Beutepanzer Whippet

Stevesopwith

SMF Supporter
Joined
Jun 3, 2021
Messages
5
Points
3
First Name
Steve
Hi everyone.

For my debut posting I'd like to give an account of my project to build the Takom Whippet as A220, captured by the Germans and restored to running condition as 'Repair Job 111' or 'Freikorps 53'.

Tankograd 1004, Beute-Tanks Vol 2, by Rainer Strasheim was the main inspiration, but 'Tank Encyclopedia-Whippet' and 'Landships Whippet Interior' provided a lot of extra information.

Following 'new ownership', the most obvious change is the German three colour camouflage; but there is more to it than that. Some parts, like the tow-cable hooks and the front track canvas support angle strips, are missing, and the stowage box mountings have been modified. I also plan to add a representation of the interior, and leave the door open.
A more significant 'finger print' is the set of angle iron reinforcing strips bolted to the ends of the track plates, both inside and out. This modification was carried out while in British service, and doesn't seem to have been common.
Views of both sides show a rather random arrangement, with different angles, lengths and number of bolts.

I modelled these using Evergreen 2mm angle strip, with the flange filed back to about 0.8mm. The bolt holes were drilled 0.6mm, before gluing to the kit parts, ( in case I made a mistake ). The holes were then re-drilled through the plates, and 0.6mm hex bolts ( from 'Prime Miniatures ) with heads thinned to about 0.5mm, were superglued in place.

The picture shows my progress so far

Whippet  Track Unit Plates.jpg

I shall complete the other side when fresh supplies of bolts arrive, then work through the assembly instructions for a while, before making arrangements for the interior structure.
 

Jakko

Way past the mad part
SMF Supporter
Joined
Apr 28, 2018
Messages
10,583
Points
113
First Name
Jakko
Nice :smiling3: I’ve had an Emhar Whippet for about 20 years that I began to correct but then lost interest in. This looks to be a far better kit.
 

Jim R

SMF Supporter
Joined
Apr 27, 2018
Messages
13,594
Points
113
Location
Shropshire
First Name
Jim
Hi Steve
Welcome to the forum.
Great idea for a model. Sounds as if you have done your research and you're off to a good start.
Jim
 

Stevesopwith

SMF Supporter
Joined
Jun 3, 2021
Messages
5
Points
3
First Name
Steve
Thanks for the welcome.

Both track units are now complete. I decided to glue the rollers to their axles, and the axle ends to the inner plates... made it slightly less fiddly to line everything up.

By contrast, the tracks were a pleasure... a quick clean up of the minute moulding pip, and the links just snapped into place, with no breakages.
Whippet Track Units.jpg


It is however a tricky job joining up the track run over the rollers... so I made a joiner link to allow repeated assembly easier and safer.
I cut the pins from one link, and glued short lengths of 1 x 1.5mm styrene strip between the flanges. I slid the next link over the strips, and drilled 0.8mm through the flange holes. A piece of 0.8mm wire was then passed through the hole, joining the links.

Whippet Track Joiner 1.jpg

Pictures of these vehicles show varying amounts of track sag, and I wanted to match my model to this specific example.
The completed track runs have a 'stretch' of about 5mm. This gives the possibility of controlling the track tension by compressing portions of straight track and applying liquid cement, thus 'shortening' the length of run. The track joiner makes track removal and replacement very easy while adjustments are being made.

Next up will be the assembly of the main hull parts.
 

adt70hk

I know its a bit sad but I like quickbuild kits!!!
SMF Supporter
Joined
Sep 4, 2019
Messages
9,438
Points
113
First Name
Andrew
Steve,

Coming on very nicely indeed.

Well done.

Andrew
 

scottie3158

SMF Supporter
Joined
Apr 27, 2018
Messages
12,525
Points
113
Location
Spalding
First Name
Paul
Steve,
It's a warm welcome from me and what a great build to join with. That is a great idea on the tracks. I will continue to follow along.
 

Jakko

Way past the mad part
SMF Supporter
Joined
Apr 28, 2018
Messages
10,583
Points
113
First Name
Jakko
It is however a tricky job joining up the track run over the rollers... so I made a joiner link to allow repeated assembly easier and safer.
Good idea, on a tank like this it’s not like you can leave the sprocket and idler detachable so you can put on and remove the track.

However …

whippet-track-joiner-1-jpg.427083


… you assembled the links in the wrong order :tongue-out:
 

Jim R

SMF Supporter
Joined
Apr 27, 2018
Messages
13,594
Points
113
Location
Shropshire
First Name
Jim
Hi Steve
Coming on nicely. Good idea for the track join.
Jim
 

Stevesopwith

SMF Supporter
Joined
Jun 3, 2021
Messages
5
Points
3
First Name
Steve
Thanks everyone... glad you like the track joiner.

Cheers Jakko, for a second it was like...??? then the penny dropped. Good one. :smiling3:
 

Stevesopwith

SMF Supporter
Joined
Jun 3, 2021
Messages
5
Points
3
First Name
Steve
Inspired by what I've been seeing on this forum, I've tried to add a bit of refinement to my model.

I replaced the moulded spud rails with new ones cut from 010" nickel silver, with Scale Hardware rivets for fixing bolts.

Whippet Spud Rail Left.jpg

Whippet Spud Rail Right.jpg

Next, I cut a floor for the fighting compartment from 1 mm plastikard. This is removeable for now, while I provide further details. The Landships website has a set of excellent photos of the interior... so I've already made a representation of the machine gun racks just inside the door.

Whippet Interior 1.jpg

I plan to add the driver's seat and controls. the starter handle, the Autovac petrol cylinder, and the three ammunition racks.
 

Jakko

Way past the mad part
SMF Supporter
Joined
Apr 28, 2018
Messages
10,583
Points
113
First Name
Jakko
Mind if I plug something I put together years ago? :smiling3: (Scroll to the bottom for the Whippet book.) That started because I wanted to build the Emhar Whippet, like I mentioned above; it may have pictures useful to you.
 

Stevesopwith

SMF Supporter
Joined
Jun 3, 2021
Messages
5
Points
3
First Name
Steve
Thanks Jakko, that will be a very useful resource... one I hadn't seen.

A timely bit of information that the floor was probably planked, not metal... so some scribing and wood texturing is the very next job.

It also clarifies the 'steering wheel' arrangement, and many other details.

Cheers.
 

Graeme C.

SMF Supporter
Joined
Apr 29, 2018
Messages
1,478
Points
113
First Name
Graeme
Nice build Steve, the extra details make a difference.
 

JR

Member of the Rabble and Pyromania Consultant
SMF Supporter
Joined
May 26, 2015
Messages
17,215
Points
113
Location
lincs
First Name
John
Welcome to the forum Steve, certainly a good start looking at your photos, very neat indeed. :thumb2::thumb2:
 
Top