MG42 Ammo Box Dimensions

[TomN]

Hey Guys

Does anyone know a source for MG42 ammo box drawings and/or dimnsions?

I'm thinking of scratchbuilding one in 1/16 scale.

Thanks
Tom

[vlpbruce]

Were you looking for the small ones carried in the field, or the larger shipping crates?
If you are looking for the smaller ones, I think Verlinden still makes their MG-42 which has a box or two in it.

[bigjohn]

Like this one?

[TomN]

Hi Bruce

The smaller one carried by troops. I have a resin cast one already, and the Aber PE ones in 1/35, but since I like
to punish myself I thought I'd try to scratchbuild one in 1/16. I have some pics off the net and I'm trying to scale up the
Aber ones...just was looking for some real overall dimensions.

Thanks
Tom

[TomN]

Hey John

Yeah like that, but I'm a little leary of Verlinden 120mm stuff...it can run a bit on the huge side.

I built some S&T 1/16 fgures a while back, a Verlinden 120mm guy was a good head taller.

Thanks
Tom

[vlpbruce]

Hi Tom,
I may have some good pics. I don't think they're dimensioned though. I'll take a look when I get home.

[bigjohn]

Dimensions: 34 x 16 x 7 cm

Oh wait, That 7cm measurement doesn't look right

[bigjohn]

Another listing with dimensions

www.ebay.com/itm/100-original-WW2-GERMAN-steel-Ammo-Box-for-MG34-MG42-/171130373920?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27d82a4720#ht_185wt_917

[Tobi]

Sept 25, 2013 20:16:45 GMT -5 bigjohn said:

Dimensions: 34 x 16 x 7 cm

Oh wait, That 7cm measurement doesn't look right

As the Bundeswehr is using the MG3, which is only a modified MG42, up to this day, the ammo box is also almost the same like back then:

36 x 16 x 7,5 cm

Cheers,
Tobi

[bigjohn]

I was reading that the box for the MG3 (.308 ammo) is too narrow for WWII use. The 8mm round wont fit in this can. I found another dimension for the 8mm can is supposed to be 9cm wide.

[Tobi]

You're right John, hence I wrote "almost" the same.

MG42 is cal. 7,92x57 IS (Infanterie Spitz) with a cartridge length of 8,03cm (same cartridge as for the K98k).
MG3 is 7,62x51 NATO with a length of 7,1cm and a different propelling charge (same cartridge as for the G3).

But if I scale down a difference of max. 15mm of the boxes to 1/16, I get less than 1mm deviation, no?
I don't claim I could tell this apart, so I took the liberty to simplify things here.

Cheers,
Tobi

[bigjohn]

Sept 26, 2013 6:30:43 GMT -5 Tobi said:

You're right John, hence I wrote "almost" the same.

MG42 is cal. 7,92x57 IS (Infanterie Spitz) with a cartridge length of 8,03cm (same cartridge as for the K98k).
MG3 is 7,62x51 NATO with a length of 7,1cm and a different propelling charge (same cartridge as for the G3).

But if I scale down a difference of max. 15mm of the boxes to 1/16, I get less than 1mm deviation, no?
I don't claim I could tell this apart, so I took the liberty to simplify things here.

Cheers,
Tobi

Right Tobi, just trying to present the information accurately. Those dementions should get Tom in the ball park

[Tobi]

Agreed John, a modeler should always head for accuracy, of course, and your objection was perfectly justified in both historical and technical terms.

Have a nice day,
Tobi

[TomN]

Thanks for all the help guys, I'm glad I asked!

Now that I have the basic dimensions, I think I can imagineer it from here.

Thanks again,
Tom