mark m uk

Next, the upper deck. Real tricky making those fuel tank neck holes - it doesn't look much I know, but that cause a lot of blue air. Putting a double compound curve in the surface was a challenge too. And the combing on the top edge under the windshield was a real mother ! I am so dissapointed with that internal curve - I wish I had bought a metal shrinking tool - but we all live and learn, the next swimmer will be much better, I have to keep reminding myself this is just a rough one to prove the principle.

Yes, I see that - the project seems to have quite a following. I have been asked to post up pictures on several different forums. It has met with a lot of enthusiasm in the US and an enormous amount of enquiries regarding the possibility of making more. Anyway, I'd guess you may like a little update, so here are some pictures of the progress to date. I decided it was about time I attempted the front deck, spare wheel carrier, windshield, and various fittings and brackets associated with that area. I did make a hash of the internal curve of the wheel well. I tried to buy one from the bulkhead of a split van but they are as rare as rocking horse manure. So I did the best I could. Another time I will buy a handpowered sheet shrinker - that will do it. Started by forming the top of the wheel carrier over a bus brake drum - then made a large conical tube to weld it on, and cheated by welding a paint kettle from B&Q in the centre - it was perfect for size !

Another schwimmwagen replica being built, this time in Mexico. http://proyecto-schwinwagen-mexico.blogspot.com/ The guysc are ahead of me, even got as far as testing the proppeller ..........in a tin bath !

Thanks Colonal G.i.E. - I did that and it worked fine. :-D- the little film was a hoot !.............Next I want to see what happens when the jeep brakes hard !

I am desperate to see that now - you must mend the computer and make it work !

Ha !...........Mud surfing sounds like fun, but real men road surf ! :cool2:

:-D Ha, well I hope to be going with the Schwimm to Beltring, but I hope we dont get the mud that we had a couple years back - man, that was dreadful. Hey Phil, hang on to those 16" wheels, I understand they are as rare as ricking horse manure, but not the same as KDF, I believe the KDF era wheels are riveted. A split van is another on my 'most wanted' lists of cool vehicles. Thanks for the advice on the business of banded wheels.....Regards Mark.

Small update on the schlugwagen. The original wheels of a Swimmer are unobtainable, and 16" diameter. They come in (I think) 3 1/2", and 7" widths. Reproductions are now available and look really nice, but too expensive to waste on my pile of shcrap. So, I figured on making my own. I bought regular wide 5 beetle wheels that are 15", and got 'my mates Dad' to part them off on a lathe. Next, my other mate rolled up some 2mm thick bands, and yet another mate - Scurvey Merv, one of the best welders on the planet, glued them all together. Next, another mate wrestled some tyres over them. I chose a real aggressive tread, and a higher side wall to compensate for the 1" less on the wheel. :-D:-D So, when I wrote that - "I" made some wheels - I really was pushing the boundries of truth ! Anyway, I painted them all by my own without a grown up ! P.S. Thank you for replying to my earlier thread Lee, that link was a great help, and I got some issues sorted.

For a few weeks now the look of the forum has changed. Personally, I hate it, but it isn't my forum so it's not my business. However, I did read that it is possible to use the old style. I tried to alter things so it reverted to the old style that I was comfortable with, but all I did is hit a button that makes all the threads I view come up in the wrong sequence ? ? ?......... What can I do ?- I used to enjoy the forum - now it just frustrates me in seconds and I log off. Regards Mark. p.s. will this post get deleted because I don't like the new style ?

Here is mine.............. expect it to be dissapeared by morning, like most stuff I post ?

Hi Jimmy, great to hear from you. Sure come along and visit anytime - it would be great to see you both and there is always a cold beer in the fridge. Tell Pete his got to come !:-D Thanks for the advice regarding the light sensative mask, I do struggle with the welding most of all. Just cant see through the black glass, and by the time I have an arc going and it is light enough to see what is going on, I am miles away from the bit I need to be doing. I think a new mask would be a good investment, I have to get over to ebay because Phil has suggested power shears as well. Cant really complain about buying tools - they are so cheap these days - I bought a 4" grinder for less than a tenner. The first 4" grinder I bought was 30 years ago, it cost £65, and I was earning £15 a week. Over a months money ! - now less than an hours pay. It sure is a different world. The steel I use is 20g , yes I split the end beyond the ridge. I tried on a test piece without doing that and it distorted the top edge. Thanks again for the encouragement and advice Jimmy, Now, tell Pete to get in the car and come over for a peek ! Regards Mark.

One last task is to strengthen the underside where it bolts to the body. I figured I would put a step in it to accomadate an existing rib under the beetle, and then wire the edge - that would make it stronger and take the sharp off it. The rest of the raw edge I will salvage by just folding it over. Never done a wired edge befor, so this is probably all wrong and gets a good laugh. Anyway, it kinda worked. Now it's almost done, bit of tidying up and a coat of paint - Bolt it on, and back to boring engines

Hey Jim, great to see you on here - yes, we had a great chat end of last year. I remember the encouragement from both you and Pete. Being proffessional 'tin bashers', your opinions then, and compliments now are extremely valuable - did I spy you on the TV a few evenings ago ? It is difficult to figure how many hours the project has taken so far without refering to my notes. I intend to have a count up at the end, and put a £ value to the project - I think it is scary amount. Here is an example of one piece, about 20-25 hours, but that of course would be reduced as the patterns and 'tooling' (yeah, tooling........LOL) is already done, There is a removable panel in front of the axle beam to protect it, and stop brush or weeds getting caught. I figured it was about time I tackled that................Here is one, It's the panel immediately forward of the front wheel that continues back between those wheels and bolts under the body. As always, starts with studying the pictures, making sketches, measuring stuff and generally getting your head around the task, then cutting it out in cardboard. Then cutting out some steel sheet. I use one of those thin discs in a four inch grinder. Times like this one of them plasma cutters would be like a dream. Next, find some scrap - this is an old earthing rod. I weld some bits of crap on it to stop it rolling around while I use it to form those ribs. Of course, it gets offered up regular, it seems like all I do is bolt it on and unbolt it .......Doh, But, it's the only way to be sure it will fit, and much more accurate than measurements transfered. Gradually taking shape.

Wow ! - never seen anything like that phil. these schwimmers are ugly enough, but that reall does take the biscuit !:-D I see its in a book, and a colour picture - is it a post war 'improvment' ?

Brilliant project, great workmanship, ace skills, admirable dedication. I look forward to the day you can push this outside and we get a look at the overall shape and scale of this! Really appreciate the updates, and very good of you to take the time to entertain us when you sop clearly have your hands full ! Ps, anyone here got a picture of a real one they can post up ?

Thank You BD, Dave, It is starting to sit nicely - I was surprised by how much it went down immediately, and settled some more after a couple days. Now the front looks too high, but I am not going to worry about that as I have adjusters welded into the beam and can always let it down a little. Thanks for your interest guys,

Never let the grass grow and all that ! another little update. Brrrrrrrrr, chilly out in the garage today, but things got warmed up when I fired up the welder. Today, I was mostly making exhaust pipe ! I bought one from the CZR, but it was too small by 15mm. considered altering it, but figured that it was almost as easy to make another one. So, got my mate to bend half a dozen bits of pipe, bought some steel tubeing - and found that the guys at machine 7 sell ready cut flanges.........that was a result ! Cut, grind, measure, cut, weld, measure, drill, cut, measure, bish, bosh, bash and - hey presto!

Spot on Phil, It is indeed. Dates from the mid - late sixties. I am learning a lot as I go on, the next one I build will be much easier.................I hope ! Regards Mark,

Put the engine in the little schwimmer thingy- I was really pleased that the exhaust pipes that I bought from CZR, not only fit the engine, but they pop straight out the holes in the cowl above - my early efforts at scaleing could not have been too far out ! Here shows where the air comes from.

Brilliant stuff, I just love all this heavy engineering and tank repair stuff. Not for the faint hearted or light of wallet, That rules me out, but it is great to share in other peoples tank adventures, so keep it up boys and thanks for posting pictures.

Not a childs car. It is a giant inflatable German........controlled by a real German in a rabbit outfit disguise. ....................is that a daft enough explaination ?

They should be, they are new reproductions ! I think this is the guy I bought my proppeller from.

Very interesting stuff, in particular I like the soldier art - a very important part of social history study. Well done on a very interesting post. Good luck with taking those pictures. I guess all soldiers that manned these bleak posts were bored out of their brains, last summer I found some very remote and seldom visited German bunkers on the norther coast of France, they were full of period graffiti !

Happy birthday :yay:

Very nice piece of kit - I see it has the latest pioneer rack on the hood, underbody armour package etc etc.........very nice.