SimonT - 1/35 Zvezda Stug.IIIB - Bobs StugGB

[SimonT]

Yes John - I want to retain the moulded tread plate pattern on top as I have not found a consistent method of making my own

The moulded guards are moulded to the total thickness of the tread plate and the angle iron edges so the inside face is flat not L shaped and too thick

[Steve Jones]

I hate sanding large areas like this. I can never get it even. Maybe I should use a sanding block. Can't tell from my phone is it a metal one or a block of wood with sand paper on it please??

[SimonT]

Hi Steve - hard flat sanding surface and keep turning your work piece so that you don’t get pressure on just one end/side

My block is by Perma-Grit

The Rolls Royce of sanding kit

Aluminium block with replaceable sanding surfaces in two grades - metal plates with the sanding grit fused in

Last for ages which is good since they are not cheap - quality bits of kit though

The one pictured is 12” but I also have a 6” version

They also do files and drill bits

PERMAGRIT

[Mini Me]

That's a good bit of tooling Mr. T. Excellent for the long parts. You are right to turn your piece occasionally to keep things even. Don't know if you are aware of this, but when lapping small pieces it is preferable to sand in a figure 8 motion to maintain an even and consistent dimension. I was taught this technique years ago by a machinist friend and it has never let me down. BTW, the mudguards are coming along nicely. Christmas Cheers, Rick H

[SimonT]

Cheers Rick


Track guards are now sanded down so next thing will be to make the pewter edge sections

Prompted by Johns comment about tracks not fitting too well under the track guards I did a bit more checking of dimensions against the plans in Achtung Panzer No.5

It appears that the lower hull is 2mm too short - would explain why John had problems

The kit side plate is 24mm to the top (top edge of wavy edged bracket) whereas the plans show 24mm to the bottom edge of the wavy bracket

My build will be getting winterketten tracks which stick out past the track guards so I need to get the clearances right

Will be checking again before chopping / extending anything

(Si - your wish to see chopping may come true)

[Steve Jones]

Looked up the sanding blocks. Would you recommend the coarse one side and fine the other sanding block??"

[SimonT]

Yes Steve - course/fine

I think the extra and XX course are aimed at the stone working

[Si Benson]

(Si - you're wish to see chopping may come true)

I knew the animal sacrifice and chanting would work eventually:tongue-out3:

[Guest]

I knew the animal sacrifice and chanting would work eventually:tongue-out3:

Yes reports from our spy on the scene say Frogs legs and Bats wings are in short supply due to a sudden rush.

[Guest]

Cheers Rick


Track guards are now sanded down so next thing will be to make the pewter edge sections

Prompted by Johns comment about tracks not fitting too well under the track guards I did a bit more checking of dimensions against the plans in Achtung Panzer No.5

It appears that the lower hull is 2mm too short - would explain why John had problems

The kit side plate is 24mm to the top (top edge of wavy edged bracket) whereas the plans show 24mm to the bottom edge of the wavy bracket

My build will be getting winterketten tracks which stick out past the track guards so I need to get the clearances right

Will be checking again before chopping / extending anything

(Si - you're wish to see chopping may come true)

Thanks Simon, good to know it wasn't me who had done something wrong.
Interesting site at Permagrit, had a good look around, like the look of those small files.

[SimonT]

Still checking - just to muddy the waters all the books (Uwe Feist Ryton Publication, Spielberger, Achtung Panzer 5, Polish Wydawnictwo Militaria 006) have different dimensions for overall length, width, height, none of the plans match and they can't even agree on the basic shape of the superstructure!

Nightmare

Studying photos of what purport to be Stug B's does however seem to indicate a considerable clearance from the top of the return rollers to the underside of the track guards and hence top side of the tracks to track guards

Surgery is looking increasingly likely

Checking against the hull of a Gunze Sangyo Stug G also shows a 2mm difference in height, the GS being deeper

Day off work today so shall try and come to a decision - to hack or not to hack, that is the question.......

[Guest]

At least you can probably reliably measure heights in photos taken from ground level, which may help you work out where the problem is if you can compare to some known measurements, like the diameter of the wheels (though ideally you’d want something bigger than that, but I suppose it’s unlikely to find a dimension as reliable as that, which you can also measure in a photo).

[SimonT]

Agreed Jakko - photos look like being key.

Not the first time I have had this kind of problem - hope to come to some kind of conclusion and make a bit of progress later.......

[Jim R]

Hi Simon

- doesn't need major surgery

Methinks you are telling porkies judging by your first post this morning :rolling:
Jim

[SimonT]

Unintentional porkies Jim :smiling5:

My conclusion was that it is a bit vertically challenged

Surgery has already taken place and the patient is in the recovery room

Details later