Hello guys,

Just saw some new Hauler goodies on PMMS site.

PE for the Tilly and a realy, realy nice suprise on the bottom.

see for your selfhttp://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/newkitnews/hauler.htm


Yrs,
Wim Goossen
The Netherlands

I begg him all the time since his RADAR kits to make the KHD truck and now he has made it. Thanks, Jan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That one is my all time favorite as it was one of the best if not the best truck the Germans had.

Frank

I'm digging the T-34 stuff!

on the barbie..... That is one set I cannot resist. If one of the prolific types whips this out for a model contest, there could be some 1/35 modelers rather disappointed. With the standard Hauler PE set and these standoff screens, a well-built HB T-34/85 would be a very tough customer in a contest.

....are these suitable for the Opel Blitz?! I noticed that they have the 8 bolt pattern, but something about them makes me think they won't work. Maybe the size?

Ken

but that may be the photos. The pattern is correct for one version of the 8-bolt wheel used on German trucks and I have seen this on a restored Opel Blitz, but wartime photos more often show the Opels using a different 8-bolt wheel, one that has a raised flat inner face for the bolts and a distinct edge around the raised area. There is probably room for both types. Note too that most of the Opel Blitzes seem to have been issued with the standard German military pattern tires. Many other trucks had civilian pattern tires, especially later in the war, and this can add variety if you are building several examples of a truck.

One problem for us as modelers madly Googling away for pix is that there are a lot of mediocre restorations around, and with the rarer vehicles, you often find all the pix in the web are of the same one or two examples. So, if they have bad details, guess what shows up on models. Also note that Europe has very strict laws about vehicle lighting. There are NO exceptions from the rules for antique or historically significant cars and trucks, so all restored WW2 military vehicles in Europe will have extra lights fitted if they are operated on public roads. The only way Volkswagen can keep its prototypes and very early beetles in original condition is that they truck the cars to shows and never drive them on the roads.

That said, the internet is an absolute gold mine for those with the patience to do the research to find the details needed to improve their models. I say, go for it.....

I think the hubs are fine; they actually do have the flat area around the bolts. The tires appear to be a larger size than was used on the 4x2 Opels. Bear in mind the Hauler kit is the 4x4 Typ A KHD, not the Typ S 4x2. The 4x4s may have had bigger tires as they were intended for more off-road use. The 4x2s were pretty much restricted to roads or hard ground. Just a thought.....

here are a couple of URLs for pix of KHD trucks. Note that there should be no difference between the wheels and tires for the Opel Blitz and the KHD trucks. The first URL is: and you'll ntice this truck has the Hauler style wheels fitted, but note that the tires are noticeably smaller than the Hauler examples. The second URL is: and this shows a Maultier halftrack conversion. The front wheels and tires are different patterns from the Hauler, but all are OK. Note, though, that the tires again are quite a bit smaller than the Hauler tires. I have seen more photos on the web that show the larger tires in use on Opel Blitz 4x2s, so yes the Hauler KHD wheels could be used, with the understanding that normally the tires were a smaller size. There were several styles of steel wheels used, and no doubt there are other variations I haven't seen yet. Bear in mind the guys restoring these old trucks often know more about them than even the best minds in the model sites like this. There was a discussion on one site about the variations in cabs for Ford 3-ton V3000S trucks depending on where they were built. Fascinating - you could spend your whole life tracking down this sort of thing.

Thanks for the heads-up Bruce! Definitely a load of info to consider!

Ken

but guys, I'm an Amish Luddite with software, yet I found this stuff all on the web in about 15 minutes, so this was not me pulling out some obscure article from an old book or magazine. This was research any of you can do when you start a modeling project. Want to build a Kettenkrad like Lu's on the Assembly Line? There's tons of stuff on the KKK on the web, particularly since so many have been saved (they're small and relatively cheap, and they were built after the war). You can get all the dimensions and specs, and walkarounds with all the photo detail you'll need on the little Tamiya kit. That's what I do, and that's how the article on the '251 interior came to be. Try it, you'll like it.....

Ah..yes...the internet is a wonderful resource, but I must say, Bruce...your years of service to the Elderberry gods have made your opinion invaluable. You seem to get to every detail of a subject...take these wheels as an example...you noticed they did have the correct structure to the 8 bolt patterns...I wouldn't have had a clue to look for that. Praise to the Elderberry!

Ken

If you make it to the IPMS USA national contest in Columbus, OH next August, I'd be happy to hoist a pint with any of the group who can make it. Should be a lot of fun.