German Electric E18

Dikitriki

Flying Squad
I've just checked my list, it appears that E18 04 was broken up in 1944!

Steph

Just as well mine is numbered E18 06 then:):):)

As far as I can ascertain, my model is fitted with post war pantographs so there is a limited time frame when it had V and H with the later pantographs. I should be grateful if anyone can put a date on the latest time it was likely to have run in that configuration. I have seen one in 1953, but my sources are fairly limited, and my German even more so.

Richard
 

Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
Haha, I crossed up two references; sorry, Richard, yes 06 was a DB machine after the war.

I've got a photo of 06 in '54. Right pantographs, wrong livery; I'm not sure what the base colour is (and it's not in the caption) but she's got the middle and lower rivet runs painted in a lighter/brighter colour - this might also indicate a colour other than green. It also has the ends numbered, rather than lettered. Of course, the date is fairly academic, when your loco says 'Deutsche Reichsbahn' on the side!

So, assuming the detail is right then you've probably got '54 as quite a hard cut off due to the livery. I can't imagine that the pantographs are correct when it says 'Deutche Reichsbahn' on the side of the loco (or vice-versa), except for perhaps a very limited period after the loco was rebuilt c.1945.

Steph
 

michael080

Western Thunderer
hi there,

the east german railways had only 11 of 49 surviving engines on their territory, E18 04, 19, 23, 24, 28, 31, 34, 40, 43, 44 and 48. The five operational machines them went to the USSR as reparation. They returned from there in 1952 and were sold immediately to the west German DB.
E18 06 survived the end of the war the west Germany. All DB E18's were painted green after the war. E18 06 was actually the second machine that was painted blue in 1953. Only the East German DR machines had red underframes, all DB machines were black.
Richards model has also the early style lamps that were flush with the body. Most machines received "frog eye" lamps in later times that were protuding some 20cm.
The pantograph is a SBS39/54. I haven't found any reliable information, when E18 06 has received this type.

I remember these machines in Stuttgart. They had their electromechanic switchgear visible behind one of the windows. A very impressive view when they left the station. That was in the late seventies, they were all blue at that time.

Michael
 

Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
Michael,

Thanks for that clarification, I wasn't sure of the full story. I have models of 19 and 31 (P87 superdetailed Roco) which were well-researched, but I only have limited info on the others; basically a 1992 Eisenbahn Journal Sonderausgabe!

Incidentally, the photo I found of 06 (in blue, from your info) shows it still with the early headlights. I remember them causing me some hassle when I had to make and fit them to my models - the DR locos retained them.

Steph
 

Dikitriki

Flying Squad
Thank you Steph and Michael. That's very informative.

So, if I read it correctly, my E18 is a faithful model for a limited period in the very early 50s with the exception of the DR lettering on the side of the loco.

Do you know of a suitable paint match for the green?

Richard
 

Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
Chromoxydgrün RAL6020, I think. I use Revell 32363 as a referenced match. These days I'd eyeball something by mixing from Vallejo and matching to the model under a variety of light conditions.

Steph
 

Dikitriki

Flying Squad
Thank you Steph.

I've finished off the consoles and added a driver. I do realise that the driver is less than ideally positioned, but serious surgery, probably visible through the cab windows would be entailed to get him nearer. I've toned down the glossy console which brings out both the detail and the factory lack of attention to cleaning up castings properly! I'm happy that my fudged extra castings are pretty close to the original missing items.

P1010048a.jpg

P1010049a.jpg

P1010050a.jpg

P1010051a.jpg
Finishing off the chassis next I think. I had a look at the body and there's a problem with the chassis retaining bracket. As well as that, it's incredibly difficult to hold without damaging roof components or steps, so I'm having a think about that!

Richard
 

michael080

Western Thunderer
I know that it happened in Stuttgart, but I guess that the air space was too crowded in these years to know for sure :)

Michael
 

SimonT

Western Thunderer
Michael or Steph,
any idea of the date? If you have I'll see if I can find out what was going on during that date.
Simon
 

michael080

Western Thunderer
yep,

I found that it was taken out of service on 23.Nov.1943. It was "ausgemustert" which means taken from the list on 10.Nov. 1944.
I assume that it was severly damaged in 1943. It is not uncommon that the process of final retirement takes some time.
Interestingly, it was not scrapped but taken to the manufacturers works in Henningsdorf, which is close to Berlin. After the war, E18 04 together with five more machines were rebuilt as E18 19, E18 31 and E18 43. Six damaged E18s became east german DR machines.

There were no air raids on either of these dates, however there was an night attack on 26.Nov 1943 that targetted the Daimler-Benz factory that is only about 5km from the Stuttgart engine sheds. Pretty close considering the precision of the bombing at that time. However, I don't think that the "out of service" date above is wrong so that there is no likely relation between these incidents.

The date of 10.Nov.1944 is at least five days from the next air raid (05.11. and 21.11.), so not very likely either.

I don't think that any British fighter bombers could reach Stuttgart before mid 1944, so only P38 or P47 were capable of attacking target so deep in Germany.


Michael
 

SimonT

Western Thunderer
Michael,
very interesting. Stuttgart was visited quite often by the Mosquito and the bomber variants could carry a 4000Lb 'cookie' over that range. Nine visited Stuttgart on the night 25/26 November as a nuisance/diversion from the Main Bomber Force Heavies. As you say, precision bombing was a misnomer for the efforts of all the heavy bombers, although by this time the Pathfinder force were starting to improve the figures by marking the target. This was offset by the early release by aircraft later in the stream (on the fires below or simple human nature) so that the impact point drifted backwards as the raid progressed.

The P-38 was a failure in the European theatre and suffered some heavy losses to the Luftwaffe, with an ace claiming 7 in one engagement. The P-38 was eventually given to Boscombe Down and they tested it against the Me109 and FW190. The P-38 was significantly slower in combat at height and was eventually withdrawn as a fighter. The P-47 was short on range as was demonstrated during the attacks on Schweinfurt when the bomber stream had a considerable distance to fly without fighter cover.

So the loco either broke big time or somebody hit with something else large and unmoving!

Simon
 

michael080

Western Thunderer
Richard,

I found an interesting link that also shows the interior of the cab. The chair is pretty extravagant and looks more like a "Bauhaus" cantilever chair.



Screenshot (1129).png



You can find more information at E 18

There is also a link at the bottom of that page that describes the machine in all details, but unfortunately in German.

And no, the "Führerraum" is not reserved for the führer :eek:

Michael
 

Dikitriki

Flying Squad
I have in fact managed to finish the reconstruction of the body. Generally mostly internal - resoldering chassis attachment brackets, or tedious - reworking all 4 steps to make sure the uprights were attached to the handrails, the handrails attached to the body, and the treads attached to the supports. I have found out that the original construction did not always use enough solder, or rather not enough heat so it didn't run properly. At least the paint finish stood up well to a microflame.

The only picture-worthy item was replacing one of the windscreen wipers which disappeared long before I acquired it.

P1010057a.jpg

P1010058b.jpg

I then gave it a good wash prior to touching up, only to find that some detail had dropped off! After a mild panic attack, I found the bits (2) in the bottom of the sink. Touch up and reassembly now.

Richard
 
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