Rack Jack

5 t rack jack on the rear left track cover of a Fujimi Panzer I.
5 t rack jack on the rear left track guard of a Fujimi Panzer I. The support block for the jack is stowed on the right rear track guard.

Rack and pinion winch (rack winch, steel winch, rack and pinion jack), mechanical lifting device with a payload of 1 to 20 t, which was carried by trucks, tractors and armoured combat vehicles for repair, maintenance and recovery, and is still used today by emergency management agencies, fire brigades, rescue services, technical relief organisations and workshops. The rack, which is mounted in the jack‘s housing, can be moved lengthways using a crank attached to the spur gear, making the jack longer or shorter. Attached to the centre of gravity of a load, it can be raised or lowered, pushed or pulled by operating the crank.

Scratchbuilt Rack Jacks

Although the rack and pinion winch was part of the basic equipment of every German vehicle in World War Two, many models in 1:100 to 1:72 scale are sold without this useful tool. Fortunately, a convincing rack jack can be scratchbuilt with reasonable effort; s. our tutorial “Zahnstangenwinde – Rack Jack, 1:87 Scratch-Build”.

Winch Length Width Depth
1,5 t 725 164 140
3 t 735 200 140
5 t 730 190 170
10 t 800 252 170
20 t 800 252 170

Simply divide the given dimensions in millimeters by the scale of the model.

The 5 t rack jack on this Matchbox Puma armoured car looks more like a fire extinguisher.
The 5 t rack jack on this Matchbox „Puma“ armoured car looks more like a fire extinguisher.
The 10 t rack jack on this Airfix Panzer IV Ausführung F1 has no crankcase.
The 10 t rack jack on this Airfix Panzer IV Ausführung F1 has no crankcase.
10 t rack jack on a Fujimi Panzer II.
10 t rack jack on a Fujimi Panzer II. The wooden support block for the rack jack is stowed on the engine deck.
10 t rack jack on a Matchbox Panzerhaubitze II Wespe.
10 t rack jack on a Matchbox Panzerhaubitze II „Wespe“. The wooden support block for the rack jack is incorrectly modelled as a Jerrycan.
10 t rack jack on the right track guard of an ESCI Sturmhaubitze 42 Ausf. G.
10 t rack jack on the right track guard between the ventilator and the spaced armour plate of an ESCI Sturmhaubitze 42 Ausf. G. The wooden support block for the rack jack is stowed further to the rear, in front of the rear light and break light.
20 t rack jack at the rear of a De Agostini Panzerkampfwagen V Panther Ausf. A.
20 t rack jack at the rear of a De Agostini Panzerkampfwagen V „Panther“ Ausf. A.
20 t rack jack at the rear of a Hasegawa Panzerkampfwagen V Panther Ausf. G.
20 t rack jack at the rear of a Hasegawa Panzerkampfwagen V „Panther“ Ausf. G.

Military Glossary