unknown supplier.
bruce
Bruce, I’m here to tell you that Sprue Brothers is currently the most reputable and reliable hobby store in the United States. I’m sure that many others will back me up on this statement. Their stock is real time and their shipping is quick and reliable. Perfect service every time and great customer care to back it up. Order without hesitancy. Highly recommended.
Do you know https://www.bnamodelworld.com/ ???
Five different AFV-Club Sd.Kfz. 251,
one from Dragon (has scale issues)
and two from ICM (for enthusiasts only)
@varanusk He knows now 
Oh yeah, even I order from BNA Modelworld and get stuff shipped from Australia to here in the US. Their selection is hard to beat and they carry things you can’t find anywhere else. Their prices are great too. Shipping really isn’t too bad, either. Cheaper than HK.
Thanks guys. I think 99% of what I have comes from BNA. AAA service.
Bruce
Again com’n in late to the party . . . . .
Myself I cut the rifles, remove a small section of the stock and barrel and then glue the lower rifle section below the clamp and the upper rifle section above. (The original Tamiya plastic gun racks on the Steyr kit are done WONDERFULLY to scale! - Rebuilding these out of PE is just going to "break your heart and leave you lonely . . . ")
This tactic does not stress the clamp, keeps the clamp the same original (hopefully scale) size and works well for the rifle too.
Sometimes too much PE is just that: Too Much!
I use the PE sheet like another research source - as additional modeling reference as much as anything.
I would rather build these tiny parts out of plastic anyway as they are much easier to handle and to glue. I use only the PE parts I can not otherwise make myself and pitch the rest!
(Others will disagree, which is their prerogative.)
