Germanbilly1
Brigade Commander
When I was thinking about building the Sd.Kfz.7 the first thing that I was concerned about was the running gear and tracks. I contacted AllenW who I knew was building an Armortek one. He helped me get in touch with Gill who in turn gave me permission to use their link as a pattern to cast my own. I had the book on the 7 that was a paper model. I set out to get as many measurements from the 1/1's out there. I came up with the rim size for the front tires and also the road wheel size and the length and width. I next took my plan book to Staples and worked with them on enlarging them. They worked with me until I was happy with the measurements that I had. I did not even think about how many curves this thing had until I started making the main body. I would make forms from tin and then lay the styrene over it and put it in the oven at 375 degrees for aprox. 5 min. It took a while to figure the heat and time but it worked. My Wife thought I was nuts. I had never done very much in the casting department, but with Steves panzerwerks tutorial I was able to make my molds and to cast the running gear and tracks. It was a very drawn out build and the more I got into it the more detailing I did. With the 11 guys sitting in it looks just like the pictures I have seen in the books that I have. The build was also difficult in there is not a lot of info out there on it. I could only find two books on it and they do not give a lot of measurements, the Internet helped a lot. Hope you like it and I am open to any and all questions that you have. Small parts that I did not make came from panzerwerks, Nortek light, toyriffic k98 racks, Armortek,steering wheel and front tires, Decals, MD, stencils, Armorpax
I also decided to make the top for it as you see it up in so many pictures and it just makes it look like it belongs in that rainy cold weather. With the pictures of it down you do not see the canvas as it was taken off the frame and stowed. I have seen several pictures of it down with the canvas on and it takes up a lot of the storage area on the rear. I also made the storage bins in the rear for the 88 rounds, all seats open for storage under them and all compartments open. I also installed the winch and the rear hitch is sprung to move in and out. Is it 100% 1/6th well it is as close as I could get it with the information that I was able to obtain.
I also decided to make the top for it as you see it up in so many pictures and it just makes it look like it belongs in that rainy cold weather. With the pictures of it down you do not see the canvas as it was taken off the frame and stowed. I have seen several pictures of it down with the canvas on and it takes up a lot of the storage area on the rear. I also made the storage bins in the rear for the 88 rounds, all seats open for storage under them and all compartments open. I also installed the winch and the rear hitch is sprung to move in and out. Is it 100% 1/6th well it is as close as I could get it with the information that I was able to obtain.