(SELF PROPELLED ARTILLERY) FERDINAND 722, Kursk, Sch.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Oberfeldwebel Klarmeyer

[Rob59]

I do have a book in which is written alot about these Ferdinands/Elefanten too.
Some models did have the jack mounted onto the bow, but due to damages by enemy fire, they moved the jack towards the back of the assault gun!

[HERMAN BIX]

Yep there seems to be a mix of both arrangements in period pics.
This one has the front bow mounts replaced by track clamps & the jack wedged on top.
Assume the track links on the guards meant loosing them when the guards were damaged so it’s an understandable change

[MrChef]

You know your crew needs to learn how to put tools away. That's how you lose tools...

[HERMAN BIX]

And then there’s the Jack Thieves eh Mr Jarndice

[HERMAN BIX]

A very lite dusting of pigment to settle things down & then to the tarp which is very visible on the period picture.
I made a camo patterned Zeltbahn thing out of a tea bag but decided that it looked out of place.
The picture seems to depict a single colour like grey or green & I went with grey to break up the tone & add a bit of contrast.
Folded over a bit of cloth & tacked it into a rough shape with spots of super glue, wet it under tap & wrung it out, then placed it on the casemate & used Tamiya flat clear XF-86 and a brush to manipulate it into position after a good soaking.
Let dry over last night & it looks bang on this morning
Tho it may have been a very temporarily placed item on that day, at that time, in a moment, and then been rolled up & stowed, I will have it permanent & visible to represent that pictured moment and add a bit of visual contrast. Why were they using it? We will never know.

[John Glover]

Superb Mr Bix. Just need some Russian infantry attacking it, that cant believe their luck realizing that there was no MG34 to face.

[Rob59]

Nice touch, taking the right front fender off Mr.B
Looks awesome!
Rob.

[HERMAN BIX]

Superb Mr Bix. Just need some Russian infantry attacking it, that cant believe their luck realizing that there was no MG34 to face.

Thanks Mr Glover, I'd say that prospect of heading up to one of these without knowing what its capabilities were must have been terrifying, but they did so anyway.
None of the German Sturmgeschutz were equipped with an auxiliary M.G. as a designated secondary weapon until the Jagdpanther.
Funny to think that the Ferdinand was very early in the line of dedicated & designed German tank destroyers.

[HERMAN BIX]

Nice touch, taking the right front fender off Mr.B
Looks awesome!
Rob.

Appreciated Mr '59.
The subject picture shows it missing , so shall it be !
I like my tanks with bits missing so hacking a guard off is no barrier to progress !!
Thanks for looking in mate.

[HERMAN BIX]

Looking at machines in the same unit they shared a similar idea of keeping a Jerry can of Wasser on the rear casemate.
Ferdinand 112 shows this , as do others.
So why not eh ?!!

Wasn't rocket surgery to do the jerry can.
Good undercoat of TS-33 Dull(hull) red and a dose of hairspray.
A light dust of XF-63 German Grey & sit tight for it to dry................ , ok, outside here is 35C so 3 seconds later its set!
Made a set of little hangers out of tie wire to carry the can onto the handle(?) on the rear casemate as per the period pics on 112 & others.

Happy to call this one done folks.......
An actual representative Kursk period Ferdinand, with correct tracks, no sun/weather shield over the drivers periscopes, no M.G. mount on the front plate, no Commanders cupola, toolboxes on the side , and the other bits that signify the difference from an early to a later Elefant.

Outside of a crew to position in the roof hatches I can sleep easy.
Thanks for looking in along the trip folks.
Now it what next ?