Check out my Zundapp!

Ok, this is the latest model i've been working on. It's the Revell kitset of the 1941 Zundapp KS750 with side car in 1/9th scale. (WW2 German)
i spent about 30 hours on it including build and paint. Most of the painting was airbrushed. Markings and paint scheme are for an early war Vehicle in the Wehrmacht (german army). Officially these things are known as 'Kradschutzen'
which i think loosely translates into 'motorbike for soldiers' -seems appropriate. Here's some interestin facts on the real bike;

Total production run : approx 18,000

Production year; 1941 - 1944

Engine : 751cc, flat twin, 4 stroke.

Power: a massive 26 HP @ 4,400RPM

Wieght: 400KG( 640 lbs) unloaded(holy cow!)

Top speed: 95 kmph(not quite 60 MPH)

Trans: 4 speed fwd, 1 reverse with optional hi/lo ratio

Drive train: shaft drive 2WD-rear plus chair

Fuel consumption; on road- 7 litres per 100 kms
off road- 9 litres per 100 kms

Armament: 1 MG 34 LMG plus what ever the boys could carry!

hmm..i'd like one of those MG's on my Viffer.....

 

Nice work. Reminds me of my old Beemer. I saw one of these in the flesh a few years ago at a BMW swap meet near Chicago. The guy had the bike with sidehack and machine gun, a trailer, and cases full of all kinds of related stuff, like a pack of cigarettes that the soldiers would have smoked...

 

check this out RT.....1956 DKW rare German 2 stroke

 

WOW, impressive work. Thanks for sharing, i enjoyed examining all the detail work.

 

Quality work as always RT. Very nice indeed.

 

Nice job! Makes me feel embarrassed to think of the models I used to build...

 

Too bad pintels are outlawed in the US...
It would be sweet to have an mg42 mounted on the VFR.
I don't think the zuomo mount could handle the recoil.

 

i got one of these but cant find a Snell or Dot rating any where on it????

 

very interesting indeed! Isee the DKW has Auto union badges as well.

Do you knowanything about the association between these two brands?

Ive only ever seen auto union on 30's race cars, the ones that used to race the mercedes 'silver arrows'.

like this big bad boy!

 

Sadly, RT, my knowledge of their relationships during that time period is minimal. What really sparked my interest when I saw it on Craigslist was when I saw the pictures. When I was about 12 or 13yrs old my best buddies Dad gave us an old motorcycle to tinker with, this bike is a dead ringer for that old bike. Of course, we stripped it of all of what we thought were "unneccesary" parts and used it like a dirt bike in the fields and woods around our neighborhood. We beat it to death, and it was my introduction to bikes. Now, of course, it would be worth a bunch of money, and it might have been one of the 200 this man claims were imported. Sheesh. If only .... By the way, nice work on your models. I currently pal around sometimes with a guy that builds airplane models, some of which are amazing. Sears and Roebuck company used to sell motorcycles in the US under the Allstate label, after the DKW, my young buddy and I got our hands on one of these and it suffered the same fate. We bought it with grass cutting money. I recall that it had a single cylinder Ducati motor which meant nothing to us at the time. Wonder if that would be worth anything now? Oh, and when I saw the DKW, I seriously entertained buying it, but I dont need another project right now.

 

That is awesome model. Great job buiding the model. I wish I have that kind of patient.

 

Wanna see a Zundapp?

If you ever find yourself in Eastern Pennsylvania during to first weekend of June, you can go see genuine, fully restored Zundapps, BMWs, Indians, Harleys and whatever kind of WWII vehicle your hearts desire. It called WWII weekend at the Reading Airport in Reading Pa. They even have the machine guns attached. I was there last year and while walking around the German Camp, I began to feel a little uncomfortable. It might have something to do with my non-aryan complexion. It was worth it to see the bikes and tanks and planes though.
Check it out online. This event is huge and many people come to it from all over. The planes are the best.

 

I wish i had time for that...I have at least 4 tamiyas still in the box, one Mc Laren Mp4-8 (just remenber Silverstone '93, Senna was and always will be the greatest) one sauber Mercedes C1 class, one Ford Escort Cosworth, and one Mig 29...the cars are 1/24...

I think I'll just wait for my son to grow...

 

an interesting evolution...

no worries, i did some backgrounding and came up with this data. i was astonished to find that MZ is infact re incarnated DKW via Auto union.

i also now understand why a Ural looks exactly like one of these. it is in fact a russian knock off. any way heres a potted history and timeline.

1922 Under the brand-name DKW (Dampf Kraft Wagen), the first motorcycle rolls off the assembly line.

1929 The "Zschopauer Motorenwerke J.S. Rasmussen AG" becomes the largest motorcycle company in the world, producing over 60,000 machines a year under the name DKW

1932 The AUTO UNION is founded in Saxony consisting of DKW (Zschopau), Wanderer (Chemnitz), AUDI and Horch (Zwickau). Four connected rings denoting the four companies become the trade-mark of this new company. The company in Zschopau remains the world leader for the manufacture of 2-stroke engines and motorcycles.

1945 Following the end of the war, the company is completely disassembled. All machines and equipment are transported to the Soviet Union. The management of AUTO UNION moves to its new headquarters in Ingolstadt, West-Germany.

1956 The trade-mark MZ (Motorradwerk Zschopau) is introduced. Up to the German reunification in 1989, 80,000 motorcycles were produced on a yearly basis and were exported to over 100 countries. The number of employees totalled 3,200.

1992 On July 1st, the Motorrad- und Zweiradwerk GmbH (Motorcycle and Two-Wheel Automotive Plant), MuZ for short, is founded under Petr-Karel Korous. Already in autumn, a new model range is presented, comprising among others the Silver Star Classic 500, the Saxon Country and the Saxon Voyager Trail, with engines from Austrian engine producers Rotax.

1996 Malaysian Group Hong Leong takes over MuZ after insolvency.

1999 Finally, in Octobre, the "u" comes to fall. "MZ is back!" can now be stated with good reason.( haha...maybe stands for "malaysian zundapp..LOL)

2002 MZ is building its cooperation with MZ Malaysia

2003 The MZ 1000 S is launched into the German market. A new high-tech bike, captivating with design and character.

im not 100% sure but i thought i heard recently that MZ had recently closed down production?

 

Hey marley, all these kits you list are out of production at the moment and rare. certainly highly resaleable. especially the cossie!

 

thats awasome detailed work in the models i wish i had the time and patance to do that kind of hobby but with 2 jobs and hardly no spare time i ride when i get the opperatunty,but great job

 

That is very nice work, and that comes from someone who builds a lot of model airplanes (pix of them are Here). The weathering and paint are very well done and give it just enough "Life" to make it look used. Great job!

Also, for those who might like to see a real one in civilian livery there is one on display at the Barber Museum in Birmingham, AL. right now. It isn't the KS750 but is a 1938 K800. I only took two photos, One of The Bike and one of the Information Placard but it is an interesting looking machine.

 

WOW! that K800 is super cool. and a four cylinder to boot. thanks for the pics.

also thanks for the link to the aircraft models. VERY handy for me as am working on the 1/32 trumpeter A10 thunderbolt at the mo. so very useful to see your pics and congrats on the 2nd place at the club comps.

I have just completed the tamiya 1/32 F15E strike eagle also. i see that on your 'to do' list there.

cheers

RT

 

That's pretty coincidental

The Trump A-10 builds up nicely but it is a real chore in places. It's been a while since I finished it but I still remember my frustration at times. The A-10 is such a cool plane and I already had so much time in it that I just refused to give up on it and now I'm glad I didn't.

I'm going to do the F-15E in Israeli livery. I haven't started it yet except for a few detail areas but will probably do some on it this winter when it's too cold to get out and ride

Great job again on the bike!
Scott