Porsche Typ 205 Maus V2
The turret, a little smaller than a Sherman, but at 55 tons almost twice as heavy
Frontal armor, in scale thickness. The real deal is 23 cm thick
The gun is almost as long as the vehicle itself! RB model barrels and breech from a DML Jagdtiger.
NahverteidigungsWaffe comes from a DML Smartkit. The molded on original is horrible...
Rear end in scale thickness
The hull is a rendition of V1, the one without a turret. V2 did not have the rectangular welds.
Lower front hull
Turret. Looks spacious, right?
Not that roomy after all...
Side armor. Upper segment 18 cm thick, lower one milled down to 10 cm.
The kit floor is 2 mm thick. Front part should be 2.8 mm thick , and then 1.4 mm
Escape hatch on the outside
Front lower plate on the inside
Historically accurate turret ring vs. supplied turret ring.
Hull with turret ring
Turret roof almost done
The holes around the loader's hatch are for the deep wading "Schacht"
Turret roof detail
The correct size and position for the turret MP Kugelblende
The step present in the kit's lower turret was removed. This is the correct profile.
The towing eyes for the rear hull, missing in the kit...
...attached to the rear of the hull tub
Eduard PE vs. White styrene. The set is expensive for what it offers and inaccurate
Driver's and radio operator's compartment, dry fit.
These will become the fuel tanks
Left fuel tank
Intermediary mufflers
Final mufflers made from 1/32nd U.S. bombs
Final mufflers done
Test fit
Looks good
Enlarged oil tanks specific to MB517 engine
Radiators almost done
Vertical braces removed
Radiator WiP
Test fit for radiators
Oil tanks painted
Radiators
Auxiliary radiators done
Cooling compartment
Failure to coat the fuel tanks with aluminum foil, the Styrodur is too elastic
Seats for driver and radio operator made from bent wire and carved plastic
Comments
20 August 2012, 04:15
Florin MoldovanMy rendition of the historical Maus Versuchs-Fahrgestell Nr.2 (Wanne 351452). It will have a full interior.
20 August 2012, 04:49
Florin MoldovanIt will take some time, due to the interior, but I hope you will enjoy the project!
20 August 2012, 09:12
Florin MoldovanThe most important thing is the fun factor, doing the research and then applying it to a 1:35th scale replica.
21 November 2013, 05:41
Christian RistitsSaw this monster last time in a history documentary on tv...Ferdinand Porsche constructed it too big, so it never have been on any front line...really nice project, have fun!
6 June 2014, 17:29
Florin MoldovanActually the V2, whose replica is under construction here, saw actual combat as part of KampfGruppe Kahler, repelling a Soviet assault on Topchin, before being blown up by its crew on 21st of April, 1945. Those pseudo-documentaries are garbage, my friend!
6 June 2014, 18:07
Florin MoldovanThe V3 is rumored to have been captured by the soviets in Berlin, and that would be the second Maus that is supposed to be in Russia, the one at Kubinka being the hybrid put together by the soviets from the V1 hull and V2 turret...
6 June 2014, 21:18
Florin MoldovanFor the record, the Maus was anything but too big to handle. It had 190 tons that were propelled at a top speed of 20 km/hour, it could easily climb slopes of 45 degrees, and it had a deep wading capability of 10 meters. Its minimal turning radius was 7.25 m, almost twice that of a Tiger I at 3.55m, but significantly less the 18.6 m for a M4 Sherman mid production. Note that the T34 could only do skid turns. On 15th of March, 1944 the Maus V1 has sunk in swampy ground up to more than two thirds its hull, due the driver not knowing the terrain, avoided even by light tanks. After laying timbers under the tracks, the Maus pulled itself free under its own power, with no external help.
12 June 2014, 17:59
Giovanni C.Hi Florin, just now I discovered your project. Really are you building this beast ? How is going ? Great if you upload some progress pics. Best regards. Giovanni
12 November 2014, 16:23
Florin MoldovanDoing my best, started work on the MB517 engine, will post as soon as there is something to show.
If you want to read more, follow this link: armorama.com/modules..9&page=1#1660936
12 November 2014, 16:29
Giovanni C.Crazy ! I should understand this earlier: I know it. I'm following your job on Armorama from months ! Great job, Florin !
13 November 2014, 13:34
Holger KranichHey Florin, from where do you have the info that one Maus entered combat with Kampfgruppe Kahler?
14 November 2014, 08:44
Florin MoldovanBoth prototypes were sent. But V1, to support V2 with its generator at eventual river crossings, broke down in a field and explosive charges were detonated but did not do significant damage. V2 fired its guns in anger during a delaying action against units of the 3rd Guards Tank Army, on 21st of April 1945. It was blown up by its crew in Topchin, at the Hindenburgplatz, in front of the bunker Maybach I, 30 kilometers away from the testing facility. The information was compiled using various sources for a book that I started to write on this subject. Chief among those is "Weapons and testing ground at Kummersdorf" by Wolf Fleischer
14 November 2014, 11:30
Florin MoldovanThe inventory of Kampgruppe Kahler at the time was: one T34/43, two M4 Sherman, one Sd.KFz 222, one Sd.KFz 231, one Sd.Kfz 234/2 Puma, two Sd.Kfz 251/1, one Sd.Kfz 251/17, one Sd.Kfz 251/22, two Hetzer, one StuG IV, one MobelWagen, one Ostwind, one Pz IA, one Pz IIC, one PZ. IIIL, one Pz IVJ, two Pz. V Panther. More exotic vehicles were: one VK 3001(H) - possibly to have been a Sturer Emil-, one VK 4502(P) V, and the two Maus prototypes.
The infantry was a mixture of VolksSturm and FallschirmJaeger, while the vehicles being manned by the elite instructors from Kummersdorf.
14 November 2014, 11:37
Kerry COXI have more than enough Bitburger here to see it through, so, take your time 🙂
14 November 2014, 12:06
Holger KranichThat is really VERY VERY interesting to me, Florin! Thx for the info!
17 November 2014, 07:13
Udo BrowarczikNever thought about building the interior of this Monster! Thumbs up!
13 September 2016, 07:37
Florin MoldovanIt has large grills and would be an empty box otherwise. Besides, the vast majority of builds out there treat is as a "paper panzer". It was a remarkable piece of technology and I'm trying to treat this subject with the attention it deserves.
13 September 2016, 07:57
Bart Goesaertnice work on this beast.... an a full interior with it... will it be visible afterwards?
13 September 2016, 08:46
Florin MoldovanOnly what can be seen from the grills and the workable hatches. Cutaways are a sacrilege.
13 September 2016, 09:11
Stanley Carrieragreed on the cutaways thing. do you have sources for your combat information? i'd like to spread this information around
16 September 2016, 13:53
Florin MoldovanThe combat information is solid, and it was very hard to come by. I am in the process of writing a book on the Maus. I cannot and will not give one of my main selling points away, just like that.
16 September 2016, 19:19
EnsignExpendablHm interesting, I've never read any mention of a Maus being captured by Soviets in Berlin. Do you know what unit was rumoured to have found it?
6 October 2016, 15:45
Florin MoldovanNothing solid, but I am in possession of a French intelligence document dated 18/6/1945 that states that a Maus built in Stuttgart, in October 1944 was sent to the Army Museum in Berlin while the other two were tested at Kummersdorf. If you want I can e-mail the scan to you.
6 October 2016, 16:36
