Just three days ago I received a long awaited package in the mail from the UK. Inside the package was a magnificent collection of hand crafted Z scale cars that I have longed for ever since I first saw this set being created in 2005. Here, 6 years later, with the excitement built up, I opened to find a small treasure of amazing craftsmanship. During WWII, the Germans had there hands full on the Eastern Front trying to maintain and expand the lands they had conquered. One of the tools they used was armored trains. Two of the best known of the armored trains was the BP42 and the BP44. The arrangement of the armored cars put the locomotive, or lok, in the center surrounded by the cars on each side. The compliment of armored cars on either side of the lok were identical. The BP42 armored train version is available at Z-Panzer.com in 1:220 Z scale. I could talk on and on about the superb craftsmanship that Andy put into these tiny creations but I will let the close-up photographs I took speak for themselves. Panzer Lok Right Side The Tenders Can you see the faint rivot detail in the armored sheets on the sides of the tenders and the locomotive?
Panzertragerwagen Abstosswagen The make up of a BP42 was as such; Abstosswagen-Panzertragerwagen-Kanonen und Flakwagen-Kommandowagen-Geschutzwagen-Tender-Lok-Tender-Geschutzwagen-Kommandowagen-Kanonen und Flakwagen-Panzertragerwagen-Abstosswagen The BP44 was very similar to the BP42 except the last cars (instead of Abstosswagens) in the consist were Panzerjaegerwagen which looks like a thick flatcar with a tank turrent on top and a snow plow on the end. Next message will have more info in it!
BP42/44 Panzer Zug Info The BP42 and BP44 Panzer Trains can be found in several scales. http://www.z-panzer.com has the 1:220 Z scale version of the BP42 (soon to have the BP44 too) http://kampfgruppe144.blogspot.com/2007/02/1144-bp44-panzerzug-by-toropo.html Toropo came out with a 1:144 scale version of the BP44 in very limited supply. Good luck finding one of these! http://www.mach2.fr/panzezug.htm Armageddon models makes a 1:72 scale version of the BP44. They have a set A which is half of the length including the locomotive and set B which does not have the locomotive. Here are two links to websites that have lots of photos of the Armageddon Panzer Zug http://www.airwar1946.nl/Atrains/bp44/bp44.htm http://www.smallscaleafv.com/ANG/Diorama12/72_BP-44.htm http://www.trumpeter-china.com/plus/list.php?tid=75 Trumpeter makes the BP44 Panzer Zug in 1:35 scale. The cars are sold in eaches as opposted to a set. You can find the models here http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/list/1231/0/1 The models are on pages 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, & 9. You can Google BP42 and BP44 and pull up all kinds of photos on the web. There are a few books that have been written about the armor trains of WWI before and after. Netflix has a DVD called "War Trains" that is very, very informative about the trains of WWII. Youtube has a video that shows the Panzer Zug in action. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OSb0kHn_RU ------------------------------------------------------------- I encourage anyone who is interested in WWII or Modern military vehicles to check out Z-Panzers website. He is slowly adding vehicles and rollingstock from WWII to current modern era. http://www.z-panzer.com If you have any questions feel free to contact Andy. Here is an early photo of when he was working on the Panzer Lok and Tenders Enjoy!!! Hobo Tim
I agree with you completely, Tim. I have the same set and the detail is fantastic. I got his railgun a while ago and it's up to the same amazing standards.
You guys know Märklin just came out with a wartime steam engine in the white winter cammo? Goes for about 300 euros
for a more realistic look, I have been doing some photo research of the BP42 rollingstock. I found that several of the cars have antenna in certain areas. I have drilled some micro holes in these areas and have taken some .004" stainless steel wire and glued it into the holes making sure the antenna was properly positioned and let it dry. I am awaiting on some paint to make them the same color as the bodies. Next I am going to do up the artwork for the hard radio antenna that goes around the tops of the Kommandowagen. I will hopefully get the time to etch this and attach it to the top of the Kommandowagens, soon. Will post photos once I have completed the cars. The more I study the fine detail of these tiny models, the more I am amazed at what it must have took for Andy to create these!!! Awesome!!! Hobo Tim
Andy is at it again!!!! I received and email from Andy asking if I was interested in adding a new rail piece to my WWII German PanzerZug. I replied with a He'll Yeah!!!! http://www.z-panzer.com The Panzerjagerwagen is now being produced to make the BP42 armored train into the BP44. Details are are on the Z-Panzer website for those interested.
I finally acquired my fully-equipped Panzer Zug just some months ago and I was equally thrilled. Don't ask me why a Northeastern-US-or-Die modeler would have such an interest; I think it has more to do with the exquisite craftsmanship, really, than the train, but the equipment still fascinates me (I've lost count how many times I've watched Burt Lancaster's The Train). Oh, and I also received a rail cannon--my, is that an impressive beast. And I will be awaiting a Panzerjagerwagen or two as well.
Now Dave, If you wanted to be a really friendly sort of chap and since you're going to be in Medford in 72 hours, it certainly would thrill the gang here if you brought your little collection of Panzer items to show us. But of course, with your arms already full, maybe I'm asking too much. ZU is a few hours.
Found a treat!!! These are photos of a brass BR57 Lok in HO that I found a few years back. As I was rumaging thru my photos I found these today and decided to share them with those who could appreciate them!
