10.5 cm LeFH-16 Auf Mark. VI(e) and ammo transporter by Baker - FINISHED - ACE - scale 1/72

[Baker]

Next build 

 

The 10.5cm LeFH-16 auf geschuetzpanzer Mark.VI(e) and the munitionspanzer Mark VI(e)

 

In simple english 
A 10.5 cm howitzer on the chassis of a captured British Mark VI light tank and the accompanying ammunition vehicle.

 

both models are from ACE

http://acemodel.com.ua/en/model/558     http://acemodel.com.ua/en/model/495

General history 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10.5_cm_leFH_16_Gesch%C3%BCtzwagen_Mk_VI_736_(e)

 

The myth of a modern motorized German army in 1940 is not entirely true.
Only elite panzer divisions had modern (tank) equipment ( some of which were actually just training vehicles). Their tactics were more daring and modern.

After the Blitzkrieg of 1940, Germany had a large amount of captured material at its disposal. All this went into the service of the German Whermacht.

 

A certain Alfred Becker had the idea of mounting his unit's howitzers on these light tanks. 
They served well on the Eastern Front and were the first fully self-propelled howitzer unit in the German Whermacht.

Alfred Becker's talents did not go unnoticed. Baucommando Becker (Build unit Becker) turned hopelessly outdated French vehicles and tanks into completely "new" German vehicles that made it quite difficult for the Allies in Normandy (1944)

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Becker

 

 

The plans and the parts

Start building the two hulls. as always with short run kits a lot of flash and a lot of cleaning.

to be continued

 

Edited February 2, 2022 by Baker

[popeye the sailor]

these two look really neat!   the main tank bodies look fairly similar.........did the munitions tank have any armament?

[Canute]

Isn't that similar to the chassis for a Universal or Bren Gun Carrier? It was also a light tank for the British? Interesting.

[Old Collingwood]

Some parts in that.

 

OC.

[Edwardkenway]

Interesting subjects.

[Baker]

15 hours ago, popeye the sailor said:

these two look really neat!   the main tank bodies look fairly similar.........did the munitions tank have any armament?

Neat : indeed     Armament  ammo tank  : none

 

13 hours ago, Canute said:

Isn't that similar to the chassis for a Universal or Bren Gun Carrier? It was also a light tank for the British? Interesting.

No 

The main purpose of a carrier is to transport material (weapons) and people. In theory, people and equipment leave the carrier before entering combat
In a tank everyone remains "safe" inside the tank and takes part in the battle

 

13 hours ago, Old Collingwood said:

Some parts in that.

 

OC.

Indeed. But i think only some parts of the suspension 

 

12 hours ago, Edwardkenway said:

Interesting subjects.

Yep.

[Canute]

Patrick, thanks. Always learning new info on this site.

[popeye the sailor]

seeing the post commenting that they look similar to a british tank made me recall an article I read.......I believe it was in the beginning of the KG 200 book.

   in the beginning of the war,  German armor was modified captured armor.......mostly British and Russian armor.  they didn't capture just aircraft  

[Baker]

Building the superstructure of both vehicles.

 

The ammo carrier (left) 

All parts fit  👍

Grrr 

Some cutting and sanding, and hairpins and glue 

The gun carrier : little space availeble for many things to place 

 

Some extra parts for detail ( from Russian kv turret...)

The instructions say to place the cannon first.
But I don't know if the parts of the superstructure will fit

so i make the superstructure first and dry fit this on the chassis (Surprise, it fits from the first time )

And then the cannon doesn't go in anymore

I will place the cannon first and then the superstructure. 

It's been a long time since I've built such a difficult kit like this one. But we'll get there.

Instruction riddles   :  Make part C and see where you put it an they sometimes forget to number part 5

Thanks for following

[Baker]

Building the howitzer compartment.

 

Extra detail on the 4 seats

New ammo (cleaning the ammo from the kit was more work) and some other extra's

Drilling out the barrel 

I always do this with a knife like this. Just turn the blade until the correct diameter is reached. Ideal method in plastic
But, watch out for the fingers...

 

ready for painting

Parts painted, adding the howitzer is for later

glued together (and a wash with diluted black)

Next, wheels an tracks. Again lots of cleaning to do...

Thanks for following

[Old Collingwood]

Amazing work at this scale.

 

OC.

[lmagna]

Incredible detail at this scale.......... Or any scale come to think of it.

[popeye the sailor]

if you glued the body on,  will you be able to get the howitzer in place?  thought that was a no-go.  very nice detail you added!

[Baker]

9 hours ago, popeye the sailor said:

will you be able to get the howitzer in place

Because this thing is so small, it is a lot of fitting, searching and measuring
That's why i build it this way :
First interior and the carriage of the howitzer
Then the structure
Then the barrel and the sight of the howitzer.
Then the extra armor around the barrel.
This will work (I hope )

[Baker]

Wheels and tracks.

 

After a few hours, all parts are cleaned and painted in the base color.

Ready for assembling (the sprocket wheels have some of the teeth removed)

Work in progress, this was very complicated and required a lot of cutting and trimming.

Wheels in place and tracks pre painted. 

In the meantime started work on the trailer.The origin of the modified trailer is French. It is normally pulled by a Renault UE and has 4 wheels and tracks. Why  there is now only 1 axle with 2 wheels underneath? who knows 

   a Renault UE and trailer (wikipedia)

 

 

Track mounting. Started below, then around the sprocket wheel, then around the rear wheel. Cut to lenght en glue 

all wheels and tracks in place, a time consuming work .
From now on nothing can go wrong, I hope 

Thanks for following (and patience )

[popeye the sailor]

really nice!  although the other one should be on it's tracks rather than on it's side   {I know....it's drying}    catching up is fun with these little gems.

   your spare parts bin makes me think back to all the parts I had for cars,  when I was a kid at home.........I kept them in boxes under my bed.  Mom used to get mad because she couldn't clean   

[Baker]

Smal update,  assemble the last parts before painting.

 

Building the trailer also had its own problems...

All smaller parts are in place and the models are ready for further painting

Painted in the base color

 

Thanks for following

[Javlin]

On 11/25/2020 at 2:19 PM, popeye the sailor said:

I believe it was in the beginning of the KG 200 book.

KG 200 been years since I read up on them but remember the book as quite interesting

On 12/14/2020 at 1:01 PM, Backer said:

Track mounting. Started below, then around the sprocket wheel, then around the rear wheel. Cut to lenght en glue 

Thks Patrick I was about to ask the question and saw the answer in your post I have one of those Brit Tripoli tanks(1/72) could not get it stay together will glue directly to the tracks.These came out real Nice Patrick will be looking forward to more.  Kevin

[popeye the sailor]

coming together very nice!  

[Baker]

22 hours ago, Javlin said:

These came out real Nice

 

4 hours ago, popeye the sailor said:

coming together very nice!  

Thanks,

These 2 were really tough ones. 2 kits not suitable for beginners.

[Old Collingwood]

You should do a Dio  with some of your tanks Patrick  - they would look Superb.

 

OC.

[Baker]

10 hours ago, Old Collingwood said:

You should do a Dio  with some of your tanks Patrick  - they would look Superb.

 

OC.

Thanks, 

I like to watch other people's Dio's. But make them myself, is notting for me

[Baker]

Small update

 

Camouflage color applied and details painted.

Decals applied and base plates ready.  

 Finish line in sight 👍

[Old Collingwood]

Lovely work.

 

OC.

[popeye the sailor]

those two darlings are looking sweet!    what are you doing in the background......getting the rest of the regiment together?  

 

I saw a tank............I saw a tank!!!!!!! 

[Baker]

7 hours ago, popeye the sailor said:

those two darlings are looking sweet!    what are you doing in the background......getting the rest of the regiment together?  

 

I saw a tank............I saw a tank!!!!!!! 

Thanks.

 

A tank, a tank???

A Centurion 1 experiment...

[popeye the sailor]

Centurion.............is that British?

[Baker]

yes 100%

No idea why you British called him Centurion 

[Baker]

Finishing the models

 

applying rust 

Glued on the base plate (afther this a wash with thinned black)

ready and tagged

The 2 vehicles are given an English number, so all vehicles of this chassis are together. The trailer has a French number, then I remember what the origin was

Belgium 1941 on the training ground

Belgium 2021 in the cabinet

 

Ps

Good advice from the manufacturer

It has been a long time since I built such difficult models. If anyone ever buys a kit from Ace, don't start with these 2.

 

Finished !

Thanks for the following, the likes and of course the comments on these builds .

[GuntherMT]

Nicely done.  I'm curious about the little tags you have attached to the bases, I assume the numbering system on them means something?