Sdkfz 222 Light Mortar Carrier

[buzzbomb]

I needed some inspirational stash stalking. As there are load of new kits out there, a cull of older, yet highly whiffable models was the order of the day.
I saw lots of candidates and go to thinking about how even in wartime vehicles get outmoded for front line work, yet sometimes get converted into something else.

So I grabbed these, the venerable, yet still appealing Tamiya Sdkfz 222 and the still quite nice 81mm Mortar set.


Why not a light Mortar Carrier. The 81mm Mortar was fitted to the Sdfkz 251/2 and the Sdkfz 250, so what about a smaller, more nimbler version for Recon Troops.

So off we went and in a short while we ended up with this as a hacked proof of concept


Still some thinking to go through, access, ammo.. you know practical stuff.. but this is whiffing

using a lot of the Mortar kit bits to flesh out the interior, plus spares box. Scratched up some ammo bins


Also decided to go down the mortar to the rear path, for quick getaways and all that


Looking at the ingenious folding seating then work on the uppe rhull.. so more to follow.
Wait out.

[Captain Canada]

That looks awesome ! Love all of the details you have created...that's the best part of whiffing right there. Excellent work.

[NARSES2]

That's a good idea  Handy for laying smoke when you need to get out of there quickly, just surprised it wasn't done, or at least I've not seen it

[buzzbomb]

thanks folks.. Narses.. as far as I know, this is purely a whiffer, but who knows. Photos are still popping up of weirder gear than this

So at the end of the weekend we are just jetting along

Went for a raised protection layout and a bog standard 251/250ish MG shield for the self Defence MG


Initial paintings. For crew seating I went for some bench type cushions over the baseplate, which also mean that they can sit either way for travel or to service the weapon in a sitting position.. as lousy as that would be for a Mortar

The will be some repainting as some of it is OTT... waaaay OTT.

[dumaniac]

wow - nice work

[dadlamassu]

Very nice indeed.  Looking forward to the end product.

[Captain Canada]

Great stuff. Makes me want to drive it around.

[Old Wombat]

Yup!

[Mondria]

nice idea and well made, but why is the mortar shooting over the back? would not the other way around be better?

[Old Wombat]

nice idea and well made, but why is the mortar shooting over the back? would not the other way around be better?

Discussions elsewhere led to the thought that rear-firing for a recce vehicle was best, as the mortar would be most often used to cover a withdrawal if they came into contact with the enemy. Also, fast recce units like this were often used as part of rear-guard actions during retreats (retrograde advances), again where the ability to bug-out quickly is facilitated by the rear-firing weapon.

[buzzbomb]

Thanks for the great comments and feedback.
So here we are... finished. Except for the bits I have not finished like the figure and the forgotten Aiming markers.

So to the model, this basic thing before painting


First up the markings.
I have been and avid reader of the Red Gambit series by Colin Gee http://www.redgambitseries.com/ (available on Amazon Kindle), which I may have mentioned here before.
It is an alt history of the Red Army attacking the Western Allies in August 1945. One of the key things is the reformed German Federation providing forces to the allied cause. However the American/UK Politico's will not have a bar of the Waffen SS formations. However the French do see them as a very viable force and using a bit of political nouse, sign them up into the French Foreign Legion. So these markings are based on doodlings on the Red Gambit site, giving a French look with a touch of German colour.






On to the next project I suppose, unless I actually finish this one completely... 

[zenrat]

Very good.  Simple and obvious and then a twist in the finish.  I like it.

[NARSES2]

That has really come out well. Especially like the twist at the end re the users 

[Captain Canada]

Wow wow wow ! I love it ! Looks so right. Love all the little details and the paint in perfect ! Looks like the real thing  Any tips on how you accomplished that ? Or in progress pics ? Amazing to get that look after the whole thing was already assembled, especially the interior !

 

[Old Wombat]