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Author Topic: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?  (Read 5057 times)

Marmoi

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Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« on: May 20, 2013, 11:57:48 am »

No it's a Landwasserschlepper (land water tractor)

Ordered by the Heereswaffenamt in 1935 for use by German Army engineers, the LandwasserschlepperLand-Water-Tractor was intended as a lightweight river Tugboatwith some capacity to operate on land.

The LWS was basically a motor tug built with tracks powered by a Maybach HL120 V12 engine, the LWS could achieve 35km/hr on road and 12km/hr in water with a total weight was 17 tons and accommodation for three crew and up to 20 soldiers.

The seven pre-production LWS vehicles were extensively tested for amphibious assault across the English Channel. Testing showed that they could only be used in calm in-shore waters and the lack of armour protection was also a concern. When Operation Sea Lion (the invasion of Great Britain) was cancelled early in 1941 the LWS project was also ended but the LWS did serve in Russia and was employed during river crossings.
 
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Marmoi

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Re: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« Reply #1 on: May 20, 2013, 12:02:25 pm »

By the autumn of 1940 three prototypes had been completed and were assigned to Tank Detachment 100 as part of Operation_Sea_Lion. It was intended to use them for pulling ashore unpowered assault barges during the invasion and for towing vehicles across the beaches. They would also have been used to carry supplies directly ashore during the six hours of falling tide when the barges were grounded. This involved towing a Kässbohrer amphibious trailer (capable of transporting 10-20 tons of freight) behind the LWS.

The Landwasserschlepper was demonstrated to General Franz Halder on 2 August 1940 by the Reinhardt Trials Staff on the island of Sylt and, though he was critical of its high silhouette on land, he recognized the overall usefulness of the design. It was proposed to build enough LWS’s that each invasion barge could be assigned one or two of them, but difficulties in mass-producing the vehicle prevented implementation of that plan.

Due to protracted development, the Landwasserschlepper did not enter regular service until 1942 and, though it proved useful in both Russia and North Africa, it was produced in only small numbers.

In 1944 a completely new design was introduced, the LWS II. This vehicle was based on a Panzer IV tank chassis and featured a small raised armoured driver's cabin and a flat rear deck with four fold-down intake and top mounted exhaust system.
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raflaunches

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Re: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« Reply #2 on: May 20, 2013, 12:05:56 pm »

Hi marmoi


I think that Dragon do a 1/35 scale kit of both prototypes, quite popular among the AFV modelling community. Would be interesting to see a larger working example though! :-))


Nick B
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Marmoi

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Re: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« Reply #3 on: May 20, 2013, 12:09:48 pm »

The prototype of the Mark II had problems in that the two rear air intakes were not sufficient so the improved production version had an extra two intakes added.
The Panzerfahre, as it was then known, had two methods of transportation, by towing or by means of a central platform with a Panzerfahre either side.
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Marmoi

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Re: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« Reply #4 on: May 20, 2013, 12:18:10 pm »

I had long been interested in this MKII version as it posed a few interesting questions.
1. Would it float as a working model?
2. How did that small propeller actually work on the back?
So with the weather so poor this winter and a Heng Long Panzer for Chassis coming up on ebay at Christmas, I thought why not have a go.
So after a few hours with a mass of plasti card and a 1/35th model of Panzerfahre the 1/16th version took shape. But 1/16th posed a problem in that the real vehicle was not welded but riveted together!  {:-{
Now being Christmas "the belly dancer" had just bought a pack of 1,000 nail art gems, which to my pleasure looked very good as rivets when painted. So I spend several night sticking rivets on one by one, until I had a very pretty LWS.
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Marmoi

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Re: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« Reply #5 on: May 20, 2013, 12:25:15 pm »

I filled the side buoyancy tanks with polystyrene beads (and split a large part of the remainder over the living room floor, the belly dancer was not happy, but it all made an instant snow globe in the Dyson).

Floatation tests showed that the idea was going to work, but I needed to get the centre of gravity down, so I purchased a set of die-cast metal road wheels which did the trick.

The tracks are propelled by the normal Heng Long motors and gear and another motor is added in the rear for the propeller. All are controlled by separate speed controllers which are then mixed on the radio to give me one stick control and the tracks/propeller can be switched in and out as I want.

Another diesel sound unit was added and tuned to give me the correct sound.
 
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raflaunches

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Re: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« Reply #6 on: May 20, 2013, 12:27:53 pm »

So that's what you've been upto, giving the G3 battlecruiser a rest for while then?
Looks fantastic :-))
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Nick B

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Marmoi

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Re: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« Reply #7 on: May 20, 2013, 12:28:39 pm »

To finish the model, I gave it the authentic colour scheme and then a good weathering on top.
 
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Marmoi

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Re: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« Reply #8 on: May 20, 2013, 12:30:22 pm »

G3 is definitely and outdoor during better weather project at the moment, but I have also been very busy on another modelling project - watch this space!
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Marmoi

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Re: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« Reply #9 on: May 20, 2013, 12:34:37 pm »

From the current sailing trials I have found;
1. The propeller needs spacing out further than the plastic kit as you just cannot get enough water behind it.
2. I need a bigger motor on the other end of the prop shaft.
3. The tracks are very affective in the water
Have a look at the video shot last week - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlfUiXCm9Ew
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Netleyned

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Re: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« Reply #10 on: May 20, 2013, 02:18:14 pm »

I like it  :-)) :-)) :-)) :-))

Ned
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Stavros

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Re: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« Reply #11 on: May 20, 2013, 11:01:07 pm »

Well that looks a lot better Now that it has been painted thna it did at Coalville show....and how do your club members now like it as you said they dissaproved as they thought it was a tank !!!!!
 
 
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Marmoi

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Re: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« Reply #12 on: May 21, 2013, 07:54:33 am »

I Think they are quite jealous now as I am the only one in the club with a boat that takes itself from the car to the water and then launches itself.  {-)
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eddiesolo

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Re: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« Reply #13 on: May 21, 2013, 10:37:00 am »

Superb sir! :-)) :-))  Great piccies and a top build, really like it.
 
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steve pickstock

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Re: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« Reply #14 on: May 21, 2013, 01:30:20 pm »

Are you going to build the trailer for with it?

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srcampb

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Re: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« Reply #15 on: May 22, 2013, 05:51:52 am »

How did you make the driveshafts to the track sprockets watertight?
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srcampb

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Re: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« Reply #16 on: May 22, 2013, 06:13:38 am »

Forgot to add, brilliant model and concept...
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essex2visuvesi

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Re: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« Reply #17 on: May 22, 2013, 05:37:28 pm »

How did you make the driveshafts to the track sprockets watertight?
looking at my HL tiger I have in bits, its quite simple
Feed the main drive axles through these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RC-Submarine-Shaft-seals-ID-3mm-X-OD-6mm-X-Thick2mm-1pair-/281076745777?pt=US_Radio_Control_Control_Line&hash=item41717ac631


You will need to create a mount for the seals on the inside of the tank hull but other than that its happy days as its only the main drive sprockets that penetrate through the hull
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red181

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Re: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« Reply #18 on: May 22, 2013, 10:27:12 pm »

what a great project! :-))
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essex2visuvesi

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Re: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« Reply #19 on: May 23, 2013, 04:13:35 pm »

what a great project! :-))


Yes it is, but I must concentrate on the boats I am building before starting another
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Marmoi

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Re: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« Reply #20 on: May 29, 2013, 01:15:55 pm »

Sorry for late reply, was up in Liverpool for the Battle of Atlantic weekend.
I sealed the drive shafts by;
1. Removing the outer gear box casings from the hull - very carefully!
2. Cut one side of a rubber grommet off, that fitted the drive shaft snuggly.
3. Bonded the grommet to the inside of the casing using "Wet Grab".
http://www.bostik.co.uk/diy/product/evo-stik/Serious-Stuff-Wet-Grab/25
4. Bonded the gear casing back onto the hull with "Wet Grab"
5. Packed the outer casing and drive shaft tunnel with silicone grease.
6. Glad to say not a dribble of water has come through.
 :D
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Marmoi

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Re: Is it a Boat, or is it a tank?
« Reply #21 on: May 29, 2013, 01:20:43 pm »

As for the trailer, no I don't think so, but if another Panzer IV hull came up at the right price I may be tempted to have a go at doing another and the pontoon as I have the payload to go on it.
I will have to sneak it past the Belly dancer as she wants me to finish HMS Velox and G3 first  <*<
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