Proposed Project: SdKfz 250 Alte or Neu ??

[Laffe]

I prefer the Neu version because it will go with my Normandie project. (But I will probably buy the Alte anyway and send it to the desert.)

One note is that you have been doing lots of late war, and if you are doing an Alte version maybe you should do more early war stuff too?

[Rubicon Models]

One note is that you have been doing lots of late war, and if you are doing an Alte version maybe you should do more early war stuff too?

Ah... You did noticed 

Yes, we are moving our focus a little bit to cover more early war vehicles - from our current projects, you should see
(1) M3 Half Track
(2) Opel Blitz  <- Might need to change "final" box name because of IP issues
(3) Crusader Mk I / II / III
coming along nicely!

This proposed project SdKfz 250 is also aimed to provide some early war support for our beloved gamers!

[mmellow]

I think I agree with the majority, early. It can be used throughout the war, where as the new is pretty much late war only. However, if the running gear etc is the same then do the early first, then the late later

[VolleyfireAndy]

Alte for me too. It's a more aesthetically pleasing model, and far, far more useful too as they were used in so many theaters. Enough were around post 43 for them to still be valid in a late war collection

[Keith]

Neu for sure.
Altes can be used throughout the war, but it's rare enough that I'd not be particularly comfortable with it.

[bull-nut]

I also prefer the look and flexibility of the Alte version, so that's what I voted for.

[elcee]

I actually miscasted my vote, i wanted to vote for the new version, but i somehow did not.

While i see a bigger market for the basic version (basic meaning te unmodified alte version), i think the new version offers more interesting variants.
To be precise its mostly because of the /8, while there are drawings and some models of the old version using the stummel, i have not seen any fotos so far.

[Rubicon Models]

Talking about if there was any SdKfz 250/8 Alte...  From the publicaton Panzer Tracts #15-1 says...
"However in November 1943 the le.Schutzenpanzerwagen 7.5cm SdKfz 250/8 had not gone into production yet, and when it did it was the Ausf B.", which is the "Neu" chassis.

Further PT-15-1 states "The start of 7.5cm K52 (sf) production was delayed (first 57 being produced in December 1943)..."

Production of Ausf B (Neu) hulls started in "about June 1943" while production of the Ausf A (Alte) continued "until January 1944".  This was only for the SdKfz 250/9 with 2cm KwK.

So no clear evidence is presented by Panzer Tracts that the K51 mount ever was fitted to the Ausf A (Alte) chassis.

If you look at the obvious physical limitations on the Alte chassis, how was the mount to be fitted into the angles and dimensions of the Ausf.A superstructure? We have saw graphic illustration of a 250/8 on an Alte chassis, but there is no photographic evidence of one!

Still searching...

[ripley]

I haven't found any photos either . But " Encyclopedia of German Tanks " says some were converted in in spring 43 . And as the Germans did convert many vehicle types in very  small numbers ( 5 - 10 ) as stop gap measures  it could be possible . I imagine the A type would have a gun mount through the drivers visor plate like the 251/9 C . The later 251 Ds having a new mount ( K52 sf ) which raised the gun above the vehicle body , the same as the 250/8 Neu . Either way , not much room in the vehicle for the crew and 20 rounds of  ammo , would hate to be the driver of this thing 

[Pinky]

in Terry Gander's book on the SdKfz 250, he says only a few prototypes of the SdKfz 250/8 were built on the alte body, although some saw service.   

According to "Schutzenpanzer", by Bruce Culver and Uwe Feist, the alte SdKfz 250/8 didn't use the 7.5cm K51(sf) mounting.  This makes sense, because (as you say) that mounting was designed for the neu version and the SdKfz 251/9 Ausf D.  It would have looked awkward on the alte hull.  I can't find any photos of one.

Both Gander's book and "Schutzenpanzer" say that production of the neu hull began in October 1943, but the changeover wasn't really complete until July 1944.  Only a very small number of SdKfz 250/8s were built - 8 by the end of 1943 (some of these were presumably alte versions), 10 in 1944 and 51 in 1945.  So the alte SdKfz 250/8 was so rare as to be insignificant.  I'd suggest there are more important versions worth including as options in an alte kit.

[ripley]

 " a little off topic "  Maybe Rubicon could give us a 251 D  Stummel with both types of mounts for the short  75mm . Those of us so inclined could make what ever conversions we wanted with the  kit parts ( I could build a 250/ 8 or  use the Warlord plastic Puma and build a 234/3 ) I've used the 3 in 1 251 D extra bits to jazz up a couple of older resin kits . Always good to have extra bits for kit bashing . I don't think I've built a kit straight out of the box in the last 20 years of model building .

[Rubicon Models]

Maybe Rubicon could give us a 251D  Stummel with both types of mounts for the short 75mm. Those of us so inclined could make what ever conversions we wanted with the kit parts (I could build a 250/8 or use the Warlord plastic Puma and build a 234/3) I've used the 3 in 1 251D extra bits to jazz up a couple of older resin kits. Always good to have extra bits for kit bashing. I don't think I've built a kit straight out of the box in the last 20 years of model building.

You probably had missed out the discussion on future 251D expansion kits.  Here is the link:
http://forum.rubiconmodels.com/index.php?topic=35.75

[ripley]

Those look fantastic .  Would they be a complete  3 in 1 halftrack kit or just a accessory kit of up grade parts for  conversions ? As a modeler I would like to see a whole variety of add on sets in 1/56 scale .

[Rubicon Models]

Would they be a complete 3 in 1 halftrack kit or just a accessory kit of upgrade parts for  conversions? As a modeler I would like to see a whole variety of add on sets in 1/56 scale.

We really have not decided yet.  This is a pretty much still a WIP project.  At least two to three expansion kits are planned, depending on the number of parts per variant had taken up sprue space.

[elcee]

With the Prototypes of the Upgrades for the 251 in mind, are there any of those that might fit on the 250?
(like the mortar & the stummel - at least for the late version)

Edit
and if not maybe the might be combinded for both if few changes are needed (as in extra parts)