Puppchen Question

[ROB48]

Guys,
On the right side of the Puppchen there are two rods. I'm assuming these are aiming sticks because they appear to be too long to be cleaning rods - am I correct? If they are aiming sticks would they be painted red and white?
Bob

[Sixth Vanguard]

That is how Reef did them

http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?...opic_id=161960

http://www.sixtharmygroup.com/forums...light=Puppchen

[xacto11]

Doubtful that they would be aiming stakes. Puppchen was not a long range weapon and only had simple open sights.

[ROB48]

Thanks for the input guys.
Bob

[Reef12]

Boy does that bring back memories.

Passed muster at last's years show.

LOL

Cheers

Jeff

[viaad]

The sticks, as they are depicted on the model, represent aiming sticks. I don't know if the weapon actually came with them or not. I've only seen them used with artillery and mortars. However, almost any weapon could be used in the indirect firing mode if you have the correct aiming devices and knowledge. I hope this helps a bit.

[Hammer Six]

Back in the day rods or sticks were placed in the ground when on defense to limit the sector of fire for both riflemen and automatic weapons even Ma Deuce. This limits the individuals width of traverse when things got 'hot and heavy'. The were normally placed higher then to top of the barrel of the weapon and act like bumper stops. Just a thought.

[ROB48]

Thanks guys,
It seems pretty much 50/50 as to whether the rods are for cleaning or aiming. I looked at the photo pretty close and am now rethinking that maybe they are for cleaning. I found a couple more photos that show the rods and see the same thing - they have what appears to be screw ends on them. If in fact they are cleaning rods, where is the bore brush? Is it kept inside one of the cylinders at the lower front of the gun?
A couple more questions:
Are the tires rubber or steel? In all the museum photos I've seen, the tires are painted the same color as the gun as if the wheel and tire are the same. In the black and white war-time photos I've seen, the tires are a darker color than the gun. This would seem to me that the tires are rubber.
It also seems to me that the longer 4322 round that the kit comes with is not the correct round. The 4322 round is for a panzerschrek. All the articles I've read so far say the round is the 4312 round, which is shorter. The 4322 round is supposed to be electrically fired and the 4312 round is primer fired. The Puppchen is a primer fired gun, but I was wondering if a longer primer fired round was developed. Or did Dragon make a mistake and have the wrong round come with the gun?

Bob

[xacto11]

I would guess the bore brush would be kept in one of the cylinders and any tools in the other. Dragon made a mistake using the original long rounds. Puppchen should use the shorter ones. The wheels where all metal. Must have made a lot of noise on hard surfaces.

[ROB48]

Thank you very much.
Bob