Maybach HL230 w.Cyclone air filters

[John Grima]

Hello Everyone, I crafted and tooled up the parts for the Cyclone air filtration system for the Maybach HL-230 P45. This type of engine would have been used on the King Tiger and most Panthers.





All of the masters and the molds are complete. the engine is almost ready for painting and there are a few more parts that are going to be added, so for now this is a sneak peek.







Because of the angle of the panther's and KT's hull the exhaust system heat shields had a small extender mounted to them. Also to cool down the exhaust manifold the cool air was ducted downward from the fans via two ducts. On the kit these ducts are casted in flexable resin to better have it fit in the engine well of a model.





To better clean the air the elaborate cyclone system was developed. Basically this was a scaled down version of the fifel system which was found on early tigers. The system drew air in from the compartment and ran the air through two large oil baths prior to having it enter a fiber filter before it would the engine.







The water cooling funnels were also enlarged, and had a flat duct so that they would fit around the large cyclone boxes.



Once this model is complete I will add the new kit to the part listings. This engine will also be offered as a few different options like my other engines.



More to come!

[John Grima]

I completed the engine today and tomorrow It will go off to paint.





The kits have now been added to the listings in both a full engine form, and the engine bay insert version. http://eastcoastarmory.com/kingtiger.htm







After the engine is painted, it will be weathered and complete! More to come.

[John Grima]

Today I completed the engine's base paint work.





The prebuilt engine was also added to the part listings, it will be offered in both weathered and unweathered condition.

http://eastcoastarmory.com/kingtiger.htm

All of the control rod, and fuel line detail was also mounted at this point.











the complete unit before it goes into weathering.













The engine is now off into weathering once complete the engine will be done.

[Kent Wiik]

Hi John,

Very, very impressing work and I am glad you also made a Panther one as I might consider install one of them in my own Panther build.

Regarding the colours...have you seen this WW2 colour photo before?



It looks like the valve covers was made from aluminium and kept without paint, also a lot of other items was silver looking.

Kind regards
Kent

[John Grima]

Thanks Kent, I have seen that photo before, but from most of the war time images, surviving engines, and panther manual images most have the engines painted all over dark grey, and cyclones in a light grey.

Listed below are some of my reference images


http://www.toadmanstankpictures.com/panther_214.jpg

http://www.toadmanstankpictures.com/panther_222.jpg

Panther manual found in manuals

http://www.wheatcroftcollection.com/

On some surviving engines I have seen the rocker arm covers left in all aluminum as well. Personally I like the uniform look of the all grey engines, just like on American engines being all OD.

[Paul Morris]

Hello John.

Looking really good, lots of time and effort to produce those well done.
Thing is I can't stop admiring the 8 rad in the background.
Cheers Paul.

[Kent Wiik]

Hi again John,

Sorry, don´t want to stir things up here... but this is rather interesting.

Here in Sweden we have a Maybach HL230 from a KT we had from France in 1946. It is said to probably be the only one left in the world without any changes since the war.
It has all its original paint still intact:





http://www.plasticwarfare.se/2011/09/sp ... ting-2011/

Interesting to note are the (once) shiny aluminum cam shaft covers, something that is also seen in the Wheatcroft Panther manual, picture (Bild) 19, you kindly linked.
Those photos can also be seen in the Spielberger book "Der Panzer-Kampfwagen Panther und seine Abarten" page 43.

I always try to find WW2 photos or photos of an untouched relic as template.
Museum "restored" items are seldom accurate as 60 years of kind? handle and caring has taken its toll...


Kind regards
Kent

[John Grima]

Thanks for the input Kent, From looking at your engine and hearing it's back story it may be that your engine is made up from new stock parts and / or was probably a last ditch put together engine. Towards the end of the war the Germans were known for cutting corners on all of their products to get them out of the door as fast as they can.

Here I have some images from the Panther manual. Clearly the rocker arm covers, and other engine components are all over dark grey and are not aluminum.







Here I also have some war time images. *Note that the rocker arm is painted because you can see paint scratches and chips on the rocker arm covers.






I completed the engine's weathering and took advantage if the milder weather to get some nice out door shots along with my King Tiger.













I added the rest of the images to my king tiger gallery webpage
http://www.eastcoastarmory.com/tigerII_ ... gtiger.htm

I also made a youtube video of the engine model.

[Mike Stannard (toyrific)]

John

A fantastic build, congratulations, I can imagine how much research, time and effort you put into creating this work of art. My take on the color of parts is they would likely come direct from the factory in natural metal, considering the heat generated by the engine, as most engines were in that time period. Painting of the engine may have been done after the tanks were in the hands of the units, but remember heat resistant paint would be required or it would simply burn off. I do remember my first car, a 1949 Morris 8 that I paid 17 Pounds and 10 Shillings for in 1962, it had a black shiny rocker cover which had some sort of acrylic coating, I doubt they would have gone to this extent on a war time military vehicle. My 2 cents worth.

Mike

[John Grima]

Thanks Mike, from my experience I have seen the opposite. About three years ago My father purchased an old 1947 Cletrac bulldozer. Before we restored it The dozer and engine was still in it's original paint. The only parts that were heavily weathered / cooked were the exhaust manifold system.

Even after the restoration I can say that the only parts that the paint will burn off of is the exhausts manifold and exhaust stacks. Parts like the engine block, rocker arm covers, starter...etc keep their color very well.

The only time parts on the engine would have different colors is when they were replaced with NOS parts.

I doubt that they were painted exclusively in the field because the images from the manual show the factory fresh engine in a fresh coat of professionally applied paint.

As for painting these kits, both versions are accurate, just depends on what you are representing or personal taste.

[Kent Wiik]

John and Mike,

I love interesting and constructive discussions like this.

Mike, no engines left factory with all paint needed applied and no need for any "in field Picasso" to spend man hours here...

Here is a photo how Auto Union AG had their Maybach HL 230 as seen here today in one of their engines in their Museum.
Auto Union made half of a total number of about 9000 Maybach HL 230 made during the war.



Regarding WW2 photos of in field installed Maybach here is another:



And regarding Maybach manual here is another photo:



And last, a photo taken just after the war ended from the MNH Panther production.
Please note the line of factory fresh Maybach HL 230:



Kind regards and a Happy New Year.
/Kent

[Steve Norris]

Kent,John,Mike.
Could it be that the different finishes on the engines are a result of different manufacturers or perhaps even overhaul as original wartime photos clearly show both types of finish.
Great product and subject
Regards
Steve