ferrarijoe Posted August 29, 2014 Posted August 29, 2014 Started this about 2 years ago and got busy so just set it off to the side. then i moved so figured time to finish it up. As you can see this is a big kit. In 1:1 this thing was huge remember this is 1/72 scale.
ferrarijoe Posted August 29, 2014 Author Posted August 29, 2014 A little background on real gun Schwerer Gustav (English: Heavy Gustaf, or Great Gustaf) and Dora were the names of two massive World War 2 German 80 cm K (E) railway siege guns. They were developed in the late 1934 by Krupp for the express purpose of destroying heavy fortifications, specifically those in the French Maginot Line. They weighed nearly 1,350 tonnes, and could fire shells weighing seven tonnes to a range of 37 kilometers. Designed in preparation for World War II, and intended for use against the deep forts of the Maginot Line, they were not ready for action when the Wehrmacht outflanked the line during the Battle of France. Gustav was used in the Soviet Union at the siege of Sevastopol during Operation Barbarossa. They were moved to Leningrad, and may have been intended for Warsaw. Gustav was captured by US troops and cut up, whilst Dora was destroyed near the end of the war to avoid capture by the Red Army.
Fabrux Posted August 30, 2014 Posted August 30, 2014 A guy in my club has one of these and we keep bugging him to build it. We've even offered to each build parts of it to get it built! We've suggested a diorama with the assembled Dora and support crew.
GLMFAA1 Posted August 30, 2014 Posted August 30, 2014 There is a real rail gun at Aberdeen proving grounds in Maryland here is a video I found not as big but still a Krupp gun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-XjxwBosFY greg
ferrarijoe Posted August 30, 2014 Author Posted August 30, 2014 Yah help would of been nice it's over 1700 pieces. I can't find figures that seem right for this. I have grabbed some other 1/72 vehicles to go with it to show off the size. I have never done a diorama, but maybe this would be a good piece to try one. I did get some railroad rock for the track. At the same time it would be a huge scene the tracks are 48 inches long. So would think I would need to make a space of 5 ft by 2 or 3ft.
ferrarijoe Posted August 30, 2014 Author Posted August 30, 2014 That video is the Leopold trumpeter and dragon make 1/35 kits of it. The trumpeter one has a cool track with it. The engineering of these early WWII weapons it's amazing to me.
Quick GMC Posted September 1, 2014 Posted September 1, 2014 Did your parents buy you this? I remember someone got this as a grad gift or something and they posted over on the old briansmodelcars.com That thing is huge
ferrarijoe Posted September 1, 2014 Author Posted September 1, 2014 Wish my parents would by me kits, but at 36 I am on my own for that. What ever happened to briansmodlecars i use to use it then stopped for a few years while getting into other hobbies. Then went back and it was gone.
Agent G Posted September 2, 2014 Posted September 2, 2014 Isn't this the one where the support vehicles outnumber an infantry battalions supply section? I'd love to build this but there's no room at my place. Waiting for more. G
Brett Barrow Posted September 2, 2014 Posted September 2, 2014 Believe it or not, there's also a 1/35th scale kit of this. It's being reissued soon. http://forum.largescalemodeller.com/topic/2199-135-dora-railway-gun-800mm/
Fabrux Posted September 2, 2014 Posted September 2, 2014 You know what, I think the 1:35 scale one is the one my buddy has... I know it is frickin' huge!
ferrarijoe Posted September 2, 2014 Author Posted September 2, 2014 I saw the 1 35 after I bought 1 72. I want it but can't see having 2 of them. But after looking at it again if it's reissued just might get it. So much more detail in 1 35.
Brett Barrow Posted September 2, 2014 Posted September 2, 2014 It is a massive 1:1 object. Even the 1/72 is a fairly large kit (around 3' long). Was carried by a train 25 cars long. Took 250 men 3 days to assemble it. Took thousands more to lay the special track needed to aim and traverse the gun, dig the embankments and man the 2 full AA battalions to protect it from air attack. Two were built, Schwerer Gustav and Dora, Schwerer Gustav was only used once in combat, in Sevastopol. Began its move to the front in February 1942 , wasn't ready to fire until June, it fired 48 shells over the span of 12 days. Each gun would be moved and attempted to be made ready to fire once more, Schwerer Gustav near Leningrad and Dora near Stalingrad. WWII German excess at it's finest. They really were their own worst enemies...
ferrarijoe Posted September 2, 2014 Author Posted September 2, 2014 small update getting ready to do airbrush work to finish. Think I might try my first weathering on this. all the gray is to much need to break it up.
philo426 Posted September 2, 2014 Posted September 2, 2014 Awesome project! i made the 1/72 Hasegawa "karl" Siege mortar and it is a nice kit also!
Ace-Garageguy Posted September 3, 2014 Posted September 3, 2014 Aha !! I hadn't seen this thread when I asked about Dora in the background of your military transports thread. Very nice. Man. Nice.
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