Hi All,

I'm new here and so I'd like to say hello, and also ask a question if I may? I have just bought the 1:35 Dragon Sd.Kfz.250/1, and I'd like to finish it as a machine from "3/pz.aufkl.btl, 2 pz.div", marked "black 312", based in France in 1944.

Please forgive my dumb questions, but here goes:

- Was the above unit a Wehrmacht or an SS unit? I believe both the 2nd Panzer Division and 2nd SS ('Das Reich') were in Normandy at the same time period?

- Did this vehicle carry a number plate? I see some versions from other units had plates (either WH or SS ones), but nothing is specified for this one?

-Does anybody know if there is a photo of this particular vehicle anywhere?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Kind regards,
Vierville

That would be a Heer unit, not SS.
That's my only answer.

Thank you so much! I feel embarrassed by my lack of knowledge on the subject of armour- this is my very first armour build ever.

Hi.
I've got a link for you. As from page 7 series 250 for Sd.Kfz starts. Rest of the blueprints might also be interesting, when building German AFV.
Why don't you join the 250/251 campaign. It is fun to build together with other enthousiasts.
Personaly I'm learning everyday from the experts arround. I'm a modeler, but my knowledge of AFV???

This helps.

http://www.the-blueprints.com/blueprints/tanks/ww2-tanks-germany-2/page/7/

Regards,

Robert Jan

Some more:
http://www.pietvanhees.nl/251/
http://www.sdkfz251.com/index.html

Cheers,

RJ

No reason to feel embarrassed.

Thank you! Those profiles are very nice and should certainly come in handy!

I found a pic of a 250, which is probably marked with a 312, but according to the site it´s from it´s a 250 "neue Art" (meaning just "new version"), but from the 12th SS... I´m not shure which kit you´ve got, so maybe we can get something out if we know more about that.


sorry wrong pic... this is certainly from an reanctment...

here is the right one:



some additional info about the pic here: http://www.network54.com/Forum/47207/thread/1201000932/1201157265/12.+SS+Markings+of+250-1+Neue+Art+in+Normandy

concerning the Plates on the vehicle, as the 2. PD comes from the area of Würzburg, they belonged to the Wehrkreis XIII Nürnberg, which means they should have plates counting up from WH 130.000 til WH 139.999... until you can find a pic to prove you wrong, it´s your all choice


Hope to see you in the Group build...

Hi Mike ..welcome to the site and to the great world of armor modelling .. The Dragon 250 kit is not the easiest kit to start with but take your time and you'll be fine..
The group build might be a great idea to start..
Have fun!

Rick

Thanks guys! Fabian D- the last photo you posted is the EXACT machine! It is exactly the same as the box art on the model, even down to the graffiti in the background on the wall. All I know is that Dragon says it is an Sd. Kfz. 250/1 Neu from 3/Pz Aufkl. btl, 2 Pz. Div based in France in 1944. So it was definitely from the 2nd Panzer Division according to them.

Was it sometimes possible for there to be NO number plate displayed on some units? And if it was from the 12th SS, could you maybe suggest what numberplate range they would have had?

Any other pics of this machine would be GREATLY appreciated!

I'm trying to post a picture of the box art but can't seem to find how to!

It seems that the picture has been taken in Orbec (Calvados), about 15km South from Lisieux :

http://pochefalaise.forumpro.fr/t435-photo-de-la-retraite-allemand-a-orbec

H.P.

Merci beaucoup Henri-Pierre! That link is excellent and I really appreciate it!

as always, Frenchy comes up with exactly what you need

all my wisdom about number plates is comming from here: http://wiki-de.genealogy.net/KFZ_Kennzeichen_der_Deutschen_Wehrmacht#Heer

and to be honest... no clue... I guess the data simply isn´t complete...

A vehicle without registration isn´t too likely as at least while speaking of the the two Divisions inquestion, as both had a quite easy job before June 6th... late plates were Painted on, so no possibiliy that they could get lost somehow...

oh, and you can post pics quite easy, just load them up somewhere else, and copy the link, use [ img ] link [ /img ] (without the spaces) any you´re done

You're welcome

This one is a bit clearer :



On a side note, those you can see here :

http://www.dday-overlord.com/photos_bataille_normandie_orne_saint_aubin_d_appenai.htm

belong to the Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2, 2nd Panzerdivision as well...

H.P.

What's that device hanging off the side?

That would be broken branches and leaves to provide camouflage.Not sure what use they would be driving through a town centre as part of an armoured column in a hasty retreat...

I think biggles is referring to the coat hanger shaped thing above the tracks.....I wondered about that too...Some kind of step maybe?

I guess it's a foot step, similar (but not the same) to the one fitted to this restored 250 :



from here : http://www.militarymodelling.com/news/article/sdkfz-250-photo-reference/5145/

It was probably a field mod. There's another variant in this picture :

http://www.dday-overlord.com/img/archives/orne/saint_aubin_d_appenai/03_saint_aubin_d_appenai_1944.jpg

H.P.

http://www.dday-overlord.com/img/archives/orne/saint_aubin_d_appenai/03_saint_aubin_d_appenai_1944.jpg
In this pic are the stowage compartments pushed in from the impact of what is probably .50 gun fire?