Project - 'Wehrmacht on the move' - Horch Type 1a w/Flak 38 on trailer

[SteveKrieg]

G'day all,

Attached are pics pertaining to what should be, in relation to the Sd.Kfz 250.1, an easily repaint and detail for another Taowan all-metal model - the Horch Type 1a heavy standard passenger car with the spare tyre in the middle (on both sides) indicative of an early version (later versions had one inset giving a smooth surface on both sides).

I finally found a CHE Flak 38 w/trailer this year (Wartoys.com) which allows me to replicate somewhat a box art for the Tamiya 1/35th Horch and Flak 38 w/trailer and I'm sure I've seen threads on this site of someone doing something very similar...why not, it's a great combo.

I'm saving the Flak 38 w/gun shield from the CHE Flak 38 for another project (replicating an example that is on-show at the Australian War Memorial here in Canberra) and using instead (as a matter of time-saving) a single-barrel Flak 38 that I'd used in the 'Achtung Jabo' dioramas of 2018's ScaleACT however not in a ground role akin 'Saving Ryan's Privates', the crew, ammo and stores will be put inside the vehicle which will be repainted and detailed also with the commander asking a soldat on the side of the road for directions (such is the diorama plan for this one).

The gun will get a bit of a spruce-up paint and detail-wise whilst the trailer will get a base coat of Dunkelgelb and weathering. I'll go that far before I post more. Enjoy, Steve

[SteveKrieg]

The Taowan Auto-Union Horch 108 Type 1a heavy personnel car is akin other Taowan all-metal models in this larger scale - mainly that they are heavier than required (the solid rubber wheels add considerable weight) and they are spartan in terms of detail. I didn't mind the three-tone camo pattern however feel I can do better which is why I've decided to repaint in the 'blank canvas' of dunkelgelb to both vehicle and Sd.Ah.51 transport trailer for the Flak 38. Whilst I plan to leave the trailer in its basecoat albeit with weathering and detail, the Horch will receive a new camo pattern before the application of weathering/detail and markings. Enjoy, Steve

[Panzercommander HOH]

That will be a sharp set up when it is all finished, Steve!

Looking forward to watching your builds!

Fred

[Ostfront43]

Very nice setup. Look forward to the finished vehicles and crew you put together.

[SteveKrieg]

G'day all,

I've finally found the time to finish this one however, as of last week, the annual model show for which this year's series of projects was geared has been COVID-cancelled. Whilst a bit of a set-back, I'll push on regardless so that at least I'll have them ready for next year (to augment a separate series for the 2021 model show to be titled 'Wehrmacht Firepower')...double the bang - so to speak - for their buck.

The TAOWAN Horch has gone thru, like other TAOWAN models, a series of scratch-build add-ons which, in this case, include rifle stays, dyed tarp (the orange-looking one that comes with the model somewhat an eyesore), exhaust pipe, ditching tools and their brackets.

[SteveKrieg]

Originally inspired by the Tamiya 1/35th boxart of a Type 1a towing a Flak 38 on its trailer, I decided to pose with more 'action', that of the crew not sitting inside and on the move but the gun on its trailer being moved toward the vehicle for hitching-up for a redeployment elsewhere, the crew hastily pushing/pulling it into position to be hooked-up.

[SteveKrieg]

Over the period of what is normally the model show weekend, I will post pictures of the model on a better diorama base (that which I would set-up on that weekend) and post on their group's Farcebook page; then packed-away 'til November next year's show (fingers crossed).

With the idea now of combining Wehrmacht Mobility with Wehrmacht Firepower, I plan to alternate the builds for both. With that in-mind, my first 'cab off the rank' for next year will provide the break in vehicle models (as it was to be the all-metal Kubelwagen - seen to the rear of the last pic).

The CHE PAK38 will be repainted in dunkelgrau, white-wash and worn to represent a gun on the Ostfront whilst the 21st Century Toys PAK40 in dunkelgelb and green/brown camo'd representing Normandy front where most of the Allied tank casualties were incurred more-so by well-placed German A/T guns than Panzers. On display, they'll both have crew and ammo in applicable uniforms. I've been itching to do up one of my PAK40s for years (at least I hope that's why I've been itching?) having got three that I purchased back in the '90s and two from a mate of mine now unfortunately deceased and it's to him that I'll dedicate this particular model to during show. More to follow, cheers, Steve.

[SteveKrieg]

One more thing, forgot to add that, as part of the rebuild, I also added anti-slip matting to the rear passenger area and rent bent some of the canopy frame in order to replicate the canopy in open position. The tow cable and hooks were an afterthought but, I think, worked well given the width for the vehicle. I was going to cover the rear storage area with a hinged compartment for the door windows but, on research, found that vehicles were produced with and without such (common also to the Type 40 which was a later variant of the Type 1a that, like most things produced by the Germans during the war as it progressed, was increasingly geared towards saving on materials and ease of manufacture). Cheers, Steve

[Hammer's Africaners]

Awesome work, vehicles, equipment and figures.

[Pangaea95]

Great stuff, love all the details

[egonzinc]

Very nice. I did something similar based on the same Tamiya images. Amazing how many of our projects are inspired by those great Tamiya images!

[SteveKrieg]

ha, classic Eduardo and I do recall your fine post covering the Type 1a/Flak 38 combo (which was inspirational also). I did initially think along the same lines as you (therefore in-keeping with the Tamiya box art) but was swayed by two things -
1. the coupling between the TAOWAN Horch and the CHE Flak38 trailer did not match without major reworking of the vehicle's tow bar, and
2. I was partially inspired by the culminating scene in 'Saving Ryan's privates' in having the trailer being moved around by its crew which also allowed for more of the vehicle's interior stowage to be seen.

Cheers, Steve

[Panzercommander HOH]

Looks great, Steve!

Looks great, Eduardo!

Would love to do that with mine some day!

Fred