What does this mean ?

[Guest]

Ive started an acadamy kit 1/72nd scale. The subject is of a Storch and Kubelwagen. On the side of the Kubelwagen there is a decal that reads "OTTO". I have looked on the web to try and find out what this is but its all very confusing...can anyone please tell me what it is. The kit is Africa Korp if that helps, and i have posted a photo i found on the web showing how it looks and is depicted on the model...cheers Martin.

[ATTACH]24352.IPB[/ATTACH]

[Gern]

Hi Martin,

This is a Kubelwagen used by a pilot called Hans Joachim von Marseille. I'm sure there's lots of stuff available on the 'net, but our resident local WWII German expert Steve (Stona) will know the best places to find what you want to know.

Gern

[Guest]

Thanks for the info Dave, just looked this guy up on Wiki....what an amazing chap he was, superb pilot. Many thanks, Martin

[stona]

Here's some piccies for you.

Marseille in his "office".

A well known one of him posing with one of his victims (Hurricane)

Here he's watching another victory mark go on his rudder.

I can't remember why the Kubelwagen was called "Otto". Unfortunately I'm in Hannover and my books are in Birmingham! Tony (Yak Face) has made the car along with one of his Bf109Fs and may be able to help out. A very interesting man,Marseilles. He was a superb pilot but he had his problems within the Luftwaffe. Africa was probably far enough away from Berlin for him to get on and do what he did best.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Thanks so much for the info and in particular the pics Steve. He was un-doubtably an ace pilot and he certainly had the charisma with it !!! As you say from what i have read he stirred it up in the Luftwaffa and there were those that did not know how to "handle" him. I am going to see if there is a book or film about him as im now fasinated to learn more of his exploits. Once again thanks very much, regards Martin.

[yak face]

Hi martin, As the others have pointed out ,the kubelwagen was marseilles personal transport when he served in africa.At the moment im just finalising a desert dio in 1/72, comprising of marseilles 109 , the kubelwagen otto and some figures on desert base. I got the decals for otto in the sweet models issue of marseilles 109 in 1/144 (see threads "sweet dude!" and "sweet dude!2" in aircraft pics) which are supplied in 1/144 ,1/72,and 1/48 , although on the decal sheet sweet supply the otto script is on both sides, whereas the academy decal only supplies one .I also posted up a thread of the 1/72 kubelwagen which im using in the dio, this is in tanks section. If you fancy making a 1/48 version of otto ,ive still got the decals spare,pm me and you can have em. Like yourself i read about marseilles and found his story fascinating, so much i just had to model him and his aircraft, hopefully ill be posting the dio on here soon. Cheers tony

[John]

Otto is Italian for 8 This was the most aircraft from Western Allied air forces shot down by a single pilot in one day

More info here

[Guest]

Hi martin, As the others have pointed out ,the kubelwagen was marseilles personal transport when he served in africa.At the moment im just finalising a desert dio in 1/72, comprising of marseilles 109 , the kubelwagen otto and some figures on desert base. I got the decals for otto in the sweet models issue of marseilles 109 in 1/144 (see threads "sweet dude!" and "sweet dude!2" in aircraft pics) which are supplied in 1/144 ,1/72,and 1/48 , although on the decal sheet sweet supply the otto script is on both sides, whereas the academy decal only supplies one .I also posted up a thread of the 1/72 kubelwagen which im using in the dio, this is in tanks section. If you fancy making a 1/48 version of otto ,ive still got the decals spare,pm me and you can have em. Like yourself i read about marseilles and found his story fascinating, so much i just had to model him and his aircraft, hopefully ill be posting the dio on here soon. Cheers tony

Hi Tony, thanks for the reply. I am going to have a look at the thread you posted re the 1/72 kuelwagen. As you say there is only one set of decals with the acadamy kit which is a little annoying to say the least. Cant wait to see the dio you are doing, the subject of Marseilles is one that im sure you will do great justice too.

Have to say i love doing the Kubelwagen and i do rather like the 1/48 scale stuff so...i think its a cert i will get to do this version, i will pm you for the decals, thank you so much...im off to look at your pics on here now...regards ,Martin,

[Guest]

Otto is Italian for 8 This was the most aircraft from Western Allied air forces shot down by a single pilot in one dayMore info here

Thanks for that John, much appreciated, regards Martin.

[Ian M]

OTTO is also a fairly common name in Europe...Maybe its dont mean a thing, he just called his "car" Otto?

Quite like the look of it though. If no one else grabs those decals, Tony, I might be up for an OTTO in 1/48.

Ian M

[Guest]

Never ceases to amaze me how much info you guys find out.

[Guest]

Never ceases to amaze me how much info you guys find out.

Brilliant aint it Graham...tell you what the best thing ive done since returning to model making is joining this forum...what a wondeful place it is for friends, info and inspiration. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to reply to my question, regards Martin.

[stona]

I've taken a screen shot from the only footage I know of showing the famous kubelwagen. It is only shown for a few seconds. I've grabbed a shot which shows the lettering clearly.

I followed the link to Wikipedia. Seems like a good entry. One bit caught me by surprise. HJM,it says,shunned sunglasses to improve his vision! I found this,and there are others with more conventional sun glasses,on my laptop. I know it's a small detail but it is how internet myths propagate.I have no idea how much milk he drank!

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Thats brilliant Steve, thanks for sharing, brilliant still of the actuall Kubelwagen, real history. I too read that about the sunglasses, just shows from the pics you have that information can be "changed" to tell a good yarn !! Many thanks for this, regards Martin :-)