German 8 Wheeled 233 Build

[OldManModeler]

By the way, included in the kit on the sprues are the parts for 12 jerry cans. But only 4 PE midline inserts. And, just to make it fun, there are 6 jerry cans to be installed on the kit per the instructions. Not 4. So I am short 2 PE parts.

Seriously, why a centerline PE part? PE is for high detail small parts, not for adding filler between parts. Is it PE parts count validity? Who knows? Someone in Taiwan does.

It's almost as though AFV Club wants to make super detailed kits, but then re-thinks it half-way through and only gives you so much.

I digress. Onward. It is the most detailed and yet, frustrating German 8 Rad that I have tried to build so far.

Be well. Model on.

Eric

 

[BarleyBop]

I guess this detail is just too hard to pull off in straight plastic or resin, just so thin...
If only they would be consistent about it!

 

[Jakko]

Even the 'jerry cans' have a midline PE insert, which puzzles me. Maybe you folks can tell my why.

For the reason @BarleyBop showed above: real jerrycans of the German type have a seam down the middle, which can't be moulded in plastic. Very easy to DIY with some thin plastic card, though:



Just glue one half of the jerrycan to the card, cut around the circumference and glue to the half without.

 

[kevin]

Did the Germans make a separate Jerry can for water, or were they the same ones used for fuel with that white cross painted in them?

 

[BarleyBop]

far as I know, but they also had other water containers like these, in different sizes...
I got some in aftermarket resin...

 

[OldManModeler]

Thank you @BarleyBop for the image!

Thank you @Jakko for the tip!

 

[Jakko]

Did the Germans make a separate Jerry can for water, or were they the same ones used for fuel with that white cross painted in them?

They were different, but not in a way that shows on a model if you don't want it to:



Ignore the white cross, look for the real difference

Spoiler: Seen it yet?

One has Kraftstoff ("Fuel") embossed in it, the other Wasser ("Water"). Not sure if there was a difference in construction, though.

 

[kevin]

I'm not German but I bet "wasser" means water .

 

[OldManModeler]

This German jerry can info could be a whole thread on it's own. I lam learning a lot.

Anyone?

 

[OldManModeler]

I'm not German but I bet "wasser" means water .

Truth.

Pronounced "Vassah" in Deutsch. The German 'R' is nearly silent in most cases.

Edit: That is, to the english speaker. Unless R as a first letter, then it is a deep throat 'R'. Like Reich. My German professor used to laugh at the english 'R' pronunciation.

Native German speakers can correct me.

 

[OldManModeler]

The jerry can detail in this kit:


There are no water cans in this kit. Looks like SS marks. The real bad guys.

EDIT: My mistake... The jerry cans in this kits are different. There are 3 types:

 

[urumomo]

Great vid on this ,

 

[kevin]

Cool video......another example of that "fine German engineering ".

 

[BarleyBop]

look for the real difference

... and zoom in on my two cans! It's bad when you forget what you know!

 

[Jakko]

I'm not German but I bet "wasser" means water .

I'm not German either but I know for sure that it does Aside for the linguists: it's a good example of the High German consonant shift. The Dutch and English counterparts are both spelled water, though especially the <a> in that is pronounced differently due to the English vowel shift, but in German the /t/ has become /s/.

This German jerry can info could be a whole thread on it's own.

There is quite a lot to read about them online. Or also videos, like the one posted above.

The jerry cans in this kits are different. There are 3 types:

The one with the plain cross on it is an early type, the other two are the later, much more common one (but you can occasionally see the X type in photos of late in the war). That square in the middle, BTW, is to allow for expansion or contraction of the can's contents in hot or cold weather. It allows the sides to move more than the cross would, while still retaining the strength afforded by the ribs pressed into them.

another example of that "fine German engineering ".

They really are very well thought-out. It's especially interesting when compared to the American cans, which were inspired by the German ones but "improved" because the Americans thought they were over-engineered. So the Americans made a can that really retained only one of the German can's good features, namely the three handles. The German cans were welded to prevent leaks, the American ones had rolled seams that could leak. The German cans had a spout off to one side to allow everything to come out, and with a retained lid that can be opened and closed easily, the American cans have a screw lid that can be very difficult to remove (so they also developed a tool for it) and that's in the middle so you could end up with some fuel left in the can that won't come out. And that's not even all of it

 

[OldManModeler]

So, the photo etched joy continues...

These bits are the mounts for what I am guessing are smoke dischargers on the front fenders.


I glued the top halves, CC19 and CC20, to the bottom half CC21 while CC21 is still on the sprue. Then also gluing the PE parts GB18 to the smoke dischargers while CC21 is still on the sprue. two are on in the next pic. The eyebrow sized parts CC22 will get installed after the smoke canisters are on the fenders. That's my plan anyway.


Be well. Model on.

Eric

 

[BarleyBop]

compared to the American cans

Haha! I'm surprised you didn't mention those cookie tins the brits were using early on, small wonder they were called flimsies!
Easy to cut in half though, fill with sand and petrol, instant stove!

LRDG would budget for a large % leakage for their long haul treks in the desert.



Sorry to highjack your build thread @OldManModeler , but since we were on the topic of fuel cans...

 

[OldManModeler]

Pin locators are, for the most part, non-existent on this kit. Usually, the pin side is there but the female hole is not. And, there are no details in the instructions about drilling out these female holes. I have been cutting off male pins because there are no female holes to fit into.

I am changing my honest review of this kit, but with a disclaimer; If you know the history and have deep knowledge of the vehicle and AFV Club's kit in question; In my opinion this kit is a 9.9. A skilled historian can rock a super detailed kit from AFV Club.

If you just want to build a WWII 8 Rad kit and want it moderate, this kit is a 3.0. Don't do it.

It's not for you. It's not for me at 1/35th scale. Go with Tamiya or Dragon or... Italeri.

But I continue because I started it and wanted a challenge. But my challenge was in the 'can I build this highly detailed kit' category. Not in the can I build a kit that has poor instructions and almost zero locator pins.

My hat's off the AFV Club for this highly detailed cluster Fk. I highly recommend it to Pro's only. That's not me. I am not a professional model builder or a history detective. But I am going forward with the build.

Be well. Model on.

Eric

 

[OldManModeler]

Haha! I'm surprised you didn't mention those cookie tins the brits were using early on, small wonder they were called flimsies!
Easy to cut in half though, fill with sand and petrol, instant stove!

LRDG would budget for a large % leakage for their long haul treks in the desert.

View attachment 135817

Sorry to highjack your build thread @OldManModeler , but since we were on the topic of fuel cans...

Isn't an issue, Sir. I appreciate you and the information. Love it all.

 

[OldManModeler]

Haha! I'm surprised you didn't mention those cookie tins the brits were using early on, small wonder they were called flimsies!
Easy to cut in half though, fill with sand and petrol, instant stove!

LRDG would budget for a large % leakage for their long haul treks in the desert.

View attachment 135817

Sorry to highjack your build thread @OldManModeler , but since we were on the topic of fuel cans...

I have found several US flimsy's in the California desert over the past few decades. Located mostly in Patton's previous WWII training grounds. And some at target areas that they used for P-39's (Airacobra) and P-40's (Warhawk). I leave them in place for others to wonder about, and because it is illegal to remove them. They are mostly just rusted parts in the shape of a squarish can.