Opel Blitz Project

[TBowman]

Hi Friends

I recently became interested in this vehicle thanks to a friend in Germany. I never thought I would want a supply truck but I am very very glad it has been added to the collection. It will be detailed and hopefully RC converted. These photos of it are right out of the box and not yet assembled. Will take extensive detail photos of it soon.

First impression is AWESOME! Metalbox was super helpful and responsive to my many emails and answered every question right away. I had always wondered about experiences others have had with them but didn't get much information. They are excellent to do business with and shipping was FAST! (5 days from China to my door) Some minor damage to the front right door hinge and the front Notek light bracket during shipping but nothing that can't be easily fixed. One of the risks associated with assembled, heavier, thin-metal vehicles traveling long distances. No big deal to me. This vehicle will be detailed, converted to RC and made to represent a Normandy time frame Blitz to go with the Panther, Panzer IV and Tiger.

Overall, very very impressed and happy. Word is that the Stug III from Metalbox will be ready for shipping this month.

Arrival and unpacking
































more soon
Tim

[Kent W]

Lucky you my friend!

A very very nice addition to your stunning Normandy group.

Didn’t know they were still for sale and good to hear your positive experience with their customer service.
Something I only have heard negative things about so far.

That Opel look stunning and I love the dunkelgelb color on it.
I have admired their attention having their models accurate and equipped with scale accurate items.
IMHO the finest all metal 1:6th models for sale today.
Peppe here on this forum has one of their Opel Blitz and he is also stunned about the quality.

Their Stug III is an absolute beauty and to hear it is still available might come to hurt my wallet...
An all metal Stug III is on top on my "wanted list" and will be my last 1:6th rc vehicle.

Looking forward to see how this Opel turns out in your magic hands.

Kind regards
Kent

[Björn Johansson]

Congratulations Tim.

A exellent vehicle to you´r fine collection
there´s just so much potential for many different
version in this one.
With you´r skills I´m sure you would be able
to get a couple off them out in this singel vehicle.

[cahlfors]

Wow!

I was really impressed when I saw Peppes Blitz. It will be really exciting to see what will come out of one in your skilled hands.

Converting it to R/C is no easy job, but oh, so cool!

Here is some truck inspiration:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaH6ZAf6 ... grec_index

Cheers,
/Chris

[TBowman]

Thanks for the nice comments guys.

Chris, thanks for the video. that was great!

I'm really excited about this vehicle. I had some time today to really enjoy looking at it while I assembled the rear bed parts and took a bazillion more photos. The hoops are not fully inserted which is why they are sorta crooked and why the canvas to sits loosely and high. The bed sides and rear all fold down like the real one too.























for scale



The cab unbolts and the bed unbolts. It could easily be converted to a radio truck if one wanted to. I may pull the rear fenders off for my late production version but they are so cool looking, I don't know if I can bring myself to doing that. LOL

Lots of detail photos here:

Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket


Tim

[pepppe75]

hi tim!!

realy nice to see another blitz on this forum,like you said im allso very satisfied with this metalbox model.

are you goin to convert yours to RC?


kind regards peter.

[TBowman]

Thanks Peter

Yes, I plan on converting it to RC. Still contemplating four wheel drive of just rear wheel drive. We'll see.

Finally had a moment to pull apart the rear axle to inspect the assembly. At the moment it is simply a straight axle so a new axle housing and/or diff will be required. Everything is very robust and well made. The only thing I will likely add are additional, stiffer leafs to the spring assemblies.

Some photos of the axle assembly. Pretty cool that the hub cap could be removed without removing the wheels(just like the real thing).























More later
Tim

[cahlfors]

Way cool!

Looks very robust. Are those ball bearings?

Is adding a differential not quite a difficult undertaking?

Cheers,
/Chris

[TBowman]

Hi Chris

Yes, both ends have a bearing that the axle runs through. With some modification to the diff housing, I think a gear can be fitted to the axle without too much trouble. Then a new front, diff plate where the drive shaft will enter. Sounds easy anyways.

Famous last words.

We'll see how it goes.
best regards
Tim

[Björn Johansson]

Seem´s to be a very good base
to start with in that vehicle. I`m sure you will
pull it through.

Not sure if you notice this one ? http://www.rc4wd.se/
Maybe they got some parts you can use .

But I guess you got something similar over at you´r place.

[TBowman]

Hi Bjorn

Thank you for the link. There are some sites here with nice parts. It's difficult finding anything in the correct scale or overall length. Will likely draw one up and make it. :? Think I can use many off the shelf parts though to get it rolling.

Thanks again
Tim

[TBowman]

Hi friends

Something I've been wanting to make for the Opel is a correct 3T jack. Completed most of the 3D work for the Opel Blitz's three ton jack. It will be semi-functional. On some war-time photos of later production vehicles, it appears that a few also used the more common five ton jack that looks more like the larger 10T jack. The one shown below was more common and usually mounted on the passenger side foot step just below the door. Other mounting locations were on the frame(right where my Jerry cans are) or on top of the tool box.

Not 100% yet. Still ned to add the small, crank handle locking ratchet detail.





Tim

[Björn Johansson]

Another great detail could really want
one for my mechanics. I´m soft on all
tools/mechanic stuff for my small mechanic
staff.

[TBowman]

Hi everyone

I spent a little bit of time removing the bed from The Opel to start planing the drive train. I thought some here might be interested in photos of the frame and bed.

My plan at the moment is to create a new axle housing and rear diff housing in Solidworks to replace the existing one. I thought I might be able to use the existing one with some modification but think it will be easier for me to design one starting from the differential, out. HAve started this part and will post some images when I have them.

With the bed removed






















the bed








The differential and drive shaft






all for now
Tim

[TBowman]

Here's more of the Blitz's rear axle assembly removed from the truck. Photos are for anyone interested. The Solidworks drawing is the first, basic part drawn in the computer using the model's axle overall width dimensions and photos of the real thing. This is designed around the HPI differential. Interesting they didn't do a solid-piece axle rod. The largest leaf spring is not shown in these photos because I left it attached to the frame.















Tim