Flak 38 Sd.AH.51 Trailer Ammunition Box Carrier

[Mike Stannard (toyrific)]

Here are pictures of the ammunition box carrier that was used to replace the Flak 38 on the trailer when the gun was mounted on a vehicle. This has been a several months project with most of the research done by Tad Burland who also produced the line drawings for me to work from. I made this prototype for display at the OSF.

I doubt I will ever put it into production as I doubt anyone would want to pay the price. It is 95% hand built, the only way to do it in scale. It is totally made of brass with would inserts as close to the real thing as we were able to make from research, even down to the correct rivet count.

The 2 cm ammunition boxes are supplied by Panzerwerk. 16 were stowed in the trailer, the rest of the compartments were for spare parts boxes and tool boxes, the small rear door opened to a compartment for the spare barrel box.

The box base is made from 1/2 channel brass, the box frame is mostly 1/8" brass angle and covered with .010" brass sheet, the lid is .020" brass sheet with 3/16" angle brass. The box was all soldered together and rivets added afterwards. Tools, brackets, latches and locks are from my regular stock. I estimate about 15 hours over a seven day period to make it.

The ugly looking cuts in the wood compartment inserts are there as I made a mistake, oops, I made the compartment flush with the top of the box, not realizing the cross braces on the inside of the lid would hit them. No time to replace it all so I just cut the slots in them for the braces. The compartments tops should have been 3/16" shorter to allow for the lid braces. The wood blocks inside the lid are to hold the contents in place.

Now if there are around 10 to 20 people want one I might think about making them. Estimated time frame for me to start on them 6 to 12 months.

If you want to build one yourself it could be done fairly cheaply with styrene without the interior wall detail.

Wonder how long before the big company make this one, after all they did make the trailer after someone gave them the idea. Wonder who that was.

Hope you enjoy the pictures.

[Joe Boylan]

Hi Mike:

Joe here - how about selling just the plans? Alot of us are interested in building many other parts and pieces for our tanks/222', halftracks/diorama's etc but don't have 1/6 scale plans. Even a kit with all materials needed but not cut, broke, drilled, riveted, etc.
Just an idea.
I do need your Flak 38 trailer, e-mail me when you get time, I would take one of the boxes too if you do make them. If not enough people don't want to then how about some plans or a kit??

JB

[james leslie]

Hi MIKE,

Beautiful job on the ammo box prototype. I have a few questions.

1. How are we to know if we would ever want one unless you post the price so we can decide?

2. Why post it if you dont think you would ever put them into production?

3. You say it took 15 hours to make the prototype, wouldn't a production run or a kit offering take much less time per piece? How much would you sell the prototype for?

4. Oh, are the Tiger bins ever going to be done?

Jim

[Mike Stannard (toyrific)]

Hi Jim

I posted this as a prototype to see what sort of interest there would be in it, it is the only way to establish if a product is worth making as a production run. It is impossible for me to quote a price at this stage, building a prototype and mass production are different ball games. There appears to be enough interest in it so I may go ahead with it. However it is not going to happen in the near future, most likely middle of next year.

As for the Tiger 1 stowage bins you should have got the info in my last newsletter. I am trying to get them completed before the Christmas Holidays.

Regards
Mike