DONE +++ 1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu), Deutsche Bundeswehr, mid-Fifties

[Dizzyfugu]

I just put this project post up quite early, because it will follow the Scottish Gripen. What if some SdKfz. 234/2 ("Puma" 8x8 armored scout car) had survived and would be modernized for use with the nascent West-German Bundeswehr in the Fifties? The vehicle was a very good design, and some updates will be made, e. g. more modern wheels and armament. Curious how the mix of old and new elements (basis: 1:72 Hasegawa kit) will turn out! 

[loupgarou]

Well, someone could say that the Bundeswehr has already done it. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sp%C3%A4hpanzer_Luchs

[NARSES2]

I've fond memories of the old Airfix kit, which I know was inaccurate, but I didn't have to ask my mum to sew those awful tracks together  Just looked neat and I see they are re-releasing it as well.

A missile armed one with big SS 11's ? would be neat.

[Dizzyfugu]

Well, someone could say that the Bundeswehr has already done it. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sp%C3%A4hpanzer_Luchs

Yeah, but the Luchs came much, much later in the Seventies. My build could be the logical history gap filler. 

[Dizzyfugu]

After having finished the Scottish Gripen I immediately started with this one. Since I had all parts at hand and no major surgery was involved, I finished the build in the course of yesterday evening and even did painting (rattle can) already this morning!

[Dizzyfugu]

Painting finished and added a coat of matt varnish this morning.

[Dizzyfugu]

Build finished, now for some pics.

[Dizzyfugu]

Here we go:


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr



Some background:
Following World War II the Allies dissolved the Wehrmacht with all its branches on 20 August 1946. However, already one year after the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany in May 1949 and because of its increasing links with the West, the Consultative Assembly of Europe began to consider the formation of a European Defence Community with German participation on 11 August 1950.

By March 1954, plans for a new German army had become concrete and foresaw the formation of six infantry, four armored, and two mechanized infantry divisions, as the German contribution to the defense of Western Europe in the framework of a European Defence Community. Following a decision at the London Nine Power Conference of 28 September to 3 October 1954, Germany's entry into NATO effective from 9 May 1955 was accepted as a replacement for the failed European Defence Community plan.

The official founding date of the German army was 12 November 1955 when the first soldiers began their service in Andernach, even though preparations began earlier. In 1956, the first troops set up seven training companies in Andernach and began the formation of schools and training centers. On 1 April 1957, the first conscripts arrived for service in the army. The first military organisations created were instructional battalions, officer schools, and the Army Academy, the forerunner to the Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr in Hamburg. In total twelve armored and infantry divisions were to be established by 1959, as planned in Army Structure I. To achieve this goal, existing units were split approximately every six months. However, the creation of all twelve divisions did not take place until 1965. At the end of 1958 the strength of the army was about 100,000 men.


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Concerning vehicles, the German army was equipped at first with American material, such as the M47 Patton main battle tank or M7 Priest SPGs. Lighter vehicles, like the "Schützenpanzer Kurz 11-2" family or the "Schützenpanzer Lang HS-30" AFV, were developed and/or produced with foreign support. Additionally, also as a measure to bring the German industry back into business and to fill equipment gaps, some leftover vehicles from WWII were modernized and put back into service. One of these vehicles was the so-called "Spähpanzer Puma (Neu)", an update of the highly successful SdKfz. 234/2 8x8 heavy reconnaissance vehicle, one of the best armored scout vehicles during WWII.

Germany had a long and successful history of heavy 8x8 scout cars, starting with the SdKfz. 231 in the Thirties. The Sd.Kfz. 234 was the final development of this vehicle family that actually made it into service. For its time, the Sd.Kfz. 234 incorporated several innovative features, including a monocoque chassis (instead of a classic frame with a hull mounted on top), an independent suspension on each wheel and an air-cooled Tatra 103 diesel engine (at the time of the vehicle's design all German armored vehicles were powered by gasoline engines) with a net power of 220 hp@2,250 rpm and a very good power-to-weight ratio of 21 hp/ton. This engine gave also the vehicle an extraordinary range of more than 600 miles (1.000 km). The reason behind this was that the SdKfz. 234 was originally intended for use in North Africa, but it came into service in late 1942 and was therefore too late for this theatre of operations. Furthermore, the vehicle featured eight-wheel steering and drive and was able to change direction quickly thanks to a second, rear-facing, driver's seat. Despite its late service introduction, the SdKfz. 234 nevertheless proved useful on the Eastern and Western Fronts. It was quite formidable, commonly used in pairs, one equipped with a long-range radio communications kit while the other possessed only a short-range radio.


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


A small number of SdKfz. 234s survived the wartime on German soil and had been stashed away as a reserve. Their reactivation for the nascent Bundeswehr in the Fifties covered the replacement of the outdated Tatra engine, for which no spare parts were available anymore, with an air-cooled, supercharged Magirus-Deutz V8 Diesel engine. It had less power (125 kW/180 hp) than the former Tatra V12, but was more reliable and offered more torque and an even better mileage. Furthermore, this was basically a standard engine that was widely used in civil lorries and many other military vehicles of the time, including those operated by the West-German Bundesheer, too. Thanks to the smaller size of the new engine, sound-damping materials could be added and the exhaust system was optimized, so that the vehicle's noise level was considerably reduced. The additional internal space was also used for two communication kits: a short-range radio was installed in the new turret (see below), while a long-range radio kit was placed into the hull, next to the rear driver.
The suspension was modernized and beefed up, too, with heavy duty shock absorbers, wider wheels and a pressure control system, so that ground pressure could be reduced by the crew from the inside of the vehicle for an adaptable, improved on- and off-road performance. The SdKfz. 234's crew of four in its former positions was retained, including the second, backwards-facing steering wheel for the radio operator.

Since the West German SdKfz. 234 survivor fleet consisted of different body variants (mostly with open hulls and just two former SdKfz. 234/2s with a closed turret) and vehicles in various states of completion, hull and the armament were unified for the Puma (Neu): all revamped vehicles received a newly developed, welded two-man turret with a low profile. The commander on the left side did not have a cupola, but his position was slightly raised and no less than seven mirrors plus a forward-facing infrared sight for night operations allowed a very good field of view. Both crewmen in the hull also received additional three mirrors above their workstations for a better field of view while driving.


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Main weapon of the Puma (Neu) became a 20 mm Rheinmetall MK 20 Rh202 autocannon, a license-built Hispano-Suiza 820 L/85, together with a co-axial 7.62 mm MG42/57 light machine gun. The MK 20 was a common anti-aircraft weapon at the time and mounted to other Bundeswehr vehicles like the HS-30 AFV, too. It could fire HE and AP rounds at 800–1000 RPM, making it efficient against lightly armored vehicles (25-30 mm of armor) at up to 1,500 m range, with a maximum range of 2,000 m. 750 rounds of 20 mm ammunition were carried, even though ammunition feed had to be changed manually. The weapons were not stabilized, but they had a 15x15 periscopic sight and could be elevated between -5° and + 75°, so that it could be aimed at both ground and air targets. Three additional smoke grenade launchers per turret side were provided for tactical and emergency concealment.

Only a small number (40 plus two prototypes) of Spähpanzer Puma (Neu) were eventually converted or re-build from spares, but they became in 1957 the launch equipment of the Bundeswehr's armored reconnaissance brigades, together with M8 Greyhound scout cars donated by the USA, even though the latter were soon complemented and replaced by tracked vehicles, based on the Schützenpanzer Kurz. However, due to their high road speed and excellent range, the Puma (Neu) scout cars were popular and remained in service until the late Seventies, when a new generation of 8x8 reconnaissance vehicles in the form of the amphibious Spähpanzer Luchs was introduced and replaced all 1st generation Bundeswehr vehicles.



Specifications:
    Crew: Four (commander, gunner, driver, radio operator/2nd driver)
    Weight: 10.500 kg (23,148 lbs)
    Length: 6.02 m (19 ft 9 in)
    Width: 2.36 m (7 ft 9 in)
    Height: 2.84 metres (9 ft 4 in)
    Suspension: Independent on each wheel, with leaf springs
    Track width: 1.95 m (6 ft 4 1/2 in)
    Wading depth: 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in)   
    Trench crossing capability: 2m (6 ft 6 1/2 in)
    Ground clearance: 350 mm (13 3/4 in)
    Climbing capability: 30°
    Fuel capacity: 240 l

Armor:
    9-30 mm (.35-1.18 in) steel armor

Performance:
    Maximum road speed: 80 km/h (49 mph)
    Operational range: 800 km (500 mi)
    Fuel consumption: 30 l/100 km on roads, 45 l/100 km off-road
    Power/weight: 17 PS/t

Engine:
    Air-cooled, supercharged 10,622 cc (648³ in) Magirus-Deutz F8L 614K V8 diesel engine,
    with 132 kW (180 hp) output at 2.500 RPM

Transmission:
    Büssing-NAG "GS" with 6 forward and reverse gears, eight-wheel drive

Armament:
    1× 20 mm (0.79 in) Rheinmetall (Hispano-Suiza) MK 20 Rh202 autocannon with 750 rounds
    1× co-axial 7.62 mm MG42/57 light machine gun 2.000 rounds


The kit and its assembly:
This German 8x8 vehicle is a contribution to the "Back into service" Group Build at whatifmodelers.com in late 2019. Beyond aircraft I also thought about (armored) vehicles that could fit into this theme, and the SdKfz. 234/2 "Puma" (even though this popular name was never official!) came to my mind, because it was a very effective vehicle with many modern features for its time. So, what could a modernized Puma for the young Bundeswehr look like...?

The starting point became the very nice Hasegawa SdKfz. 234/2 kit, which did not – except for some PSR between the hull halves – pose any complications. I did not want to change too much for the Bundeswehr update, but new/wider wheels and a new, more modern turret with a light post-war weapon appeared sensible.


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The wheels come from a ModelTrans aftermarket resin set for the LAV-25 – they are quite modern, but they do not look out of place. Their different, more solid style as well as the slightly bigger diameter and the wider tires change the Puma's look considerably. In order to mount them, I modified the suspension and cut away the former attachment point on the four axles, replacing them with thin, die-punched styrene discs. This reduced the track width far enough so that the new, wider wheels would fit under the original mudguards. It's a tight arrangement, but does not look implausible. The spare wheel, normally mounted to the vehicle's rear, was omitted.


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The turret was taken from a Revell "Luchs" Spähpanzer kit, but simplified so that it would have a more vintage look. For instance, the machine gun ring mount above the commander's hatch was omitted, as well as the rotating warning light and the modern smoke grenade dischargers. The latter were replaced by the WWII triple dischargers from the Hasegawa kit, for a more vintage look.
To my astonishment, the Luchs turret was easy to mate with the Puma chassis: its attachment ring diameter was almost identical! The new part could be attached almost without a problem or modification. I just added some reinforcements to the hull's flanks, since the Luchs turret is slightly wider than the SdKfz. 234/2's horseshoe-shaped turret. Beyond that, only small, cosmetic things were added, like mirror fairings for both drivers above their workstations, license plates at the front and the rear and antennae.


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Painting and markings:
Creating an early Bundeswehr vehicle is a simple task, because there is only one potential color option until the Eighties: a uniform livery in Gelboliv (RAL 6014). Due to the livery's simplicity, I used a rattle can to paint hull, turret and wheels separately.


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


After some detail painting, a very dark brown wash with acrylic paint and some post shading with Revell 42 (also Gelboliv, but a rather greenish and bright interpretation of the tone) as well as dry-brushing with Revell 46 and 45 along the many edges were used to weather the model and emphasize details. After decals had been applied (mostly from a Peddinghaus sheet for early Bundeswehr vehicles, plus some tactical markings from the Revell Luchs), the kit was sealed with matt acrylic varnish.

Once dry and completed, some artist pigments were added around the wheels and lower hull in order to simulate dust and dirt. On the lower chassis, some pigments were also "cluttered" onto small patches of the acrylic varnish, so that the stuff soaks it up, builds volume and becomes solid - the perfect simulation of dry mud crusts.




1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Spähpanzer Puma (Neu); vehicle "407", Panzer Aufklärungs Battallion 5, Deutsche Bundeswehr; Sontra (Hesse), 1959 (Whif/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


This was a very quick project – in fact, the model was completed in the course of just one evening, and painting it was a quick affair, too, lasting only another day. However, I like the result. The SdKfz. 234/2 already had a quite modern look in its original guise, but the new wheels and the Luchs turret change its look considerably, it really has an even more modern feel that fits well into the early Bundeswehr era.

[PR19_Kit]

Are you SURE that's a Whiff?

It looks far too real and the backstory sounds 100% truthful! 

[Dizzyfugu]

 

I like this one very much. It's a relatively simple conversion, but the result looks very convincing!

[zenrat]

 

[Weaver]

That's very credible.

IIRC, wern't Pumas made in Czechoslovakia too? That might be an additional source of salvage/spare parts/tooling.

I'm glad you've done this personally too, since I have a background setting in which post-war Czechoslovakia is a 'treaty neutral' (like Austria or Finland) rather than part of the Warsaw Pact and thus has to supply it's own hardware. This initially comes from whatever they were being forced to build for the Germans in 1945 and the Puma was one of the vehicles on the list for a bit of light post-war modification. It's therefore good to see that the 20mm turret sits so well on it.

[Dizzyfugu]

Yes, the turret from the Revell Luchs fits easily onto the Hasegawa Puma!

[NARSES2]

Are you SURE that's a Whiff?

It looks far too real and the backstory sounds 100% truthful! 

My thoughts exactly. It really does look right

[Nick]

That is excellent! It looks the part, the story fits, the whole thing is wonderful.