SimonBrown Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 On 12/21/2018 at 9:41 AM, mogmaner said: Could the model track links be up scaled then 3d printed to form a casting pattern. With a single original track segment it could be scanned using photogrammetry - just like the torpedo motor I'm restoring - with the advantage it would be easy to make it a closed & therefore solid model. It would need work post-scan to add material to any worn sections, add material to the track pin bore and scale it to take into account the shrink factor when cooled, but the beauty of a 3D model is much can be tweaked and changed at very little cost and verified with a 3D print before committing. More than happy to help on this one, if photogrammetry is of use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted February 21, 2019 Author Share Posted February 21, 2019 Evening all, Simon, Thanks for the offer when I get to that point and depending on which route I choose to go down if I need any photogrammetry I may take you up on the offer. In my spare time I decided to get the tow hitch made, it's position has a bearing on the tie bar that runs along the rear of the chassis so it needed making sooner rather than later. Jon 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 So, HOW did you make it, looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted February 28, 2019 Author Share Posted February 28, 2019 Evening All, I hadn't considered that there was any interest in how I make the different components. My interest is in making the pieces, taking pictures and posting updates is not very high in my list of things to do but I will try and take more manufacturing pictures from now on. The towing hitch is fabricated from several pieces, the only picture that gives you a clue as to how it's made is this one, sorry. I have been making the idler wheel shaft housings, again no manufacturing pictures but they started life like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted February 28, 2019 Author Share Posted February 28, 2019 They are not quite finished yet as I am struggling to find information on the actual track tensioning mechanism, I might just have to use my version. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted March 1, 2019 Author Share Posted March 1, 2019 At the rear of the tank, there are two flanges that protrude either side beyond the the chassis rear plate, these are where the idler wheel housings bolt on to the chassis. Because the chassis tended to flex in this area, the joint between the rear chassis plate and the flange tended to crack, the solution to this problem was the incorporation of a strengthening rod, my job for today. I have drilled and tapped each end of the rod so that the centre attaching bolt goes through the idler wheel housing, through the chassis flanged and threads into the bar. Jon. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted March 5, 2019 Author Share Posted March 5, 2019 Evening All, To tension the tracks the idler shaft rotates in the idler wheel housing on an eccentric cam. Thus when the tracks need to be tightened, the cam is unlocked and the shaft rotated towards the rear of the vehicle. It is this cam that I am in the process of making. It would have been a forging or casting but my budget doesn't allow for such luxuries, so I have to use what I can get. It's probably as clear as mud but bear with me, all will become clear in the end. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted March 7, 2019 Author Share Posted March 7, 2019 Hello Heinz my dear friend, Thank you for your message and kind words. The project is proceeding to schedule but the supply of what would be considered the ideal sized material is causing us some concern. It is testing our ingenuity, having to use what is available, rather than what would like to use. However I am confident that the alterations that we have made to the components will cope with the demands made upon them. I have attached some pictures of the idler wheel housing and shaft, hopefully you can now appreciate how the rotation of the shaft will tighten the tracks. The unit is not yet complete as the shaft needs welding into it's eccentric end and the rotation lock needs to be manufactured. My mind is already focusing on the next set of components, I fear many more sleepless nights ahead. Johann 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRDM Driver Posted March 7, 2019 Share Posted March 7, 2019 That is some more brilliant fabrication! I think t34 used an offset arm with teeth to lock and a worm drive to adjust. Panzer III is different to Panzer II too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 Again, amazing workmanship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted March 10, 2019 Author Share Posted March 10, 2019 Dear Heinz, Once again thank you for your suggestions and observations. We have all but completed the idler wheel components, although we are unable to complete the final welding operation due to a quality issue with the idler wheel bearing retention nuts. We are currently awaiting a new supply of nuts that should be with us this week. Lubrication points have now been added to the relevant components. My concern regarding the idler shaft rotation locking mechanism has now been addressed after the receipt of new information. We are now in a position where, I feel that we can start to plan and manufacture the suspension leaf springs. Until we communicate again, Johann 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted March 10, 2019 Author Share Posted March 10, 2019 The locking of the idler shaft is one of those things that has been bugging me. I know from the description in Panzer tracts that it consisted of a locking nut, accessed through the centre of the idler wheel and a ratchet system. I recently found the picture below that answered several questions but I am still unsure as to the design of the actual ratchet system used, so I have made a system that will work, although probably not as efficiently as the original. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRDM Driver Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 Is this of any use? (probably read this many times!) http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_Panzer_II.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted March 10, 2019 Author Share Posted March 10, 2019 Thanks for the link BRDM and yes I have read it before, unfortunately because our internet is so slow it locks my computer up, so most of the time I cant access it. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRDM Driver Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 38 minutes ago, johann morris said: Thanks for the link BRDM and yes I have read it before, unfortunately because our internet is so slow it locks my computer up, so most of the time I cant access it. Jon Right click on this http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_Panzer_II.pdf and then select 'save link as' should download it permenantly to your computer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted March 10, 2019 Author Share Posted March 10, 2019 Thanks for that, I have learnt something new today. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRDM Driver Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 55 minutes ago, johann morris said: Thanks for that, I have learnt something new today. Jon No worries! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted March 18, 2019 Author Share Posted March 18, 2019 Thanks to BRDM Driver's encouragement, now available on youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wXN0oTvDTs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted March 18, 2019 Author Share Posted March 18, 2019 I have been playing with my nuts, so to speak. I made the thread on the end of the idler shaft to fit the nuts from a Land Rover stub axle, using a genuine land Rover nut, thinking that it would save me some time. I then ordered four nuts from a british parts supplier and only one would fit. So I ordered another ten, my thinking was that I would have the four that I needed and some spare for my land Rovers, these things are always worth having about. Only one of the ten would fit, either the original stub axle or my shaft. It's not worth sending them back, so I decided to clean the threads out. Trying to centralise the nuts in the four jaw chuck using a DTI on the thread is a no go, so I put the nut in the four jaw, threaded the shaft in as far as it would go, about 1 1/2 threads and then, with a centre in the other end of the shaft, I clocked the shaft. Lining the threads up with the threading tip was a bit of a fiddly job but the result is fourteen nuts that I can use. The other item that I have been doing is making the springs. Reconstituted Land Rover series springs, cut and drilled, it's been like giving birth but I have assembled one for a trial fitting. I will add some detail to the proceedings when I make the other nine. I didn't take note, when I visited the tank museum, of the number of leaves in each spring, so DRDM driver very kindly made a visit to the museum and took some pictures for me. I have to say a big thank you to him for very kindly helping me out. What those pictures revealed, was that each spring has a different number of leaves. At present I am going to make each spring with thirteen leaves and then when the tank is at it's full weight I can adjust the number as necessary. Jon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolling-thunder Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 I believe there are 17 leaves per spring unit. I'm making something similar but in 1/6 scale and without a thimble full of the skills you have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted March 18, 2019 Author Share Posted March 18, 2019 I take it it's a dragon 1/6, I keep meaning to get one and then buy some steel instead. According to the ausf F in the tank museum: number 1 - 12 leaves number 2 - 16 leaves number 3 - 19 leaves number 4 - 11 leaves number 5 - 15 leaves. I suppose number 3 is the centre of the tank so has the most weight to contend with. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolling-thunder Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 I have to admit that i only counted one spring i didn't think that they might all be different. I actually have two Dragon Panzer IIs. I'm in no rush to finish them off at the moment while i try and sort my Car. I'll see if i can dig out some links to photo studies of the various Panzer II Tanks. Lots of close up photographs. But for me, i'm studying the AUSF C & AUSF F as they are the RC models i intend to build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted March 18, 2019 Author Share Posted March 18, 2019 Mine should be as near to an early ausf C as I can get but I know there are some areas that won't be quite right, I have to accept that. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolling-thunder Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 You are doing a 99.9% better job than i ever could and at the end you will have your own little Tank to run round in. Have you tried to figure the eventual end weight once it's built? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Herbert Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 Referring to the number of leaves on the Pz2 suspensions, It is not impossible that the middle wheel stations have more but thinner leaves to give a softer ride but the end stations have fewer, thicker leaves to give more resistance to pitching which is always a problem for smaller tracked vehicles. Being German it is quite possible that they are each optimized (ie. different) to get the best possible ride, regardless of production and maintenance complications. It is also possible that that particular vehicle has been repaired with a rather random selection of whatever versions of the springs were available at the time. I would make them all the same ans see how it sits when complete. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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