The 8-Wheel Armoured Scout Car by Hausser/Elastolin and its Replicas

The following article is intended to provide collectors with more detailed information on the 8-wheel armoured scout vehicle from Hausser. Especially at a time when there are not many of us left who know the vehicle from their childhood, it is all the more important to give the new collectors some clarity. Especially when manufacturers of replicas come up with new editions.

Model: The heavy armoured scout car Sd. Car 231/232

The model for this vehicle was the heavy Wehrmacht armoured scout car of the model Büssing N.A.G (m. Pzw., Sd. Kfz. 232/1).

The 8-wheel vehicle should have a high mobility on the road and an excellent cross-country mobility. The armouring should provide protection against 7.9 mm SmK projectiles. This was achieved by skilfully inclining the quite thin armour plates. The eight wheels were driven and individually suspended. For each axle locking differentials were available. The 165 HP strong carburetor engine Büssing-NAG L8V/36 could accelerate the approx. 8.5 t heavy vehicle (Sd. Kfz. 231) on maximally 85 km/h. The steering was carried out over all eight wheels and enabled almost the same driving characteristics for forward and reverse driving.

The development work seems to have started as early as 1934, as a test vehicle was undergoing extensive testing in 1935. In 1936 further test vehicles were produced and tested. Series production seems to have started at the beginning of 1937. Büssing-NAG Werk Leipzig was the only supplier of the chassis. The tank superstructures came from Deutsche Edelstahlwerke, Hanover plant and Gebr. Boehler & Co. AG, Kapfenberg. Final assembly was carried out at Deutsche-Werke, Kiel and Schichau, Elbing.

Technical data (8×8)

Length	5,850 m.
Width	2.2 m.
Height	2.3 meters.
Weight	7.55 t to 7.7 t
Engine	Büssing-NAG with 155 PS later 180 PS with 8,4 Liter capacity
Maximum speed	85 kilometers an hour.
Fuel	150 litres
Seats	4
Armament	2-cm-KwK 30 and 7,92mm MG 34

Original vehicle models of the company Hausser

The 8-wheel armoured scout car was offered by Hausser from 1938 under the no. 744 as "heavy 8-wheel armoured scout car". It is a vehicle with a radio antenna. Contrary to the usual model scale of 1:20, a larger scale was chosen for the half chain, namely 1:18. A reason for this is not known. It was delivered with the typical Hausser instruction manual, which explained all functions to the children in a simple way.

The fact that all original models had "white coloured metal balls" at the upper ends of the bearing rods in the original version is also clearly proven. This is proven by the trade fair photos and the catalogue title pages shown.

Technical data (model)

Scale	1:18.
Length.	x cm.
Width without indicator	x cm
Height.	x cm.
Weight including figures and jack	x g
sheet thickness	0.56 mm
Clockwork drive range	15 yards.
Floor clearance	x mm
Seats	1
Power supply	6 Volt

Corresponding evidence in the manufacturer's documentation can be found here.

Year	|Archive	Nr.	Page	Picture
1938	O&M Hausser Sales Display for the Morse Device	744	x	x
1938	O&M Hausser dealer-representative photo album (sample album)	744	x	x
1938	O&M Hausser booth archive photo	744	0	x
1938	worklist	744	2
1938	Price list V Edition July - sample pictures of Hausser-Elastolin and metal toys	744	0	x
1938	Pricelist F	744	12
1938	Customer catalog	744	0, 12	x
1938	wish list	744	10	x
1939	Customer catalog	744	12	x
1939	Fair catalogue	744	10	x
1939	Pricelist F	744	13

Catalogue illustrations of the manufacturer:


Fair illustrations of the manufacturer:


Beside the proofs of the manufacturer we find also various covers in different toy catalogues of considerable toy dealers from this time.

Year	Archive	Page	ArtNr.	Category	Description	Picture
1938	Toy catalog Vedes	11	41	We go under the soldiers	Tank scout car, with electric light, Morse and flasher device, 4-way, 4 axle, with 1 cannon, machine gun, rotating tank dome, with driver, antenna mast for cranking up, Morse alphabeth, 8 rubber tires, 30cm long RM 24,50	X
1939	Toy catalogue Vedes	10	| 37	We play soldiers	Tank scout car, with electric light, Morse and flasher device, 4-speed, 4-axle, with 1 cannon, machine gun, rotating tank dome, with driver, antenna mast for cranking up, Morse alphabeth, 8-rubber tires, 30cm long RM 24,50	X

1. variant

The first version is made in Mimikri and has the following features:

• mimikri
• electric light
• Morse and flashing device
• 4-speed,
• 1 gun and 1 machine gun.
• rotatable armoured dome
• Antenna mast for high cranking
• 8 rubber tyres
• 30cm long
• Hausser Germany embossing on the base plate of the front axle
• Tank man in tank turret

2. variant

The second version is manufactured in field grey and has the following features:

• field grey
• electric light
• Morse and flashing device
• 4-speed,
• 1 gun and 1 machine gun.
• rotatable armoured dome
• Antenna mast for high cranking
• 8 rubber tyres
• 30cm long
• Hausser Germany embossing on the base plate of the front axle
• Tank man in tank turret

Original Hausser Tank man

The Hausser Tank man has emerged from the standing greeting Tank man figure. It is halved and fixed in a seat hull and could be positioned in the tank turret.

Original jack of the company Hausser

Another accessory, which can be combined very well with the removable wheels on the front axle of this vehicle, is the mechanical jack. It is explained and illustrated in a separate article. (Article: The mechanical jack by Hausser)

Original Morse code device from Hausser

Another accessory, which is located in the rear of the 8-wheel armoured scout car, is the functioning Morse device. It is explained and illustrated in a separate article. (Article: The Morse devices from Hausser)

Restaurations

Before we now come to the completely newly produced replica pieces, one should first know, however, with the appraisal and evaluation of an 8-wheel that there are also very well repaired original vehicles.
The least evil here are surely the replaced small parts, but not the antenna.
However, the experts argue about the evaluation of such repaired vehicles. It is not uncommon for very high discounts to be made for this reason.

However, a perfect restoration can also have exactly the opposite effect if prospective buyers do not recognize the restoration or suppliers do not mention the repair. We will illustrate a few examples in due course.

Replicas

Due to the former selling price, the vehicle is rare in reality today and a sought-after collector's item.
It is therefore not surprising that since the bankruptcy of Hausser in 1983 there have been numerous replicas. We would like to present these in your
Now take a closer look at and describe the type and form in the following.

Company Huber Rudger

In his special edition "Blechspielzeug-Info Nr 43" from 1984, Mr. Huber reports on his visit to the Hausser company.
to dissolve their business and collect the bankrupt's goods. The result is impressive. Complete vehicles could be assembled from individual parts found in the Hausser warehouse. The price was about DM 2800,-.

Company Mebanol / Repon

The company stood for "fine reproduction of old vehicles, spare parts, accessories and repairs".

Company Hellemeister / Repon

Hellemeister also manufactured this vehicle in the "Hausser style" from the end of the 80s to over the 90s. According to tradition, Hellemeister manufactured this car according to the original plans of the Hausser company, handed over by Rolf Hausser. The almost identical fit confirms this. He even equipped his reproductions/replicas with custom-made spring motors. However, the tractive force was usually only 2-3 meters.
Hellemeister divided the production of the parts between several suppliers. Thus it was ensured that only Hellemeister came into possession of the entire range of spare parts. The assembly of an 8-wheel by the parts supplier was therefore not possible. Tyres and rims were partly obtained from original stocks.



The carton was manufactured by Hohendahl in Essen on the basis of so-called slip-lid armoured cartons. Production has been discontinued. Remaining stocks of spare parts are still being sold off.

Year	Archive	Page	|Category	Description	|Picture
1938	O&M Hausser dealer representative photo album (sample album)		744	WH744	X
1985	Repon Spare Parts Catalog	5	Hausser 8-wheel	Spare Parts

Company Homann Webau

In the 80s and 90s this company also manufactured armoured scout cars in the "Hausser style". The owner confirmed that mostly mimikri models were produced. The models correspond almost perfectly to the original. A spring mechanism motor was not installed here, but it is known that purchased pieces were often retrofitted with original motors from the Hausser archives or later by Hellemeister with a movement. The amount of the production number is not mentioned by the manufacturer. The production is already stopped. The paints used were resin-based and were mixed by a paint shop using an original sample vehicle.

Features

Late version:

• very authentic make!
• with spring motor
• mostly in mimicry lacquering
• Cabling and power cable sheathing
• Gearshift and nut
• Can have Lineol tyres and Lineol bucket trolley rims

Early version:

• without spring motor
• mostly in mimicry lacquering
• Cabling and power cable sheathing
• Gearshift and nut missing
• Can have Lineol tyres and Lineol bucket trolley rims

Company Duscha (lineol.de)

LINEOL DUSCHA has owned the trademark rights to Lineol since 1985. As early as 1984, shortly after the dissolution of the Hausser factory, the first models of this manufacturer were documented in various brochures. The vehicles were often assembled by Mr. Bosbach from Oberhausen. The box was produced by Hohendahl in Essen on the basis of so-called slip-lid armoured boxes.

Features

• without spring motor
• different variants of varnishing known
• Cabling and power cable sheathing
• Missing license plate painting
• Original packaging in dark red slip lid carton with coloured Lineol sticker

Company G. Knack (gama-panzer.de)

The company "Gama-Panzer.de" produces spare parts for military and civil tin toys and repairs tin toys of the brands Gama, Tippco, Lineol, Hausser, Schuco, Distler, Arnold, Gescha and other manufacturers.
The company offers the production of half chains and 8-wheel armoured scout vehicles in the typical Hausser style on order and request. The current price is about €1000,-.

Features

• without spring motor
• different variants of varnishing known
• Power cable sheathing is different from the original
• Hausser Germany embossing on base plate missing
• Tyres and rims are known in both Hausser and Lineol styles
• License plate varnishing is usually missing
• headlight worked differently on the flange

Home Work - Individual Production

On the search for the different makes also individual makes of very good homework came to the surface. Here almost every copy differs from the original. One would almost think that each manufacturer designed his own vehicle here individually. So some copies are completely differently manufactured, processed and detailed.

General distinguishing features from the original Hausser model

Basically, it can be assumed that every replica manufacturer is interested in developing its own products.
therefore one must pay special attention to:

• Spring mechanism motor missing or supplemented by Hellemeister Repro (2-3 meters tractive force)
• Priming, varnishing and lacquering
• Cabling and power cable sheathing
• vehicle width (Hellemeister half chain is wider than the original)
• Total weight (replicas have thinner sheet thickness)
• Headlights
• Rims
• Dipsticks
• Hausser Germany coinage
• Gearshift and lock nut
• license plate varnishing
• Antenna tube not slotted

Further details will follow ...

Literature

• Rudger Huber, Verlag Huber: Tin Toys Info No 43
• "Schmitt Günter" Mebanol Publishing House. a documentary hymn dedicated to the nostalgic tin, third book, ... armoured scout car ...
• H. Long A. Pietruschka, Publisher Figuren Magazin, Berlin: Elastolin Schaustücke 1913 to 1960

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