MG 42 heavy lafette (1942)

[Sturmtiger]

Dear All,

Hereby I would like to show my 1942-made Excelsior original MG 42 lafette. Of course not that perfect condition as we got used to by others, with full of dunkelgelb, but I still like the essence of battlefield. I hope you like it as I like.
(Markings only remained on the search-fire mechanism)

[Sturmtiger]

a few more close-ups

[pzo]

Many thanks for sharing. It looks like an honest example and I like it Can You find pieces of original paint? Maybe inside of search fire module? Originally it should be painted with so called Panzer Grau, maybe later repainted with Dunkel Gelb. Where it comes from? Was it originally picked from battlefield? Range plate on search fire module is missing. Was it found like that, without plate or plate had been damaged during cleaning?

[Sturmtiger]

Hello, pzo!
Thanks for your comment! :-)
When it was found on the Eastern shore of the Dnieper it still had a little remain of Panzergrau (and the field applied MG number with red color, along with a '20,5' red marking near to the optic mount - which obviously referred for its weight) Of course the rust got under the painting everywhere, therefore those remains of painting were sacrificed in order to restore the Lafette 42 in the best possible way. The Überschießtafel wasnt with it by default, as you may see the optic mount's aluminium part is also in a very poor condition. Some aluminium parts got damaged randomly (but for example the shock absorber in the front gun mount - also made of aluminium - is quite ok). The main method of restoration was electrolysis.

[Sturmtiger]

adding two more pictures to the thread

[me6_130]

With a lot of patience and a bit of work it should look OK . I might have some aluminium part you might need.

Carles

[Sturmtiger]

Hello Carles, I think I will keep it in this condition. I dont like post war additions and repainting. I just removed the rust and conserved it, but there was nothing else done to the Lafette. With repainting I think the main essence of the example would fly away. Moreover it fits my MG well (which is in the same condition) in this shape. I think the chances to find an untouched-after-war, but '0 km' quality good looking Lafette 42 nowadays are quite low, so I decided to go for this one

Have a nice day!

[pzo]

Sturmtiger, Have You tried to find out who is the maker and date of production of Your Lafette? It should be on flat place over the search fire module. I can see some aluminium parts, which is still standard for 1942 dated Lafettes. Mystery is steel tube behind search fire module box. My Lafette is late 1943 and this tube was still made of aluminium, though turning knob is steel like in Your example.

[Sturmtiger]

I posted a picture at 08-08-2019, 11:42 PM about the profile of the search-fire mechanism. On this you can see the "AXX" factory code (which refers for Linden & Funke KG, Iserlohn). More interesting that there is a year of production: 1942. According to Bergflak's information, in this year the only producer of Lafette 42 was Excelsior, Brandenburger Fahrrad und Motorradwerk. So because of that I know the origin.
Unfortunately there was no marking left visible on the sheet metal under the butt stock


"1942 - Excelsior (Brandenburger Fahrrad und Motorradwerk), was the initial manufacturer of the Lafette 34. In 1942 they gradually ended their production of the Lafette 34 and started up with production of the Lafette 42. At the same time Excelsior was also manufacturing Lafettes for the experimental MG34/41."

(resource on the topic: https://www.bergflak.com/lafette/evo42.html )

You are right, there are several aluminium parts (in various condition...) built into this exact Lafette 42. Quite early bird so Germans could afford. Not like later...

[me6_130]

Well, I've got this alu block I don't need. I'ts dirty but seems in good condition, and still has some green colour left. Just PM if interested.

Carles

[Sturmtiger]

hmmm Carles, lets have a chit-chat in PM

[Sturmtiger]

that was the condition from which I needed to start