Troops and the Grille ground mounted 88mm gun in the snow.
The same gun used on the Roco Grille was used as a ground mount in large numbers near the end of WWII. While the self-propelled anti-aircraft gun represented by the Roco Grille was only built in 3 examples, the ground mounted version of that 88mm gun with the same gun shield was widely used in the closing months of the war.
Scenes like this were not uncommon in the last six months of World War Two, particularly on the Eastern Front were the Germans were putting up thin defensive lines hoping to stop the on-going Soviet offensives.
A few months ago I got a large batch of used Roco Grille models in rather poor condition and so I converted them to the ground mounted version. A few days ago I took them outside and photographed them in the snow. My friend Randy at Fidelis Models sent them to me in a zip lock bag!
This photo is an SWS sound detector converted into a ground mount, but that's a different article!
My collection is very old, over 60 years old in fact. One way to re-vitalize and old collection is to look at the tired old vehicles, and repair and update them. This Grille is a perfect example. Many of us have them in our collections but given that the Germans made only a three of them, having 6 or 10 or 20 of them is of rather limited value. Often they are missing the side and rear drop down panels, and the gun lock.
So rather than trying to scratch build new panels, I instead decided to make ground mounts for these guns. I cut out the floor of the Grille and using bits of plastic coffee stirrers, and wire, and sheet styrene I created the ground mount. It was quick and easy. I had the extra pieces in my spares box and so it was also free!
They turned out really well. I did not make the towing trailers for them. I intend to paint some Roco German 88mm trailers in the same color as these and swap out the trailers as needed depending on which 88mm ground mounted guns I intend to use. Or I may round up a few old Arii or Airfix 1/76ths scale trailers and use them for this project.
So take a look in your spares box and see what you can find to upgrade your old Roco. You may be surprised at what gems are waiting for you there. I have a few more that I will share over the next few weeks so be sure to come back and check them out.
Thanks for reading.
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Mike Bunkermeister Creek