_GOTOBOTTOM
Armor/AFV: Softskins
Softskins group discussions.
Hosted by Darren Baker
Guess this is as good a place as any ...
b2nhvi
Visit this Community
Nevada, United States
Joined: June 17, 2016
KitMaker: 1,124 posts
Armorama: 1,014 posts
Posted: Thursday, February 22, 2018 - 03:35 PM UTC
I am pondering building a post war, civilianized L4500 series truck. I'm leaning towards a late production (most likely to have survived the war.On the subject did any Einheits Diesels survive / get used after the war? I hear they were underpowered and expensive to make but were built like a rock.) What was the length of the beds on the 4500s? And, what is the length of a railroad track section used in post war Germany? (I know UK used 66 foot sections. US 29 foot and 78 foot.) I'm thinking a few rails and a batch of ties would make an interesting load out. (The Bussig Nag L4500 with crane would have been interesting but there's no space on the bed for cargo. )
Frenchy
Visit this Community
Rhone, France
Joined: December 02, 2002
KitMaker: 12,719 posts
Armorama: 12,507 posts
Posted: Thursday, February 22, 2018 - 07:40 PM UTC
Here's a 1949 picture :



According to the caption, it's a 1945 model.

Same truck with a tarp on and a trailer :



The licence plate has a "F" and a small 3-color flag (blue-white-red) meaning that the truck is registered in the French zone of occupation.

Maybe you can guesstimate the cargo bed length, knowing that the wheelbase is 4600 millimeters :



Full size

H.P.
165thspc
#521
Visit this Community
Kentucky, United States
Joined: April 13, 2011
KitMaker: 9,465 posts
Armorama: 8,695 posts
Posted: Thursday, February 22, 2018 - 11:13 PM UTC
As always - beautiful reference Henri!
b2nhvi
Visit this Community
Nevada, United States
Joined: June 17, 2016
KitMaker: 1,124 posts
Armorama: 1,014 posts
Posted: Friday, February 23, 2018 - 02:07 AM UTC
Merci. That is one hell of a fog light under the bumper. Plate looks to be for Rhineland - Pfalz ... French zone. Here is reference for post war / pre BRD plates.
http://www.dr-herzfeld.de/kennzeichengeschichte/nachkrieg.htm
 _GOTOTOP