"German Artillery range finding gadget??" Topic

So my bf flak 38 batteries have one guy on each gun that is looking thru the middle (not thru the tube) of a tube-thingy that resembles a bazooka. What is it anyway and more importantly how should I paint it? It's onthe cover of the bf flak 36 box here:
link

It's a range finder:

picture

I paint mine plain old gray…

Here's some info on how these rangefinders work: link

Damon.

Cooincidence is how I find my range in most games oddly enough!
But what about the backpack? Bf painted theirs black in the pic but is it metal or leather?

It's called an Entfernungsmesser, and was made by Zeiss. Early on, it would have been dunkelgrau; later it *should* get repainted in dunkelgelb at some point.

The BF FlaK 36 cover art shows a leather case of some sort on the operator's back; that doesn't ring a bell. The rangefinder should have its own protective crate. I don't recall any BF figures with that particular thing on their backs.

Allen

On my computer the picture looks like it's meant to be brown leather, presumably being the case for the range finder.

Allen got in first! A few examples of the Entfernungsmesser & other German optical devices link

One for sale auction

& the 1.0m version in its case link

Commonly nicknamed "donkey's ears" by the Germans.

The leather case is the holder for the shoulder braces that are used to help steady the rangefinder

I painted mine (late war) in dunkelgelb with brown leather ends

28mm 105mm battery
link

28mm Flak 36/38
link

Olivier

"The leather case is the holder for the shoulder braces that are used to help steady the rangefinder"

That makes sense! Never seen one, myself.

Allen

As Allen says, my early war ones get painted grey, late war ones dunkelgelb.

I first came across these back in the old H&R German artillery crew set back in the 1970s. It looks a bit heavy to hold up for any length of time, I'm surprised they didn't provide a tripod for it.

Tripod is a good idea.

picture

I'm surprised they didn't provide a tripod for it.

Or knowing the Germans penchant for engineering design and all things technical, made several types of tripod for Afrika, Ost, and Western Fronts; mobile and stationary mods, air-deliveredm mountain, and ersatz models.

"Or knowing the Germans penchant for engineering design and all things technical, made several types of tripod for Afrika, Ost, and Western Fronts; mobile and stationary mods, air-deliveredm mountain, and ersatz models."

Too Funny! They are still like that!

American Ingenuity! Take something the Germans made man portable; add a ton and employ 3 guys to run it!!!

"Tripod is a good idea.

picture"

But does it have camo spots?

I am sure someone will now produce a photo of a rangefinder in Ambush camo.

And a site devoted to 'Rangefinder tripods of the Third Reich' with complete listings.

Ssshhh!!!

Osprey's already working on it!

"Tripod is a good idea. picture"
That's actually not a rangefinder, it's a portable pornographic personal theater, designation PPPT4/ft-759.

Thanks Huw! That's the perfect pic 0 gives the little details I like to throw on the models. Altho I think I'll have trouble writing the instruction plate on it, maybe I need a smaller micro pen…?

And if you turn the settings just right you can see naughty pictures of Lilly Marlene!

Surely this is a French design so should technically be a PPPT4/ft-759 (f)?