Peilstangen
Peilstangen (Ger. guide rods), the flexible metal rods mounted on the front fenders or at both ends of the front bumper of older trucks and half-tracked vehicles. These rods served as guides for the driver when navigating tight spaces, maneuvering, and parking. Guide rods have a threaded end onto which a highly visible white plastic ball is screwed. The illustration shows a Faun L 912/5050 A (Gleitkipper, slide tipper) of the German Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) and an IFA G5 (Langhauber, long-bonnet lorry) of the East German National People‘s Army (NVA), both equipped with guide rods. In the case of these 1:87 vehicles, the guide rods are far too thick. On the IFA G5, the left guide rod has already broken off and must be replaced with a replica made of 0.25 mm piano wire. The guide rods of the Faun slide tipper need to be much thinner than those of the IFA G5, so fine brush bristles will be used. The ball at the end of the guide rod will then be made from a small drop of wood glue.
Vehicles with Guide Rods
- Sd.Kfz. 4
- Sd.Kfz. 6
- Sd.Kfz. 7
- Sd.Kfz. 8
- Sd.Kfz. 9
- Sd.Kfz. 10
- Sd.Kfz. 11
- Sd.Kfz. 222 Panzerspähwagen
- Sd.Kfz. 223 Panzerspähwagen
- Sd.Kfz. 231 (8-wheeled) Panzerspähwagen
- Sd.Kfz. 234 (8-wheeled) Panzerspähwagen
- Sd.Kfz. 250 leichter Schützenpanzerwagen
- Sd.Kfz. 251 mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen
- Schwerer Wehrmachtsschlepper (sWS)
- m.Lkw. (S-Type), 3 t Medium Truck
- m.gl.Lkw. (A-Type), 3 t Medium All-Terrain Truck
- Truck 1.5 t gl, Daimler-Benz Unimog S 404 B
- Truck 5 t gl, Mercedes-Benz LG 315/46
- Truck 5 t gl, MAN 630
- Faun L 912/5050 A (Gleitkipper, slide tipper)
- IFA G5 (Langhauber, long-bonnet lorry)
In the case of the heavy Wehrmacht tractor (sWS), armoured personnel carriers 250 and 251, and several other vehicles, side-view mirrors were conveniently attached to the guide rods.