8-ton, Sd.Kfz.7 Hotzpritsche: Variant modifications and updates

 

Modifications and updates to the mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 8T (Sd.Kfz.7) Holzpritsche variant during its production run.

The first wooden cargo bodies (Holzpritsche) built on the m11 designed chassis were installed by the manufacturer Saurer as early as November 1943. These were first attached to the 1943 Typ HL m11 chassis which retained the old-style metal cab. At about the same time the assembly firm emblems were dropped from the radiator housing, as were the turn signals, side light and brake light. Later in 1943 the headlamps were also reduced in size, and a pair of steel pins were welded to the front of the frame either side of the towing point to allow for mounting of an external starter. The track guards were also reduced in depth.

Early cab with a reduced depth track guard, starter pins fitted but still the original larger type headlights 

 

In 1944 the cab was re-designed into the final, larger, but simplified wooden type with a new full width instrument panel and angled track guards. The opening glass panel in the windscreen was dropped and at least three variations in the design of the wooden side panel profile existed. These being a rounded front, one with a short straight bevel and a third with a long bevel. Krauss-Maffei were unable to start there Holtzpritsche type production until Feb 1944 of which, by then, they would have likely been constructed with the new wooden cab layout. 

A final version wooden cab example has the rounded side cab panel, starter pins and the later small headlamps

This wooden cab vehicle looks to have retained the manufacturer emblem on the radiator housing. It has a rounded cab side panel, the starter pins added and the smaller headlamps
 

Other modifications that are not so visibly obvious included the discontinuation of the inertia starter in 1944, The guide to access this and the cover plate were eliminated from the starboard front mudguard in early 1944. The final type of lightweight track plates was also introduced later that year.

This abonded vehicle is missing its cargo body side panel and a large stake of wood appears to have pierced the bonnet. It has the short straight bevel on the side panel and the small headlamps

The only changes to the cargo body were that the rifle racks were moved to the equipment rack rather than mounting to the floor. This meant that the Holzpritsche could be quickly converted to a flatbed simply by removing both the crew bench and the wooden equipment rack.

A dislodged wooden equipment rack. The mounting pin can be clearly seen here at the bottom of the rear middle mounting post

This factory fresh vehicle has the original headlights, rounded cab side panel profiles, and steel pins fitted for an external starter. There is no assembly manufacturer emblem visible on the radiator housing. This is one of the vehicles I believe Trumpeter used in their kit research as they provide these licence plates as decals. 

Notice the two tailgate bump stops fitted to the rear underside of both chassis legs

The missing kit variant

No kit manufacturer in 1/35 scale currently offers this version so no existing kit offers the cab floor moulding with the shallow track guards present. Dragon did release kit #6794 in 2014 which they labelled a ‘Typ HL M11 1943 production’ which showed reduced depth track guards on the box art. Unfortunately, the kit only provided existing body floor mouldings with the original deeper type of track guard. They then expected the modeller to reduce them in size by slicing them along their full length. And this without any template or guide marks!  I have built this kit, and it was a challenge to reduce their depth without butchering a major component. To represent a Holzpritche version the track guards would also have to be reduced in length.

This is the variant that no current kit maker offers.

 

8-ton, Sd.Kfz.7 Step by step build of Trumpeter kit #01507. Initial weathering and bringing all the sub-semblies together

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To test whether a satin varnish would be first required to aid a good pin wash application, a diluted mix of Wash Brown Abtielung oil paint and their own Odourless turps was added to the fuel tank and sprockets. The MRP lacquer had dried silky and smooth so capillary action had worked on the oil paint application perfectly. A varnish coat was not required.

 

8-ton, Sd.Kfz.7 Step by step build of Trumpeter kit #01507. Painting (Shadow coats, base coats and decals)

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It’s now time to start thinking about a colour scheme. I have never seen a period colour image of one of these final variant vehicles. I imagine most would have left the factory in plain dark yellow (Dunkelgelb). There are period images showing the ‘blotchy’ pattern applied pattern and then there is the ubiquitous spaghetti type. Not sure either could be labelled schemes as they were applied in the field. 

Although the elaborate large, banded pattern applied on the restoration vehicles below looks way too nice to have been airbrushed in the field, it's something I have considered. 

I am edging towards copying the factory fresh monochrome finished vehicle shown on the cover of the Panzer Tracts book and one that the kit decals depict. 

 

For this project I have choosen MRP & Tamiya lacquers and acrylics.

The small fragile gear controls will be added as the cab is painted and many other small parts kept separate until now, like the Notek light, the clear headlights, and width indicators, will all be added once the two cab sub-assemblies have been attached.

After all the sub-assemblies received a coat of Hobby colour grey primer, MRP lacquers were then mixed to create some different shadow coats. There is no need to thin MRP paints so you can spray really close with the pressure turned down. I set to around 10-12psi. Getting a decent opacity does take time to build up the layers but it sprays on lovely and smooth. In the case of the chassis, this allowed a controlled application of paint into the multitude of nooks and crannies.

For my shadow coat I started off with Dark Yellow and Red Brown. Each sub-assembly received a slightly different tone of the mix. Once the main sub-assemblies were painted and to streamline the process, without cleaning the airbrush I then added a little black, then white, and then played about with paint mix ratios. I eventually ending up with a grey colour which was the perfect tone to base coat the engine, gearbox and exhaust.

The chassis in a fetching caramel hue!

 

The cab-assemblies in a weird sort of Mahogany tone!

The wooden cargo bed in a delicious chocolate brown!

The wheels ended up a medium brown 

The tilt cover received a disrupted coat of various tones of grey

Only the sump of the engine will be visible so that received a coat of dark grey too

Shadow coats complete 

For the first Dunkelgelb base coat I used MRP-037 followed by a lighter coat mix of MRP-037 and MRP-004. A further lightened coat with a drop more MRP-004 will be misted over just the uppermost areas.

Airbrush work almost complete on the Dunkelgelb base coat. A little more work to up the highlights and shadows in a few prominent areas is still required. 

The steering wheel, tyres, and track link pads were all airbrushed with Tamiya tyre black. The track link pad colour was then protected with a couple of coats of hairspray before both track runs received an airbrushed mix of Tamiya Dark Iron, German Grey, and Flat Earth. Once dry the pad surfaces will be dampened with water, agitated with a brush so that the tyre black colour will be exposed again.

Brush painted tyres with Vallejjo dark rubber and the cab seat have received a black base coat.

A test fit photo session of all the painted sub-assemblies 

 

The kit decals have now been added, not that there are many! Just licence plates and instrument dials. Satin varnish was applied before and after. All the track wheel rubber tyres were hand painted with Vallejo dark rubber acrylic.

Kit decals after an initial oil paint pin wash

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