SimonT - Tamiya 1:35 Sturmmorser Tiger (AAGB)

[Jim R]

Hi Simon
I'd forgotten this but nice to see it back on course. I like your tank painting holder. I made a crude holder out of a piece of dowel and a screw epoxied into the end. Worked ok but not as neat as yours, Just out of interest why did you make the handles from styrene rather than wire? They do look good but I find bending rod is difficult.
More rain on the way I think so hope all's well and keep your wellies close at hand :tongue-out3:
Jim

[SimonT]

Cheers Al - the Tamiya Tracks probably wouldn’t have looked too bad but the MC ones are just so much better with the lightening holes and proper track pins

Jim - the styrene rod I have is just the right size, bends easily and keeps the bends. Once gone though that is it as I got a mega bundle of 500mm long tubes and rods from China on ebay a few years ago - no longer available

[SimonT]

Managed to add a few more details yesterday........


made padlock brackets for the top hatches as Eduard failed to provide them



track hangar brackets added to upper hull


sledgehammer and axe got PE brackets and then installed on hull side


towing shackles added to each corner


periscope etch cover added


grenade launcher got a few details added - the ring fell off just after taking this and vanished into the hull


etch radio aerial mount added - gone a little wonky, will need looking at


brackets added to upper hull rear


more track links added - not too many more to add now.....

[Jim R]

Morning Simon
Busy, busy. A lot of progress. All looking neat - aerial mount just deliberately distressed for added realism
Jim

[Guest]

Say no more !

[SimonT]

Rivnut installed in bottom of hull


handle screws in


and hey presto, tank on a stick

[Steven000]

A flying (st)Tiger, thought I seen it all :smiling5: ...
Seems to work very well Simon :thumb2:.
Steven

[Guest]

Great idea Simon.

Was the rivnut squeezed into place with a setting tool? They exert quite a bit of force and I'd be worried about it splitting the plastic. Or did you make a slightly undersized hole, allowing the knurled section to provide the grip?

[SimonT]

So far so good Steven - hopefully it will stay on the stick. I foresee major damage if it falls off......

Andy - aluminium rivnut presses in with a Sealey hand tool. Being aluminium they compress quite easily so you can gauge when it is tight. I bought some rivnuts off ebay not realising they were steel - they are so tough the hand tool won’t compress them!

[Guest]

Ah, I the set I have contains steel rivnuts, I know what you mean! Didn't realise you could get aluminium ones. Cheers.

[Guest]

Does this mean it will get painted Simon :nerd:

[Jim R]

Hi Simon
Your model handle is very neat looking. As John says - paint soon :thumb2:
Jim

[SimonT]

Andy - just ordered some more aluminium ones

John - no, it just means it's on a stick :tears-of-joy:

Jim - as long as it all holds together I think it will do the job, as for paint, see above :sad-face:

Still a fair bit to do before the paint - finish assembling the second track, etch side skirts, rest of the tools and their etch brackets to add, possibly make a new jack, zimm the rear hull around the tools and exhausts, etch track guard end flaps to construct, sort out the radio aerial and mounting base, make the shell loading crane and possibly make a new one or modify it as it looks a bit simplified, make the shells, put one shell in its transport packing and cast off a few more......and probably a few more things I have forgotten + crew and a base at some point

[Jim R]

Quite a list there Simon. Don't forget the spiders web on the spare track links :hungry:

[Steve Jones]

Still a fair bit to do before the paint - finish assembling the second track, etch side skirts, rest of the tools and their etch brackets to add, possibly make a new jack, zimm the rear hull around the tools and exhausts, etch track guard end flaps to construct, sort out the radio aerial and mounting base, make the shell loading crane and possibly make a new one or modify it as it looks a bit simplified, make the shells, put one shell in its transport packing and cast off a few more......and probably a few more things I have forgotten + crew and a base at some point

At least another 6 months work then Mr T :smiling5: :thumb2:

Nice to see the tracks are nearly done. Any particular reason for making the tools and not using ones from the spares box? Luv the way the detailing came out on the inside of the hatch. Keep at it Simon. Look forward to seeing how the paint holder works out. Did it come from the 3d printer??