Opel Blitz with Nebelwerfer 1/35

[hansolo]

Opel Blitz with Nebelwerfer

Hi guys,

For this GB I thought: Well, why not combine two tipes of weather in this build?!
So I took an Opel BLITZ and stuck a NEBELWERFER on the back of it.

A bit a history:

Opel Blitz

opel_zps1hztjoiu by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

During the years preceding World War II Opel, a subsidiary of General Motors (GM) since 1929, was Germany's largest truck producer. The Blitz name, found in a prize competition, was first applied to an Opel truck in 1930.

By 1934 there were four base versions offered of the 1 tonne basic model along with fourteen versions of the larger 2 and 2½ tonne trucks. Under the terms of Nazi economy and the German re-armament the authorities ordered the construction of the Opelwerk Brandenburg facilities in 1935, where until 1944 more than 130,000 Blitz trucks and chassis were produced. The medium-weight versions originally were equipped with a flathead 68 HP petrol engine coming from the 1930 GM Buick Marquette, replaced in 1937 with a modern overhead valve 75 HP straight-six engine also used in Opel Admiral passenger cars. This engine was very similar to Chevrolet engines from the same period, to the point that disabled Blitzes abandoned by fleeing Germans could be easily put back into operation by advancing Allies using Chevy/GMC and Bedford parts.

From 1939, the reliable Blitz 3.6 three-ton version was used in large numbers by the German Wehrmacht armed forces throughout World War II. Derived variants included an elongated version and the four-wheel drive Blitz A. To cope with the bad road conditions and the rasputitsa mud seasons on the Eastern Front, a half-tracked Maultier (mule) SdKfz 3 version was built using tracks and suspension based on the Universal Carrier. Among others, these were used as service vehicles for the Messerschmitt Me 323 military transport aircraft. It is also claimed that Opel, a subsidiary of GM, used forced labor to reap unprecedented profits. To what degree GM controlled Opel at the time is subject to debate, but it is clear that GM did in fact play a role in giving Nazi Germany the Opel Blitz truck.
The light basic model was manufactured as Blitz 2.5 in Rüsselsheim until 1942 and again from 1946, equipped with the 55hp Opel Super 6 engine. On 6 August 1944, the Opelwerk Brandenburg was devastated by an RAF air raid. Furthermore, until the end of the war, about 2,500 Blitz 3.6 trucks were built by order of Minister of Armaments Albert Speer at the Mannheim plant of the rival Daimler Benz AG, while the production of its own Mercedes-Benz L3000 model had to be discontinued. After the war, the facilities in Brandenburg were completely dismantled at the behest of the Soviet Military Administration, while Daimler-Benz in Mannheim resumed building the Blitz 3.6 under the designation L 701 until 1949. The last 467 medium trucks were again assembled by Opel in Rüsselsheim until production finally discontinued in 1954 without a successor.

Nebelwerfer

nebelwerfer_zpsgzg80fav by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

The Nebelwerfer "Smoke Mortar" was a World War II German series of weapons. They were initially developed by and assigned to the Wehrmacht's so-called "smoke troops" (Nebeltruppen). This weapon was given its name as a disinformation strategy designed to fool observers from the League of Nations, who were observing any possible infraction of the Treaty of Versailles, into thinking that it was merely a device for creating a smoke screen.[citation needed] They were primarily intended to deliver poison gas and smoke shells[citation needed], although a high-explosive shell was developed for the Nebelwerfer from the beginning. Initially, two different mortars were fielded before they were replaced by a variety of rocket launchers ranging in size from 15 to 32 centimetres (5.9 to 12.6 in). The thin walls of the rockets had the great advantage of allowing much larger quantities of gases, fluids or high-explosives to be delivered than artillery or even mortar shells of the same weight. With the exception of the Balkans Campaign, Nebelwerfer were used in every campaign of the German Army during World War II. A version of the 21 cm calibre system was even adapted for air-to-air use against Allied bombers.

For the Opel Blitz I bought this kit:

AF54F6E7-5639-48A2-B5ED-E19A8AA38803_zpsnqv9luwa by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

6238CFF8-0046-4645-91E1-125066909EA0_zpsrds7udsi by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

AD215B5C-E5BF-4C5B-AE3C-73462C447150_zpswug3gnce by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

8C100A48-2F5F-4883-BE90-E90526C762C9_zpsye2ybgb8 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

EADE8866-73A1-42C8-9659-42E6510A2218_zpsbh3kky0u by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

664AA2E0-5355-4CB6-8CA7-C733E175679E_zps1nw7yicq by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

8B0A8A61-00D6-48C9-BB8F-158639BBB8EE_zpsvwhjehqx by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

318AA647-A9A8-46B7-849A-3EA1CF053552_zpst3ndwzji by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

1854A636-B5D3-4352-A693-E6BD7A5A1476_zpszvzf9vyi by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

681A60E8-DFF9-4DDE-B332-699246FF8751_zpsxq54awss by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

81EC2AB2-D3D5-4DBF-922E-8B1096B85385_zps5y50sf3m by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

For the Nebelwerfer I bought this kit:

FullSizeRender 4 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

FullSizeRender 2 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

FullSizeRender by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

FullSizeRender 3_zpsqrrtprs6 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

For the figures to go on the diorama, I bought this kit:

275D4478-1674-464F-902A-83812958BEC2_zpsutqyhtzo by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

Started building the Opel:

C4B15EF3-B992-4D3D-A0E1-A7055F5A630F_zps6hka1mcb by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

D7116926-4F9A-42E2-8557-FF4F078DF30B_zps76lm9qr3 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

6F4FAB5D-A622-4647-872B-956E85F0194A_zpsofg0kclf by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

995038AA-CA70-41A4-A54D-9E70352C87C8_zpsrs3sivye by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

15275FFB-1DC8-493F-A784-5749B1A083BE_zpsxqmgjauh by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

4EE9A191-4BB5-42F7-BF4D-CF872D8C23A9_zpsmt5yagzc by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

I fixed the wheels so that I could move than left and right.

1C551413-79A3-4A02-9193-20843619E087_zpsopzzepjd by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

9F3E78CD-E68A-4E54-85B1-5D07F2702A3D_zpsymvhvbr6 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

The flat bed did not have any woodgrain. So I carved it in with a pointy tool.

B2B54EE3-96E7-4663-89E7-0FDCEE1EB781_zpskn4w38pm by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

4DDA1153-C4EF-45BE-A29D-4BBDB5D0AE39_zps6gkfytmc by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

The roof required some filling.

526A4FAF-AC7C-4DC8-9D9B-2E2FDCB1E247_zpshfutvloy by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

I decided not to use the wooden sides of the flat bed.

6E834F36-733E-4E43-A7F2-6F4841B06F19_zpsug4yal9z by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

Next up: Building the Nebelwerfer.

IMG_1735_zpsw57mdkqs by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

I used only part of the mount because I had to mount the Werfer on the flat bed of the Opel.

IMG_1736 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

IMG_1737_zps2gtwrg0h by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

IMG_1738 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

I added an extra strip with bolts to the mount to give it a believable fit to the flat bed.

IMG_1739 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

Build completed!

IMG_1740_zpsffcjblvl by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

Built the figures. Probably not going to use them all but built them all, anyway.

IMG_1718_zpsgcru3twu by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

That’s it for now folks.
Next up: Painting!

[Lysus]

You carved that woodgrain? That looks amazing...

[hansolo]

Thanks Lysus!

[Tomcat64]

Yet another venture away from the ordinary from you Hans - really looking forward to seeing what you end up with here

[demarcation]

That wood grain carving looks very very impressive, great work so far!

[hansolo]

Thanks guys!
I will try to meet up to your expectations.

[Tiger213]

Interesting idea and amazing progress, mate.
Good luck!

[hansolo]

Hi guys,

Did some painting.

Primed the figures

IMG_1723_zpswmhzaiil by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

Painted them

IMG_1724 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

IMG_1725_zpsyzlzvl0u by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

And weathered them

IMG_1823_zpsen8erxvu by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

Primed the truck and the werfer

IMG_1824_zps2tnlxj8r by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

Left the doors out so I could paint the interior more easily

IMG_1825_zpsi1qs0mm0 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

Painted the flat bed brown. Hairspray chipping later reveals the woord color this way

IMG_1826 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

Hairspray applied

IMG_1827 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

Painted the hole thing with dunkel gelb

IMG_1828 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

Did the chipping with water and a stiff bristled brush

IMG_1829 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

That's all for now folks.
Next up: More painting and weathering

[hansolo]

Hi guys,

Finished painting the Opel.

IMG_1851 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

I know this is a big step from the last entry where had had just come up to the stage of shipping.
But I'll explain the steps I've done.
I didn't use to many different techniques. I did rust, dust and grime with oil paints and I did the dust on the tires with pigments.
That's basically all. The rust on the pipes of the Nebelwerfer I did with AK rust effects.
And the wire to the plunger is stretched sprue. Made the amo box from balsa wood.

IMG_2422_zpsii6exrqs by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

IMG_2423_zpsyuszjwxm by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

IMG_2424_zpsarplfcwi by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

IMG_2425 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

IMG_2426 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

IMG_2427_zpsgfvpmvxb by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

IMG_2428 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

IMG_2429 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

IMG_2430 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

IMG_2431 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

IMG_2432_zps9jktiufb by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

That's it for now folks.
Next up: The dio!

[Lysus]

I'm impressed with how some simple techniques produce such amazing results. You really set the bar for this stuff, man.

[hansolo]

Thanks Lysus.

[Tomcat64]

Amazing stuff as always mate. I'm completely in awe of your combination of speed and quality - leaves me in the dust every time.

Really looking forward to the dio for this one too.

[hansolo]

Thanks Tomcat!

[hansolo]

Hi guys,

Started work on the dio.

In the dio I wanted to make a little stony ridge with flat layers of lime stone.
I made those layers with plaster.

A poured a pancake of plater and let it dry.

4442299A-518F-4EB1-8C37-25799C587A33_zpswhfffodj by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

Than I broke it up into pieces and stacked them to form a little vertical ridge.

FB1B19D3-BBEF-4C71-95BC-4A5EC4EF8F38_zps0ywgrqsd by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

And made a curved layout on the board.

B4FE476C-48D3-418A-9C63-20A7FFBA750D_zpsdbkduapt by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

2802AE8F-6717-417A-894A-67B090B925A0_zpstrpo4lre by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

I filled up the higher end with foam and covered the whole surface with DAS clay.

0F1F6165-7D6C-448A-946C-06B46EB9ACA6_zpsq07rnhdq by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

I made a card board ridge around the dio before pouring the sand-glue-water mix for the earth surface.

B95C7A5F-AAF4-4592-ACB8-49CCBA2FBBF3_zpszruoyp5q by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

Earth surface mix.

IMG_1719_zpsuggtfzlx by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

The mix applied.

IMG_1720 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

Sprinkled some dry earth and some small pieces of broken plaster for sand and stones and let it dry.

IMG_1721 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

IMG_1722 by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

Ridge removed.

IMG_1729_zpsrn2gpivg by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

When on holidays in Greece I found these bushes that make perfect trees!

IMG_2489_zpsg3epayuw by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

For little bushes I used these little tuffs.

IMG_2491_zpsy5c6bzlq by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

And I put little tips of blooming grass in for higher plants.

IMG_2492_zpsjwgxxn4z by JP Verhoeven, on Flickr

That's all for now, folks.
Next up: The final reveals!

[Tomcat64]

Great looking dio base mate - thanks for sharing the process too, really interesting to see how you built this up

[hansolo]

Thanks Tom. You're welcome!

[Lysus]

[hansolo]

[TommyKillander]

Wow!

Your builds are always something extra; this one is no exception - truly amazing!


Tommy

[hansolo]

Wow!

Your builds are always something extra; this one is no exception - truly amazing!


Tommy

Thanks Tommy!

[DrSprue]

Wow amazing build and that dio looks great! All I can say is that the Nebelwerfer gods are pleased!

[hansolo]

Wow amazing build and that dio looks great! All I can say is that the Nebelwerfer gods are pleased!

Thanks Tony!