I've recently shifted my modeling interests into WW1 artillery and armor, and, due to that, found out your fantastic site, wich has been a tremendous source of ideas and references for me.
A few months ago, a friend of mine gave me 2 MGM kits, the Austro Daimler artillery tractor, plus the 30,5 Morser to be attached. I simply fell in love with those pieces and, although they looked fragile and of difficult build, I've allready started them. Only to find out that little reference exists on the net for these subjects. Having discussed that with my friend, he sugested I should contact you, since he knew of the existence of a sort of monographic work on this subject, and perhaps you could point out who has this available.
I would be very interested in purchasing one (or even two copies, if my friend wants one...). I believe this will be the only way of surpassing the dilema of "where does this part fit..."
I can provide you with many pictures of the items you have requested, the only book on the subject I know about in English is Michal Prasil Excellent Skod Heavy Guns by Schiffer Military History. There is one in Italian as well, L'Artiglieria Austro-Ungarica nella Grande Guerra by Basilio Di Martino. you can also check out Mr Doppeladler site.
You can email Mr Doppeladler, and he will send you a small pdf contaning information, pictures etc., on the Zugmachine M17. It is in German, so if you need it translated let me know.
also check out this LANDSHIPS site, it has some really great pictures.
As good a kit as it is (and I had to snap one up) there are various inaccuracies. These I shall not dwell on at too much length, as Grzegorz Mazurowski covers them in the kit review. In any case, careful examination of the many photos in the main article and on the internet should apprise you of what they are. Some of the kit's problems can't be overcome other than by scratchbuilding major sections, but some can be easily dealt with - the barrel, for example, is too long, so just trim a couple of millimetres from the muzzle (I forget the exact measurement), and enlarge the shell-loading hole in the breech ring (as for my kit, I shall scratchbuild a new pair of side plates, as the distinctive holes in them are all wrong in the kit, and they are also about three millimetres too tall).
Now, there is a book on Skoda artillery (Skoda Heavy Gunshttp://www.landships.freeservers.com/artillerybooks_inprint.htm), but it concentrates on the 24-cm, 38-cm and 42-cm guns and their Porsche petrol-electric road train transporter. A few pages at the start are devoted to the Emma mortar, but far less than can be found on the net (less, actually, than can be found on the main Landships site alone), and nothing on their motor tractor.
Rafael! Look especially here: http://austro-hungary.iatp.org.ua/arms/artillery_ttd/305-mm_SM_M11-16.htm
This is excellent website about Austro-Hungarian Army, unfortunetely in Ukrainian (yes, the letters are Russian-like) but here is table of the guns with calibers with links to the particular articles. Site is full of photos! http://austro-hungary.iatp.org.ua/arms/artillery_ttd/305-mm_SM_M11-16.htm
If you need information on specific parts of the kits just let me know. I've got the kits myself (and yes, Michael should add instructions) and can always ask MGM directly in case of doubt.
Mario
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Rafael Pelote
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RE: Help needed on Daimler Truck & 30.5cm Mörser
thanks a lot for your warm wellcome and for all this extensive info on the subject! I'll have to go through it all and see what i can sort out of the kit. So far I've done the major clean-up of the parts. Following, Ill go into a more detailed clean-up and look into what needs to be replaced, because some of the parts are broken.
I'll report back as soon as i have something. I plan to do a step-by-step photo coverage of the build-up on my portuguese modeling forum. I'll post the link here for you to take a look at, as soon as I start the build-up.
Greg, I've noticed your mail through the list, I'll get back to you later this evening, from my home desktop!
On the assumption that 1/35 models can be a useful resource for braille scalers, here is a link to Gabriele Zenoni's gorgeous scratch build of these machines (plus others, scroll down a bit):
I'd advise very strongly against doing that - at best you would get only an approximation. At worst, you'd have to butcher it so much you may as well scratchbuild one!
I have the H&G kit..., and it is very good. You should know it is white metal and resin. Fidelity of detail is excellent( I have all three original manuals to check against), and the kit scales out to 1/32 accurately. My only disappointment is the kit does not include the lafettenfahrgesten (wheel attachments; fore and aft). Hecker&Gross released two appropriate figures for the kit, and they too are superb. The gun kit is a bit pricey ($180 US dollars) but they are available in the USA now.
Those of you wanting the kit in 1/35 may get your wish. Somewhere in my E-mail archive I have an exchange with a new company who plan to market the system in the Oriental scale.