I know the luftwaffe used the Kettenkrad to tow 262s around, but did they use any other vehicles to tow aircraft?
Or was it simply that due to the low slung jets on the 262 towing was a safer option than taxiing on main engines?
The reason I ask is that I am working on a dio with revell’s 1/72 Ar555, and was considering a suitable vehicle to tow it.
Karl[:)]
With only 25 hours before overhaul/rebuild on those jumo’s, you didn’t want to waste their life just moving the a/c around. besides that, there’s always the FOD problem &
a qualified pilot is almost always required to move an a/c using it’s engines.
In the May edition of Aeroplane Monthly, there’s a feature on the Arado Ar234. The article states that in an effort to conserve fuel in the a/c, they were usually towed out to the end of the runway. One picture shows an Ar 234 being towed by an Opel fuel truck.
Now if they were willing to use a fuel truck, I would think that almost anything could be used, providing it could handle the weight. A half track would probably be a step too far though, the tracks would/could tear up the surface, and we’re back to FOD again.
Yes, I know the kettenrad had tracks, (before anyone else tries to point this out!) so how they got around that problem I don’t know, although the surface area print would be fairly low, it being a light vehicle (relatively) so it probably didn’t cause a problem.
Pete
Pete
Thanks for that Pete.
I’m assuming FOD would not be a problem with the 555, however I can’t imagine them wanting to fire that thing up everytime they moved it!
I was looking at the picture of the Ar 234 being towed yesterday, as I’m currently working on the Kubelwagen and Kettenkrad from the Academy set. Both really sweet little kits, and a very fast build. Got mine yesterday, currently spraying!
I know the Luftwaffe used ex-French Army tanks for snow clearing, so maybe lighter tracked vehicles were less of an issue?
I feel a Hanomag coming on!!!
Karl
You could get the Schiffer book " Luftwaffe Airfield Equipment " to get a few ideas.
That’s a good idea!
Thanks for that Dogsbody.
Karl
Karl, here’s an idea. As the Ar555 is largely fictional, why not build your own tow tractor.
It would have weighed quite a bit, so how about something with 6 or 8 wheels, a cab at each end, or one in the middle. Power could come from a Tigers maybach engine.
See if you can find anything on the Skoda guntractors, some of those were very powerful for their time, and fairly unique looking too.
Pete
Pete, It currently has an old jagdpanther, minus gun, sitting in front of it.
You never know!
It all depends on what will fit on the dio base without it looking too cramped.
Karl