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MiniArt: WWII German Rocket Launcher
tatbaqui
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Posted: Thursday, May 17, 2018 - 02:01 PM UTC


No tracked vehicle this time as MiniArt fires away with a German mobile rocket launcher with options for either a high-explosive or an inciendiary type of ammunition.

Read the Full News Story

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
spongya
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Posted: Thursday, May 17, 2018 - 07:30 PM UTC
This looks awesome. And weird.
RobinNilsson
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Posted: Thursday, May 17, 2018 - 07:54 PM UTC
Does anybody know if that gun barrel was decommisioned completely or if it still could be used to fire ordinary shells?
/ Robin
brekinapez
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Posted: Thursday, May 17, 2018 - 08:11 PM UTC
I'll take one.
m4sherman
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Posted: Thursday, May 17, 2018 - 08:27 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Does anybody know if that gun barrel was decommisioned completely or if it still could be used to fire ordinary shells?
/ Robin



Not much to google on this, but it looks like the frames to hold the rockets are attached to the gun tube. It would be interesting to know more about this thing.
Frenchy
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Posted: Thursday, May 17, 2018 - 08:35 PM UTC
I guess the T-shaped "thing" located (welded ?) just behind the breech would make firing the gun quite complicated

Talking about the gun, any ID ?
H.P.
RobinNilsson
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Posted: Thursday, May 17, 2018 - 09:31 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I guess the T-shaped "thing" located (welded ?) just behind the breech would make firing the gun quite complicated

Talking about the gun, any ID ?
H.P.






Looks similar (cutouts in the wheels) and Miniart already have the moulds ...

or the German packaging ...




/ Robin
johhar
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Posted: Thursday, May 17, 2018 - 10:01 PM UTC
Just a guess but the T-shaped thing could be a weight to offset the weight of the rockets. Seems like they could have made a frame to hold two rocket frames without sacrificing a gun if they wanted to, so, another guess, the gun was still usable.
azadro
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Posted: Thursday, May 17, 2018 - 10:48 PM UTC
I also noticed that the rocket crates are metal in the photo not wood...
and mini art is wood.....
m4sherman
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Posted: Thursday, May 17, 2018 - 11:00 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

I guess the T-shaped "thing" located (welded ?) just behind the breech would make firing the gun quite complicated

Talking about the gun, any ID ?
H.P.







Looks similar (cutouts in the wheels) and Miniart already have the moulds ...

or the German packaging ...





/ Robin



Robin, your pictures aren't showing up on my computer. But I think you are showing the captured 76mm Soviet gun?

7.62cm FK 39(r) GERMAN FIELD GUN

That kit matches the sprues in the rocket kit. If that is the base gun then it cannot be fired. The barrel is cut down and/or plugged. Seems like a lot of trouble for a 2 rocket weapon.

In the picture showing the GI examining the weapon the back loaded rocket has a wood box, but it looks like the front rocket has a metal box.
brekinapez
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Posted: Thursday, May 17, 2018 - 11:04 PM UTC
Perhaps they used damaged guns so they would already have the limber portion, and not waste material building all-new ones?
Frenchy
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Posted: Thursday, May 17, 2018 - 11:29 PM UTC
Thanks for the gun ID guys !

H.P.
RobinNilsson
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Posted: Thursday, May 17, 2018 - 11:39 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text


Quoted Text

I guess the T-shaped "thing" located (welded ?) just behind the breech would make firing the gun quite complicated

Talking about the gun, any ID ?
H.P.







Looks similar (cutouts in the wheels) and Miniart already have the moulds ...

or the German packaging ...





/ Robin



Robin, your pictures aren't showing up on my computer. But I think you are showing the captured 76mm Soviet gun?

7.62cm FK 39(r) GERMAN FIELD GUN

That kit matches the sprues in the rocket kit. If that is the base gun then it cannot be fired. The barrel is cut down and/or plugged. Seems like a lot of trouble for a 2 rocket weapon.

In the picture showing the GI examining the weapon the back loaded rocket has a wood box, but it looks like the front rocket has a metal box.



I noticed that the images didn't want to show up so I replaced them with others, less attractive ones
m4sherman
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Posted: Thursday, May 17, 2018 - 11:57 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Perhaps they used damaged guns so they would already have the limber portion, and not waste material building all-new ones?



That would make sense. But why use the gun tube? Counter balance the rockets?
RobinNilsson
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Posted: Friday, May 18, 2018 - 12:07 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Perhaps they used damaged guns so they would already have the limber portion, and not waste material building all-new ones?



That would make sense. But why use the gun tube? Counter balance the rockets?



Keep the wheels and trails, elevating and training mechanics, skip the shield since it interferes with the rocket crates and/or the backblast from the rockets.

Hmmm... what can we use to attach the rocket crates to the elevating mechanism? Reuse the gun cradle and part of the barrel or build something completely new?
I think I would have reused as much as possible. With the front end of the gun sawn off it would compensate a little for the added weight of the rockets and crates.
Add counterweight to get a more neutral balance for the elevating mechanism.

I wonder why the didn't remove the recoil cylinder or whatever that extra tube above the barrel is?
/ Robin
joepanzer
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Posted: Friday, May 18, 2018 - 01:49 AM UTC
Never look down the barrel of a weapon there, lieutenant
maartenboersma
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Posted: Friday, May 18, 2018 - 02:09 AM UTC
I like it ,
RobinNilsson
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Posted: Friday, May 18, 2018 - 02:21 AM UTC
Nice find Maarten!
/ Robin
m4sherman
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Posted: Friday, May 18, 2018 - 02:29 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I like it ,



Thanks for the pictures. Does Rube Goldberg device come to mind?

So it looks like the rocket frame is attached to the frame for the recoil cylinder not the gun. However, the recoil cylinder does not look like it is attached to the gun breach, and that metal cylinder looks like it was welded to the recoil guard.

A real Frankenstein, I like it.
obg153
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Posted: Friday, May 18, 2018 - 08:27 PM UTC
Interesting examples of how the Wehrmacht used whatever was on hand to deliver some measure of defensive firepower. However, think I'll wait and see if MiniArt takes the next step and gives us a new six-barreled Nebelwerfer.
Taeuss
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Posted: Friday, May 18, 2018 - 11:35 PM UTC
What an interesting piece of improvised gear! I've never even seen photos of the German two-rocket launcher pictured here. At least it was a light and easy load to tow and deploy. The Nebelwerfer has already been more than adequately covered by another kit manufacturer whose name I can't remember just now that included optional brass barrels, over-priced rockets etc. But hey, why not Miniart seems to always have the right instincts on this and maybe there's room.
RobinNilsson
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Posted: Saturday, May 19, 2018 - 02:55 AM UTC


&



Italeri also did the 150 mm one ....

Esci (moulds used by Italeri?)


/ Robin
m4sherman
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Posted: Saturday, May 19, 2018 - 04:54 AM UTC
Did Italeri make their own, or use the ESCI one? I had the ESCI kit many, many years ago.

WOW! That Lion Roar kit looks interesting.
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