Where to Begin?
"I want to build a tank!"
I think every WWII reenactor has either said this statement out loud at least once.
To begin, you need to be honest with yourself and ask these questions.
• Do I have the skills to do this?
• Do I have the tools to do this?
• Do I have the resources?
• Can I afford this?
Skills
Building a vehicle or any large prop from scratch is difficult. Since the majority of vehicles are made of steel you will have to have some skill in metalwork. Cutting, welding, shaping, and body work are all abilities you will need at some point or another. Either you or someone on your team will need experience in these areas.
Tools
Construction will involve tools and equipment far beyond what you would normally find in your everyday garage. Mig welders, plasma cutters, and bench shears just to name a few. Planning tools are also important, such as something that allows you to determine angles. For example, if you are building a PAK 36 you will need to look at a drawing or blueprint and determine the slope for a piece of armor. A tape measure in metric would also be critical.
Resources
Blueprints and plans are vital before you begin any major project like this. Useful resources include source manuals, scale drawings, and even accurate/scale toy models. Relying on only one of these sources is a mistake, you should have at least two to three vetted sources for planning out your project. If you can find copies of original blueprints, so much the better.
Money
Whatever you think this project will cost, double or triple your budget. If you think it will cost $1K, plan on spending $2K to $3K. If you run out of money half way through your project, you may never get back to it again and you will be stuck with something you cant even sell. For a small anti-tank gun, expect to invest $1K or more. For a Sdkfz. 222, you can expect to spend $5K - $10K just for materials.
"I want to build a tank!"
I think every WWII reenactor has either said this statement out loud at least once.
To begin, you need to be honest with yourself and ask these questions.
• Do I have the skills to do this?
• Do I have the tools to do this?
• Do I have the resources?
• Can I afford this?
Skills
Building a vehicle or any large prop from scratch is difficult. Since the majority of vehicles are made of steel you will have to have some skill in metalwork. Cutting, welding, shaping, and body work are all abilities you will need at some point or another. Either you or someone on your team will need experience in these areas.
Tools
Construction will involve tools and equipment far beyond what you would normally find in your everyday garage. Mig welders, plasma cutters, and bench shears just to name a few. Planning tools are also important, such as something that allows you to determine angles. For example, if you are building a PAK 36 you will need to look at a drawing or blueprint and determine the slope for a piece of armor. A tape measure in metric would also be critical.
Resources
Blueprints and plans are vital before you begin any major project like this. Useful resources include source manuals, scale drawings, and even accurate/scale toy models. Relying on only one of these sources is a mistake, you should have at least two to three vetted sources for planning out your project. If you can find copies of original blueprints, so much the better.
Money
Whatever you think this project will cost, double or triple your budget. If you think it will cost $1K, plan on spending $2K to $3K. If you run out of money half way through your project, you may never get back to it again and you will be stuck with something you cant even sell. For a small anti-tank gun, expect to invest $1K or more. For a Sdkfz. 222, you can expect to spend $5K - $10K just for materials.