Hi!

I'm building the AFV 35083 kit ... it the sprues there is the radio but the instructions does not specify where in the interior ir should be located, anybody knows where it should go?

If anyone has pictures of the interior of this 251 version that wants to share will be more than welcome

Thanks in advance for any help!

Ruqui,

I have a couple of interior shots downloaded from the internet some years ago from a site no longer in existence. Unfortunately, although they show the gun mounting well, they don't show the radio! However the accompanying text states that the commanders position in front next to the driver was eliminated, due to the fact the only exit was under the gun mount. The radio was repositioned on the left hull side (as you look forward). It doesn't specify exactly where, but must be quite well back so as not to obstruct serving the gun. At the same time the radio aerial was also moved to the left hull side.

Thanks for the information ... in the building instructions the radio aerial is positioned to the right but if the radio has moved then it makes sense to move it as well.

So there's no pictures of the interior of this version? I really don't like to invent a position for the radio myself

While I have yet to see a photograpoh that actually shows the radio in the /22, Panzer Tracts 15-3 (my starting point for any queries on the 251 C or D from 1943 onwards) does contain a couple of photos and a Doyle plan. What they show is the Versuchs example (converted) having the antenna on the left just behind the cab/body join, the plan (two front vision ports) with it on the right in same place and two shots of a production one (blanking plate over RHS front port) with antenna on right. The radio is not actually visible but based on what is visible, I'd say that it is actually forward of the gun shield as I can't see it behind and I;m not sure why it would be placed further from the antenna than necessary.

The book is v good value at a mere US$27 and I'd highly recommend it if you plan on making any other 251 C or D models. 15-2 covers the A to C up to 1942 and is also good.

Sorry Robert, I can't agree with this. If the radio set were forward of the gun shield, it would be right where the driver's left shoulder is. The Sdkfz251 is not the easiest vehicle to drive anyway, due to the inverted steering wheel and the generally cramped driving compartment, with a radio in there too it would be impossible. However I notice that the Sdkfz251/9 with the short 75 has the radio precisely where I would expect it to be on the /22, i.e. about halfway back on the left side of the hull looking forward from the stern. Given that the Pak 40 gunner is on the left, and the gun is loaded from the right (where the ammunition storage must also be, so the loader doesn't have to reach across the recoiling breach to gain access to "ready use" ammo), this is a logical location .

However, on reflection, I'm willing to accept it could also be positioned similarly on the right. This would allow the loader to double as radio operator. The reasoning for the remote location of the radio relative to the aerial would be that the aerial location hadn't moved from standard, whereas the set would have to fitted wherever it could be. Does this make sense?

Here's a related thread :

http://www.network54.com/Forum/47207/thread/1021130168/The+same+problem+again---------

H.P.

Hmm. Thanks for the link Frenchy.
I've read through all this and their assessment is that the radio was fitted in the usual location, to the right of the driver. I'm not convinced.
Back to my photos again, I wish the website was still available, I could give you a link, however it isn't, I've tried; and I'm afraid I'm not in a position to upload them at the moment, so I'll try to describe what I see. In the clearest photo, you can see the tachometer quite clearly, and the back of the driver's seat, but no evidence of a commanders seat. To the right of the gun mounting extending forward is a locker containing 17 rounds of 75mm ammo. Piled on the location of the gunner's seat, is a pile of 75mm rounds in their cylindrical cases. These may be obscuring the location of the radio frame. The same series of photos shows a radio frame mounted low down behind the drivers seat on a 251/9 - this could be the location on the 251/22. The photos are all taken from vehicles in the Patton museum collection. I suspect these may be the photos in Panzer Tracts, but I don't possess the book so don't know for sure.
While I'm sure there is still plenty of room for the radio in the usual location, I don't know how you could tune it or use it if it's stuck under the gun mount. It looks as though the 17 round bin projects forward into the space for the commander. What does the kit do about the commanders station?

Thank you all for the posts, unfortunately, I still don't know where the radio location should be

I've found some good pictures on this post: http://planetarmor.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2833 but still they don't show any radio there.

Can't find the post or reference now, but I had read about it being placed in the extreme left or right rear as it was the only place out of the way. The internal stowage bin was removed for the radio mounting.

Ruqui,

Yes those are the photos alright! As you can see they don't show the radio location. However the pile of rounds could be hiding it. And if Russ is right, those photos are too far forward to show the radio location. In the absence of any clear evidence other wise, I'd say put it where seems most logical to you.