Forestry tractor...
The second of my Wespe models kits is a WWII tractor kit - I think it's a Russian prototype, it's described as a 'Stalinetz S65'...
Anyway, I figured it would be an interesting addition to the scenic 'depot' area of my Eastern European forestry layout. I had started on the Opel Blitz because this second kit seemed more complicated but now I've made a start it's gone together quite easily so far. Resin does require a little fettling to get a reasonable fit, but the quality of the castings is superb. Tonight I assembled the main chassis and engine block and also knocked up one of the caterpillar tracks. I don't think you can tell where the joins are!
Yes, the Stalinetz is a good choice, nevertheless pls be informed that the Russians in the 1940s copied and modified for the logging purpose the Austrian artillery tractor Steyr which was then exported to the other countries of the region as KT-12 being the very first specialized logging tractor in Czechoslovakia, in Czech called (translated) Katie... Several Katies survived even the expansion of the Scandinavian and German forestry machinery since 1989. If you want I can provide you with a copy of a Katie paper model you could simply utilise as a basis for your design.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, even now in the year of 2017 almost a half of logging works in the hardest mountain off-road terrains of this country is done with specialised heavy draught horses.
Greetings from Czechia,
hank
This is great information, thank you for your comment Hank!
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