Carrier Based Half Track Film Props

[Chris Ballance]

I am trying to track down information on a Sd.Kfz. 251 like film prop half track that I think was built sometime in the late 70s and used in the films "A Bridge Too Far", "Hanover Street" and "Force 10 from Navarone." I think the vehicle was built by combining the front of a truck chassis with a old Universal Carrier, but I am not sure. In the past I thought this vehicle was one of the vehicles that Guy Arendt built for his long gone Victory Memorial Museum in Arlon, Belgium. A Opel Maultier Panzerwerfer 42 replica from Guy Arendt's old collection, now on display in the States, looks to have a similar front end and a Universal Carrier back end.

Then my Guy Arendt Frankenstein House of Horrors Theory was killed when this picture below surfaced on a forum. Does anyone have any information about the origin, history, and current location of this half track monster?



Regards,

Chris Ballance
filmpanzer.squarespace.com

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Moderator´s note: off-topic postings have been moved to a separate thread: ex-Victory Museum Morris-Commercial PU8/4.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Chris Ballance

Does anyone have any information about the origin, history, and current location of this half track monster?

Chris,

The tracks and sprocket are surely of Universal Carrier origin, the road wheels probably too.

I think I have seen that picture of this movie prop on a Dutch internet site. The background in your picture surely looks Dutch to me. I´ll keep it in mind and see if I can find more info.

Hanno

[Chris Ballance]

Thanks, I will be grateful for anything you can dig up!

Chris.

[martyn]

Hi think the road wheels are off a carrier too as i have seen road wheels with holes in just like them, think they are off a loyd carrier? friend sold a hull that came out of a quarry had a pump in the back but had the same wheels on it we thort they were german at first then found a photo in the book making tracks.
good luck with your search
martyn

[Alex van de Wetering]

Hi think the road wheels are off a carrier too as i have seen road wheels with holes in just like them, think they are off a loyd carrier?

Those wheels have been discussed on MLU before, as well. I think they came under Mr. Dodge's Loyd carrier in France. Anyway, if I remember correctly, those wheels had larger holes in them, so I recon the film prop company used " normal" carrier wheels and welded a thin piece of metal onto the spokes.
Although it looks out of proportion for a 251, it is fascinating to see the engineering!

Alex

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

I think I have seen that picture of this movie prop on a Dutch internet site. The background in your picture surely looks Dutch to me. I´ll keep it in mind and see if I can find more info.

Actually, it was sent to me via a mailing list as one of those "what is this?" type of e-mails. Sorry I can't be of more help.

Hanno

[Chris Ballance]

Hi Hanno,

No worries, eventually I think the answer will turn up and I will post what I find here. I really need to get a hold of the After the Battle Magazine Special Edition on Market Garden. It has a write up about the film, and maybe I can track down someone still alive from the production who can fill in the gaps. RZM did not have this issue a year ago, but I have not tried lately.

Regards,
Chris.