Greetings everyone. My next project,not that I need one ,is going to be Dragons Heuschrecke / Grasshopper.Been searching around for some refs. but there isnt much out there. Looking at the engine deck it seems very Pzr. IV in appearance.Any thoughts or if any one has first hand knowledge,by this I am referring to the Abeerden example.I am familiar with the layout of the panzer III driver/radio operators compartment,Which is essentially what the Geschuetz III/IV chassis is based on. But any assisstance will be much appreciated.[whstl]
Wasn’t it a Pz IV chassis that was cut down? I maybe disremembering. If I am would somebody please correct me. Good luck with the info search. Keep us posted on the build.
Cheers
Dave
Nevermind! I just corrected myself. Yup! Eight sets of road wheels. [*-)] Oh boy the visual hallucinations are startin’ early this year. [:'(]
Cheers
Dave
hughes2682: The Geschutzwagen III/IV is a panzer IV based chassis utilizing the panzer III transmission and final drive arrangement same as the Nashorn/Hornisse, Hummel. Please note the panzer three final drive housings on this Nashorn.
. It may be somewhat difficult to see,but you can tell the difference. This next photo being a panzer IV layout.
. While searching my own refs I came across some photos but nothing that made my quest for knowledge any easier.
Progress ,but not much.
[H]
Detailfreak,
Thank you for the clarification on the chassis. I did know about the Nashorn but, I did not know the same arrangement was used for this beastie as well. Nice progress by the way.
Cheers
Dave
Some more progress on the Heuschrecke. The rear plate with some of its fixtures in place. With its large engine compartment I can’t help but think the muffler is on the inside. Without much in the way of reference pics I may have to use a little artistic imagination. Also note that the small door that is usually on the right hand side when viewed from the rear is on the left. This door is the access for the cooling fan drive on the basic panzer IV chassis. Open the door slide the splined shaft out of the fan and this allows the hatch with the cooling fans to be opened. What a wonderful piece of engineering! If this reversed layout is so I’m wondering if the aircleaner configuration is that of the panzer IV or the engine mounted type of the panzer III? 
I may need to spend the money on a copy of the Nuts and Bolts book about the Nashorn…As always any comments are welcome.[Y]
Ok, a bit more progress,scratchbuilt panzer IV style floor support for the front of the hull. These supports were aligned with the front boggie sets and the rear boggie sets and re-enforced the hull at these points.
. Also made a roof support which was directly behind the driver /radio operator positions.
The kit supplied fighting compartment floor comes to far forward as it partially covers the radio operators escape hatch.I do’nt think I will worry to much about as the interior is not going to be historically accurate…Thanks for looking and any comments are welcome…[Y]
Buddy, looks like you are lost… get your arse back to GB! Kidding… another work with lots of details so I am starting to understand how you came up with the profile name. [;)] Looks like panzer IV is your favorite…
The Heuschrecke used the same Maybach engine as the Pz III, so some things were likely also different in the engine compartment vs. a Pz IV standard layout. Looking through Spielberger, it lists the following components as to their origin:
Engine: Maybach HL 120 TRM from the Pz III minus the exhaust fittings since the exhaust pipes were specially made. The Oil Filter was also specially made.
The Fuel Pump came from the Pz III as did the Electric Fuel Pump and Fuel Filter. The Air Filter, Radiator, Cooling Fans, Fan Drive Tensioner all came from the Pz IV but the Fan Drive belt was from the Pz III with the Fan Drives themselves being specially made.
HTH!
wbill,are you familiar with the nuts and bolts series book on the nashorn? If my memory serves me right it seems the aircleaners were on the rear-most engine compartment wall. If there is anyone that is in posession of this book could you share some data?Well anyway the engine compartment work is a ways off so I’ll just have to peddle some stuff. The specs. I have for this vehicle states it carried 80 rounds of ammo. in one spec sheet.And another states something around 64 rounds,go figure! Well if I stuff the fighting compartment full of ammo. bins from the leftovers of the geschutzwagen IVb,you know the one with the six roadwheels and the bigger turret that oughta work.Thanks for the input wbill…
I have the N&B on the Nashorn and the Hummel…however those configurations would not necessarily have been the same on the Heuschrecke. Same components but the location and size of the engine compartments were different as a result of the different hull configuration (mid-hull vs. rear hull).
I agree wbill that there are probably a great amount of differences in the engine compartment layout,I’ll say that I was leaning more to a remotely mounted air cleaner configuration as in the panzer IV rather than the engine mounted configuration as in the panzer III,we all know the germans seemed to have a love for ducting air where-ever it was needed.Just a side question,where is a good spot to obtain that seemingly overpriced reference? Again the input is much appreciated.Oh and by the way,is my library card good in texas[whstl] Have a good day my friend,and whats next on the workbench?
The N&B references are pricey, no question about that, but are well worth it if you’re looking to do a special project. I don’t have all of them and chose selectively the ones I wanted based on subject interest, planned projects, etc. My preferred place for reference purchases is RZM Imports www.rzm.com and they carry many of the N&B volumes. HTH!
Ok, its back to the business end for a bit of transmission fitting.The plastic rod is there to help refence the forward position of the trans. These rods represent the shafts that connect the final drives to the brake housings. The positioning left or right is somewhat determined by the engine being centered between the exhaust openings in the rear plate
It’s been pretty easy to keep the updates flowing if I stay on top of them.Is’nt like I have to find time to do itseeing that I’ve been laid off just shy of a year now. Acomplished a bit more of the lower hull this afternoon the forward frame rails minus the actual transmission mounts,modified the kit supplied floor a bit and then moved to the rear engine cradle. This also is without engine mounts as I have yet to decide how I will fabricate these.Thanks to everyone who stopped by and shared thier thoughts.[Y]
Solid work on the interior work.[Y] Sorry to hear of the layoff. [:(] At least it’s good to see the hands are not idle.
Cheers
Dave
Same here… sorry to hear about the layoff. Hang in there buddy. Perhaps you can finish those 9-11 kits you started…
Howdy; not much in the way of a build update just thought I’d show a few pics of what I consider to be somewhat of a Heuschreke family tree.I think that the Dicker max qualifies as the grandfather of this group of weapons.
. Some of you may believe that the Dicker Max was a tank destroyer but please remember the 10.5 cm. gun was born an artillery piece,given the designation le.F.H.18/1(sf)/GW IVb.Two of this prototype saw action,one having destroyed several T-34 before being knocked out,the being returned to Germany according to references.
.The fighting compartment was accessable through these two rear doors.According to Joachim Engelmanns book German Self Propelled Artillery of World War II ,60 rounds of main gun ammunition were carried. The next type was designed by Krupp.Being built on a shortened panzer IV chassis using three bogie assemblies per side instead of four.
The gun was housed in an open top turret that was non-removable.This vehicle could be used in anti-armor role using hollow charge ammunition.
The next vehile,of which this wip is the subject of, Designation; 10.5cm le.F.H.18/6(Sf.) auf Geschuetzwagen III/IV,or Heuschreke 10. This vehicle mounted the same gun as the other Krupp prototype. The chassis was the same as the Nashorn and the Hummel,using the panzer IV suspension and idler and the panzer III transmission and final drive/steering brake arrangement. This prototype used a lifting arrangement to remove the turret and place it on a steel framework,the wheels were attached directly to the two brackets on either side of the turret.Photos show a device clamped to the barrel near the muzzle break that hooked to the towing hitch…
Most of my references state that only 8 of these Krupp prototypes were built.I do not know of any photos of this last vehicle in the field. It is my opinion that the smaller of these two prototypes would have been quite useful if produced in greater numbers,It certainly would have been a step up from the obsolete Wespe built on the panzer II chassis. More pics.
Thanks to all who wished me well and thanks foryour support I know I have many friends here(and perhaps critics as well) I’m sure we all do![t$t]
Nice family tree you’ve got lined up there for sure! [Y]
Like many concepts explored by the Germans, the Heuschrecke design was overtaken by events and not pursued due to its overly complex nature and the time it would’ve taken to get it into production vs. other existing designs. While true that the Wespe was smaller, it had the added advantage of using already existing components with only slight modifications required. The production lines and equipment already existed to produce the Pz II chassis in large quantities and so it ultimately won out as the preferred vehicle for creating an SP mount for the 10.5cm leFH 18. Having said that, it still makes for an interesting array of vehicle types and designs that benefits us as modelers even if the concepts themselves ultimately proved to be of less use than originally intended by the engineers! [;)]