johann morris Posted March 11, 2020 Author Share Posted March 11, 2020 Evening All, I am trying to finish all the components in the area around the radio operators seat. The loading plan shows the gas mask container holder, a water bottle or feldflasche holder ( marked in blue) and a bracket to hold the morse code key (marked in red). You can see the morse key and the water bottle brackets on these two internal pictures in the panzer ll at the tank museum. And my attempt. I have two more items to make and then on to more important items. Jon 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
43rdrecce Posted March 11, 2020 Share Posted March 11, 2020 I've never really been into vehicles or kit from 'the dark side' but the amount of effort and detail in your project is astounding. Without a doubt my favourite thread. Thank you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted March 12, 2020 Author Share Posted March 12, 2020 11 hours ago, 43rdrecce said: I've never really been into vehicles or kit from 'the dark side' but the amount of effort and detail in your project is astounding. Without a doubt my favourite thread. Thank you. Maybe, just maybe, I am going over the top on the detail but I am enjoying it and it really brings home how cramped these tanks were. I wouldn't have wanted to be in this one when it met it's end. Thanks for commenting, Jon 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry roberts Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 Nope, the attention to detail is what makes this so good. The interior is where you as the owner and driver will relate to it when it is moving. Having the interior detailed so close to the original gives it substance. It changes it from a cool toy to an experience. Climbing in through a hatch will be climbing through a portal in to 1940. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
43rdrecce Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 3 hours ago, johann morris said: Maybe, just maybe, I am going over the top on the detail but I am enjoying it and it really brings home how cramped these tanks were. I wouldn't have wanted to be in this one when it met it's end. Thanks for commenting, Jon Jon, no the detail makes this project special. There are plenty of external lookalike vehicles running about. Few have taken the trouble to completely replicate the interiors. Keep up the good work! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted March 14, 2020 Author Share Posted March 14, 2020 Afternoon, I am feeling a bit crappy so I decided to follow the Governments advise and self isolate myself in the workshop. I finished the lining panels along the inside of the hull and made the box for storing the radio operators head set, other than that there nothing to report. Jon 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funksammler Posted March 15, 2020 Share Posted March 15, 2020 For your info, the morse key holder is actually a two part affair so that the width of the holder can be adjusted. It also has a notch on the far end and a spring loaded latch to keep the morse key in place. regards and keep up the good work, Funksammler FunksammlerMilitaria.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted March 15, 2020 Author Share Posted March 15, 2020 1 hour ago, Funksammler said: For your info, the morse key holder is actually a two part affair so that the width of the holder can be adjusted. It also has a notch on the far end and a spring loaded latch to keep the morse key in place. regards and keep up the good work, Funksammler FunksammlerMilitaria.com Fantastic information, thanks for posting it. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted March 16, 2020 Author Share Posted March 16, 2020 Evening All, Well, I finally got my arse into gear and cast the first tyre on the return roller. It went fairly well, the only problem being that it was quite hard to free from the mould. I used a silicon release agent and as I couldn't get the roller to release from the base I ran a stanely knife around it, which scuffed the face but not badly and I can tidy it up, so no problem really. I spoke to the supplier today and they suggested using Vaseline, so I have used that on the one currently in the mould. Jon 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted March 26, 2020 Author Share Posted March 26, 2020 Evening All, I hope that you are all safe and well. I haven't done much since the last update as the sun's been out and it's time to get the garden done. I have started the polyurethane casting mould for the road wheels but I am waiting for a new cutter to arrive for the milling machine and at the moment it takes a little bit of imagination to see the finished item. Apart from that, I now have eight track return rollers with tyres on but not finished, as the polyurethane takes about eight days to go off and I can't finish machine them until they have hardened. Jon 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted March 30, 2020 Author Share Posted March 30, 2020 Evening All, A week of lock down done and I heard on the radio it could last for 13 weeks, so progress will slow right down but it will continue until the materials run out. I have finished the mould for the drive wheels, it's made on the same principle as the return roller mould but bigger. I am worried that because of the amount of polyurethane required, about 6.5 litres, it will have problems filling from a single pour and although I am loth to use a double pour, I have constructed the mould with two pouring holes. Jon 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted April 1, 2020 Author Share Posted April 1, 2020 Evening All, I thought that as I was making moulds, I might as well make the mould for the suspension arm radius bump stops. The 7 larger holes are there to allow the polyurethane to coat both sides of the steel retention bracket and bond through the holes. Hopefully it will work, tomorrow morning I shall find out. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 Good luck! I hope it will be ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted April 2, 2020 Author Share Posted April 2, 2020 And the results are in...…...It looks pretty good to my eye, a bit of fettling when it's cured but on the whole I am pleased with it. There was a bit of leakage due to a small gap between the base of the upright and the base in one area but now that the resin has filled the gap it won't happen again. You can see in this picture the line of the retaining bracket and that the resin has coated both sides. Jon 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted April 3, 2020 Author Share Posted April 3, 2020 Evening, I thought that before I get too excited and cast all ten, I had better see if they fitted first. They still need fettling but I am pleased with them. Jon 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tt33a Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 What optic are you using ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FW200 Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 Still an awesome topic Wish I had the skill and workshop for such a project! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted April 16, 2020 Author Share Posted April 16, 2020 10 hours ago, tt33a said: What optic are you using ? Sorry, I am not sure that I understand the question, do you mean for the gun sight? 8 hours ago, FW200 said: Still an awesome topic Wish I had the skill and workshop for such a project! Thanks, I was indeed very lucky to be taught in the old school of engineering and I am very lucky to have the space to create but it is never too late to learn and there are plenty of small projects waiting to be undertaken. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tt33a Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 1 hour ago, johann morris said: Sorry, I am not sure that I understand the question, do you mean for the gun sight? yes (for the gun sight), sorry for being unclear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Herbert Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 tt33a (do you have a name ?), See page 2 of this thread, about 1/3 of the way down. Actually it is worth reading all of this thread ! David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted April 19, 2020 Author Share Posted April 19, 2020 Evening All, In truth there's not a lot to show you at the moment, I have stripped the front interior out of the tank in readiness for testing the final drive set up and I am in the process of reinstalling everything but this time the drive chain will be in it's finished state. I have rebuilt the final drives and waiting for some parts to be delivered before I can fill the steering box with oil. I am on the third and final version of the steering box filler cover, that's it, no more changing my mind. I have also made a more representative version of the Morse key holder, as it was pointed out earlier in the thread that this item was originally adjustable, well now it is. Jon 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted April 21, 2020 Share Posted April 21, 2020 Amazing attention to details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltwtbarmy Posted April 21, 2020 Share Posted April 21, 2020 (edited) My word! I’ve taken my hat off to you so many times that my arm is now in traction. If only I had one tenth of your skill set. Thank you for carrying out this build, and thanks for taking the time to keep us updated. Well done! Edited April 21, 2020 by ltwtbarmy 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtskull Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 May I join the previous members in paying tribute to your skill, patience and attention to detail? A fantastic project and a fascinating thread. Thank you. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted April 23, 2020 Author Share Posted April 23, 2020 (edited) Thanks all, hopefully the detail will add to the realism of my creation. Today, was the day, when it was all tested. Sorry for the sound quality in the video, it's the camera's fault. Everything worked as it should do, there were no oil leaks, so I am a happy man. Although there are some small modifications that I am going to make. Now that the engine has a load on it, even if it is no where near what it will have to deal with, it's exhaust note has changed and is quite pleasant, in a noisy sort of gruff way. https://youtu.be/LyIzzA4MhoU Edited April 23, 2020 by johann morris video didn't work 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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