January Preview: Pz.Kpfw. III / IV Winterketten and track accessories

Delivery is scheduled for the 5th of January 2023 10pm CET. There is no difference between early-bird and standard STL-Tier this month.

This type of Winterketten was introduced at the same time as the Type 6 Winterketten were, around autumn 1942. Therefore, it seems like no early/late differentiation can be made. I call them Type 3 because they core of this link is a Type 3 B standard link. (Closed guide horn, no indents.)

My design is based on my original Type 3A body and Type 5B guide horn I 3d scanned. The fin was photo-matched, supplemented with data I obtained through a collector.

For assembly the main variant is to use either pin or wire. The click-system is highly dependent on your resin and print settings. Even when well printed, I'd recommend to glue it in place after posing. It's not meant to be workable nor will it survive play-sessions. It's intended to be a speedy shortcut when assembling the vehicle.

*Post release note: Appreantly another version without ice cleats was produced, they might become subject of a future release.

This is another very common type of Winterketten. This time using the Type 6A as a core. While the Type 6 is actually the later core, it's Winterketten variant was made around the same time than the Type 3 based one.

My design is based on my original Type 5B body and guide horn, I 3d scanned for reference. The fin was photo-matched, supplemented with data I obtained through a collector.

For assembly the main variant is to use either pin or wire. The click-system is highly dependent on your resin and print settings. Even when well printed, I'd recommend to glue it in place after posing. It's not meant to be workable nor will it survive play-sessions. It's intended to be a speedy shortcut when assembling the vehicle.

*Post release note: Appreantly another version without ice cleats was produced, they might become subject of a future release.

Winterketten Curiosity?

I anounced this within the roadmap. It turned out to be wartime field-modification/repair of a worn type 3 with new ice cleats welded on. I did include an additional Type 7 Variant instead. Sry guys...

This is another variant of the Type 7, produced with ice cleats. I'd say it's less common compared to the regular Type 7 without ice cleats.

Type 7 was produced from 1944 on, but remains a rather rare Type. The central part of any Type 7 link is a new development, making it not compatible with any other Types of tracks. Nevertheless, it uses the same sprocket as Types 2- 6 do.

This design is based around my scanned Type 5B core. In order to make it work for the Type 7's wider center-front sleeve I went to a museum and measured the differences. (I was very lucky to find a vehicle with a full run of Type 7 tracks). The H-shaped profile was photo-matched. Guide horn is measurement based, not from scan unfortunately.

For assembly the main variant is to use either pin or wire. The click-system is highly dependent on your resin and print settings. Even when well printed, I'd recommend to glue it in place after posing. It's not meant to be workable nor will it survive play-sessions. It's intended to be a speedy shortcut when assembling the vehicle.

Panzer III / IV Track accessories

These are compatible with all Type 3 to Type 7 tracks, including Winterketten and Ostketten.

Click here for an instructional video.

Hammerstollen

In German "Stollen" has some differnt meanings: tunnel, a type of pastry or in this case: studs. Hammerstollen are ice cleats or studs with the form of a hammer's head. ..

Up to two Hammerstollen can be mouted to a single track link.

I'd advice against mounting too many Hammerstollen to a single vehicle! In reality we can see them being spread out. Just think about a vehicle with 400 Hammerstollen, each secured by a piece of wire only... Downhill, compacted hard ground, tail wind and an Inn in crew's sight... The vehicle is going ~50km/h, the tracks move twice as fast... ...rapid unscheduled dissasembly of fenders... (...and making future use of a lawn mower along the chosen path a fool's errant...) 

I have included an 2 open (no scurity pin) versions (with and without cast markings) to be used as stand-alone accessory to add to your diorama as well as versions with pin. 

Pressupported files allowing you to fuse them together in your slicer, compatible with my pre-supported track track link versions. (render pending).

Mittelstollen

You might already know them from my Panther tracks. These are additional studs or ice cleats that can be attached to the center of any type of panzer III / IV track (excluding Type 1, more or less). 

I do advice not to over do it, just use a few of them per track lenght.

They ususally snap in place and can be removed again. In front a hook graps the central undercut, in the rear a spring loaded latch tightens against the "Griffleiste". ( That's the reason behind all Panzer III/IV tracks do have at least a window cut into the rear wall.) The underside is mostly identical between early and late type. On a side note, I had to make compromises here in order to make them printable, the wallthickness is significantly thicker compared to a scaled down 1to1 scale design. This here is 1/35th.

I design my versions to be either used as stand-alone for diorama work or to be fused onto my track links using your slicer software.

Mittelstollen (early type)

Mittelstollen (late type)

Main difference, analog to the Panther Mittelstollen, is the carrier plate is enlarged, providing a more stable plattform.

I do hope this release does meet your expectations.
Thank you very much for your support.
Kai