Ok................the SdKfz 251 project will go on hold til' I get some more reference material.

I have some blurred shots of a couple of late PzKpfw IV's (probably Ausf J but maybe Ausf H) that have heavy gauge woven wire schurzen called 'Thomo' or somthing similar.

Does anyone know the corredt name for this?

Does any one know if the wire went from the top of the shurzen to the edge of the hull (It's hard to make out!

What AM stuff is there for this?
Or
Does anyone know of a good replacement for this? (must show the weave of the wire not a flat plate with holes in)???

I notice that the schurzen round the turret is the normal plate skirt, was there any reason for using the two different type on the same vehicle or was it the Germans just trying to make the extra protection more affordable in the shortages that occured later in thr war??

As always, any hints and tips are appreciated.

Cheers

Scott.

From my reading it was to conserve material and it was shaped exactly like the solid style of shurzen. I do believe that eduards make a pe set of this type or maybe it's aber. But I'm not sure if this was wire mesh of just purferated plate.

mkctanker

The photos I have suggest that the shields were made out of 3 side paltes not including the small front plate. instead of the 4 or 5 plates of the normal schurzen, but of course you could be right McTanker.

Well what I should have said was I've only seen line drawing or color plates of this and it did not appear that there was any sectioning of the shurzen. It appeared to be one big piece but its hard to tell by these pictures. Sorry couldn't have been more help but I think DML put out a late J with this shurzen, I don't think it's in production now thou.

mkctanker

Yep DML has one J with mesh Schtuzens.... You can still find it here and there...but it's rare now....

I was watching a show the other day that described this type of schurzen. IIRC, the Germans just used wire mesh. It was a lot cheaper than heavy 5mm thick metal plate and was just as effective at preventing hollow charge rounds from penetrating the main armour of the tank.

Nic

Hi,

At PANZER DIESEL you have some info and pics Thomaschild (wire mesh skirts) with some details about them.

HTH