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Any Opel Blitz 4x4 in 1:35 out there?
165thspc
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Posted: Wednesday, May 25, 2016 - 02:38 AM UTC
Some detail photos providing more info on the rebuilding of the Blitz front bumper for the 4x4 Opel truck.



11Bravo_C2
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Posted: Wednesday, May 25, 2016 - 09:02 AM UTC
WOW!! Thanks Frenchy and Michael. The reference photos are great.

I just received the Plus Models Opel Blitz 156 kit and i'm a bit disappointed. The casting quality could be better on the tires/wheels. Several of the six wheel have "separation" between the wheel and tire. Also have voids from air trapped in the resin.

All fixable, I think.

4 of the six tires have similar issues as these





Frenchy
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Posted: Wednesday, May 25, 2016 - 11:52 AM UTC
IMHO if you're not on a budget, I guess you should replace these wheels with better aftermarket ones (Hussar, LeadWarrior...).

H.P.
165thspc
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Posted: Wednesday, May 25, 2016 - 03:52 PM UTC
I doubt these faults will ever show after some clean up, painting and weathering but still a disappointment. I too would shop the AM offerings out there.
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Wednesday, May 25, 2016 - 06:02 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Ivan - Plus Models makes both a Blitz 4x4 ambulance as a full kit and a 4x4 conversion kit that will work on just about any Blitz or Mercedes model out there. The kits may be a bit hard to find but they are out there!

I too was bitten several years ago by the need for a 4x4 Opel Blitz truck. Do not know why the hobby industry has been so remiss in providing a cure for this problem.


Hi, Mike! Probably for the same lame reasons why they continue to ignore the Dodge WC-54 Ambulance, (C'MON ALREADY, AFV CLUB!!!), and totally new kits of the M3/M3A1 Stuart/Honey, M3 Lee/Grant, M8 HMC (75mm Howitzer, Mack No 7 (Your Scratch-built/Kit-Bash model of the No 7 is SUPERB!), M46, M47, and various Autocar, FWD, American-La France Soft-skins!!!
11Bravo_C2
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Posted: Wednesday, May 25, 2016 - 06:54 PM UTC

Quoted Text

IMHO if you're not on a budget, I guess you should replace these wheels with better aftermarket ones (Hussar, LeadWarrior...).

H.P.


Thanks for the resource!!
11Bravo_C2
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Posted: Wednesday, May 25, 2016 - 07:07 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I doubt these faults will ever show after some clean up, painting and weathering but still a disappointment. I too would shop the AM offerings out there.


Hi Mike,

I agree, a little cleanup and some well place fine milliput can correct most the issues, but I'll never reclaim the extra time spent on corrections. Oh well, "Stuff" happens...

165thspc
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Posted: Thursday, May 26, 2016 - 06:00 PM UTC
Ivan you spoke of casting problems with the tires how about the cab and transfer case? How did they come out? Does Plus Models give you a full cab or just the portion in front of the firewall?

Photos please, if you don't mind.
11Bravo_C2
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Posted: Thursday, May 26, 2016 - 06:54 PM UTC
Mike,

The kit consist of the following:

1. 6 wheel/tires
2. 2 axles
3. 2 leaf spring
4. Leaf Spring shackles
5. Transfer case
6. Drive shafts
7. Bumper
8. Front fenders/engine side cover (don't know actual name for them)
9. Tie rods/cross tube (in one piece)


165thspc
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Posted: Thursday, May 26, 2016 - 07:13 PM UTC
Outstanding - thank you.

One final question: How do the Plus Models instructions have you locate the proper attachment points for the front axle and spring mountings? Given that these sit further to the rear on the Opel frame than the 2x4 front axle?

(Just interested as to how PM addresses these requirements. It took me some effort to answer these questions based on the research I had to do.)
11Bravo_C2
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Posted: Thursday, May 26, 2016 - 07:38 PM UTC
With a very tiny instruction sheet

11Bravo_C2
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Posted: Thursday, May 26, 2016 - 07:49 PM UTC
Also there is some PE in the kit. No clue what it is..

Frenchy
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Posted: Thursday, May 26, 2016 - 08:38 PM UTC
I guess the PE parts are the "M1" and "M1a" parts featured on the instruction sheet (in the largest circle )
They look to be mounting points for the rear leaf spring suspension.

H.P.
165thspc
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Posted: Thursday, May 26, 2016 - 10:21 PM UTC
Believe me this is just a guess as much as it is anything.



Based on the instruction sheet drawing it looks to me to be some form of gusset plate that mounts to the top of the frame member and sits right over each rear spring shackle hanger for extra strength.

You may note that PM has included the rear booster leaf springs in this conversion kit. The booster springs raise the official load rating on any Blitz (two or four wheel drive) from 3 tons to 4 tons but I guess for the 4x4 the German designers felt they needed even more reinforcement.
165thspc
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Posted: Thursday, May 26, 2016 - 11:28 PM UTC
Don't know if this helps to answer any of these many questions but I ran the Instruction Sheet image through Gimp to boost the contrast.

165thspc
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Posted: Thursday, May 26, 2016 - 11:34 PM UTC
BINGO!

Those PE pieces are the travel stops that engage the ends of the over limit booster springs. This type of booster spring is anchored only in the middle to the main spring and contacts these stops only when the vehicle is overloaded and the main springs bend upward. Then the boosters contact these stops and start carrying part of the load.


Photo for discussion purposes only.
Frenchy
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Posted: Friday, May 27, 2016 - 12:20 AM UTC
There's a view of one of these stops in the Opel Blitz walkaround I've already mentionned :

http://www.fahrzeuge-der-wehrmacht.de/Bilder/Opel_Blitz_6700A_Kr_18-1.jpg

H.P.
165thspc
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Posted: Friday, May 27, 2016 - 12:29 AM UTC
YES! Frenchy that is the shape I am used to seeing. The one offered here by Plus Models is a bit of a mystery to me.
11Bravo_C2
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Posted: Friday, May 27, 2016 - 05:59 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Don't know if this helps to answer any of these many questions but I ran the Instruction Sheet image through Gimp to boost the contrast.


Really boosted.

11Bravo_C2
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Posted: Friday, May 27, 2016 - 08:13 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Don't know if this helps to answer any of these many questions but I ran the Instruction Sheet image through Gimp to boost the contrast.


Really boosted.

http://www.plusmodel.cz/press/?show=156
165thspc
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Posted: Friday, May 27, 2016 - 08:28 AM UTC
Beautiful set of photos there that Plus Models provides.
JPTRR
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RAILROAD MODELING
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Posted: Friday, May 27, 2016 - 06:36 PM UTC
Great thread this post is! I just unpacked my old Italeri Blitz from its 26 year moving box exile, and have started fixing the ol' girl up. I built it back when I used tube glue and cemented parts to painted surfaces, so at least some pieces are coming off without breaking.
165thspc
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Posted: Saturday, May 28, 2016 - 11:25 AM UTC
Hope you're into four wheel'n!

I think the proportions of the 4x4 Blitz look so much better than just the regular blitz!
165thspc
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Posted: Sunday, May 29, 2016 - 01:31 AM UTC
OK, I admit this is a little off topic as in 4x6 Blitz rather than 4x4.

Just like my many CCKW conversions, my Blitz conversions leave me with many unused parts, so as we all know; idle hands and all that . . .

I even came up with a bogus justification story about Opel building a one off 4x6 for the 1938 Berlin Auto Show using as many standard Opel parts as possible. However the truth is I thought of it and then had to do it. First the idea of the 4x6 and then the crew cab to go with it.



165thspc
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Posted: Sunday, May 29, 2016 - 01:36 AM UTC


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