First things first was to start the superstructure. This is being made from 2mm mild steel. I simply marked out the shapes on a sheet of it and used a hacksaw and files to get it somewhere close. Final fitting later.

Due to the confined space it will have to be torsion bars for suspension so I drilled out the mounting holes for the swing arms. These have a weird configuration in that the ones on the right swing one way and the other side swings another way.

These swing arms were made from a 4mm thick steel bar. Holes were drilled for the suspension linkage and the wheel axles themselves.

The ends were then rounded on a mini belt sander.

The pins that will engage the torsion bars themselves were made from 6mm steel rod with a slot cut in the end using a Dremel cut off wheel. The rods were then cross drilled and tapped to M2 - this will allow me to lock in the torsion bar once installed. Hard to explain but pictures later should clarify the matter.

The rods were then silver soldered to the swing arms.

Next will be fleshing out the hull.

P

To proceed with the hull, I made up some panels that will function as the upper deck and so on and started on the turret. This is tricky as it has a concave curve type of arrangement. I simply built up the shell of the turret and wrapped it in a brass annealed sheet which was then filed to shaped once soldered in place. There are gaps here and there but that is what filler is for I guess.

The arrangement for the suspension is visible inside the hull - basically a support rail for the swing arms an dthen mild steel clamps to lock down the torsion bars.

Its a bit rough in places but thats often the way at the start I guess.

P

The turret is a thing of horror for making so I tackled the low hanging fruit first and went at the mantlet. It is a steel pipe I got off fleabay and that I simply cut in half and sanded flat.

Then I made some machine gun shrouds or whatever they are and in they went.

Then the guns were made from bar stock and stuck in.

While I was at it, I bought a TIger vision block online and attached that and finished off some bits on the engine deck.

I am in two minds about this vision block. Its poorly made from white metal and I am not sure I like it all. Making one would be a hassle but I will have to think about this.

Otherwise....the wheels are next I guess and I am not looking forward to those at all.

p

Well, well - now that's very different modelling than what we see everyday... How much will this thing weight when done? Are you going to make it powered? If yes, what motor? How about the tracks, what is your plan?

Thanks for sharing and have a nice day

Paweł

Pawel

Well, well - now that's very different modelling than what we see everyday... How much will this thing weight when done? Are you going to make it powered? If yes, what motor? How about the tracks, what is your plan?

Thanks for sharing and have a nice day

Paweł

 Based on previous models .....I guess 6 to 8 kg or something?

 

I will power it.....the motors/gears will I make a post on.

 

Tracks are steel 1:16 tiger transport tracks.

 

The width and look are OK but they have two track horns instead of one so workarounds there will have to be.

 

P

These are the motors and gear setup - saying that the gears have changed by now.

The motors are 12 V motors that run at 200 rpm or something. I will run on 7 V so the rpm's reduce to something that produces a realistic speed.

I had made the "gearbox" out of acrylic but it just does not have the strength I would hope for.

So it has been remade in steel. The form is the same but the material is the only thing that changed.

The new version also uses bearings on the drive shafts which I did not have on the acrylic version which just used bushings.

There is literally no room for bigger motors but having used these ones in other tanks before I am reasonably confident they have the grunt necessary to move the thing.

P

Made some progress on roughing out the front mudguards. Lot of detail to add to these.

I ran into a snag with th erear ones. The drawings I used (see first post) indicate that the two rear spring tube mounts (similar to those on a stug) are in line with each other -  at the same position on the hull. Having checked some walkaround photos however, it appears they are mounted in different spots on either side. Which really messed up by rear mudguards and I have to start those again.

I started on some of the road wheels. I ordered some aluminium disks off fleabay of the right thickness and diameter (give or take a mm or two). 

Making spoked wheels is not something I have done before so I plotted out some holes correspodning to - I think - the apices of the holes between the spokes. Then I drilled a big hole at the center of the three smaller ones and with a piercing saw I trimmed off the stumps. Then started filing.

They are rough but should be OK when I get more time to finish the filing.

I made hubs for the wheels using brass tube and disks silver soldered together. These were then press fit into the wheels and will serve as retainers for the axles.

I now have to make the tyres which will be from black acetal tubing.

p

Wow that's a pile of work but going to be soooooooo cool when done! 

Great work so far! 

I thought I would update this. Please excuse all the filler, fingerprints, tarnishing etc. I cannot be bothered sanding and cleaning just to take photos.

Ive been busy fleshing out the mudguards and so on...not finished by any means and not entirely accurate either. The load outs on these fenders seems to vary strongly between photos so I went with what suited myself best. Still some to do.

I also attended to the swing arms.... bit awkward and I have noticed some issues which need attending to.

The idlers look mad at the minute. They stick out a lot but thatis how they are with tracks of this width. I have to finishh the mounts for them and add tension adjusters (non functional). I also have to do all the external spring tubes which will be a faff.

Please note that nothing is screwed down so some things are askew....... for the minute.

P 

Heck of a lotta skill involved in this build.  Keep up the great work.

Wow! Almost a shame to paint that and cover up all your work! 

I agree!  No way I would paint that.  It's beautiful.