Gordon_M Posted May 11, 2020 Share Posted May 11, 2020 42 minutes ago, johann morris said: Quote ... I thought I made it up as I went along. Jon Winging it seems to have worked wonderfully so far, I'd have to say. I'd guess if ( when ...) you have the whole thing complete apart from the tracks you'll think of something, or something will turn up, or you'll get a grant from the Arts Council. Something along the lines of: "if you build it they will come". 😉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lssah2025 Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 Outstanding, there was a German company making Pz track a few years back, don't know if they did any Pzr 1 track though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 Evening All, Six road wheels finished and now I have to wait for more polyurethane. This is the new Panzer ll sports model. Today we pushed the hull outside to give the track guards a coat of under coat and to put the upper hull in place so that I can start to construct the engine deck. Someone asked me how I had made the turret ring, well this was my design. A series of bearings spaced around the turret ring circumference, eight vertical and eight horizontal bearings trapped between an upper and lower flange, so that the turret can't come off. When I described what I had manufactured, I was told that it was the same as on an American Stuart light tank but as I have never seen a Stuarts turret ring, I can't comment. Jon 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highland_laddie Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 Another gr8 and innovative solution. The upper hull looks really fab. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdmcm Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 PUT THE TURRET ON! PUT THE TURRET ON! PUT THE TURRET ON!!! just for a minute! Please! Please Please!!!! John 6 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted May 30, 2020 Author Share Posted May 30, 2020 Evening All, Sorry John if it were easy I would put it on just for you but I am afraid that you will have to wait. The upper hull has had it's attachment flanges added and the whole structure has been bolted to the lower hull. I have manufactured and welded the track guard brackets to the upper hull, so now the tract guards are secure. Most of the rear engine deck has been completed but it needs removing to finish welding the inside edges. The cover on the left covers the radiator and air exhaust tract. I have had to add a hole that wasn't on the original in order to access the fan belt tensioner. The large access panel below that, gives access to the fan and the fan belt tensioner locking nut. This cover also houses the radio operators escape hatch, which itself is part of the cooling system and contains a fresh air inlet for the radiator. The cover seemed to take ages, as I had to work out what the hinges looked like and how they worked, so that they gave clearances for opening. The radio operators means of escape is very tight, as you can see. The cover to the right covers the engine bay. I was worried about access to the engine but although tight, everything seems fairly accessible. In the righthand side of this cover there are air vents that allow the fan to draw air over the engine. The air is the drawn through the fan and exhausted out of the rear of this same cover. And there endeth the lesson for today. Jon 9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67burwood Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 Absolutely outstanding work 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11th Armoured Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 Seconded! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rootes75 Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 (edited) Superb metalwork. Edited May 31, 2020 by Rootes75 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highland_laddie Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 As always a pleasure to see the detail and quality of your work. waiting for the next instalment 🙌 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 A bit too soon I guess but will ask anyway... When completed, what kind of look do you want. As new or used? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monty2 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 Still amazes me the speed and detailing you do this amazing project Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted June 6, 2020 Author Share Posted June 6, 2020 On 6/1/2020 at 10:21 AM, Enigma said: A bit too soon I guess but will ask anyway... When completed, what kind of look do you want. As new or used? Thanks again for the comments, they are all very encouraging, especially during the periods where enthusiasm is lacking. I always try to finish my projects as though they have just left the factory and then allow them age with use, which I don't think will take long with the tank, bearing in mind that you have to climb all over it to get in and out. Talking of which, climbing in and out to work on the interior plays havoc with the knees, I will be glad to get the upper hull off again and sit it on it's stand to finish things off. Not much to report as I have been getting on with some other projects but I have managed to make the engine compartment hinges and the lifting hooks and the rest of the resin was delivered on Friday, so back to casting next week. Jon 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rootes75 Posted June 6, 2020 Share Posted June 6, 2020 They look very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtskull Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 “Self appointed Field Marshal”. I like it! 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tapper02 Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 Jon, Simply amazing. You are talented beyond belief! I have been following you since you were just building the turret, and when you started on this endeavor after the volume of encouragement to do so, I couldn't have been more excited. You are getting so close, and you have to be applauded for your commitment to staying as close to authentic as possible. I can't wait to see the hull mated with the turret, and even better, one day moving along on it's very own set of tracks. Keep it up brother...you're truly an inspiration! -Tom 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted July 7, 2020 Author Share Posted July 7, 2020 (edited) Thanks Tapper, it feels very close and yet there are still several major hurdles to negotiate but that's all part of the challenge. Time for an update me thinks. I have finished the engine cover although I have cheated and used 1.6mm steel sheet for the covers to save weight. Around the opening of this cover there is a radiused section, best shown in this picture. Also there is a 15mm gap right around the covers, too big a gap to be just clearance. I had assumed that it was a rain water channel but the more I studied the pictures I realised that the reason for the large gap and the radiused section was to allow air into the engine bay around the sides of the covers but I assume, not allow splinters to enter. On the original tank the two covers were not locked together, the lower over had no locking mechanism being held in place by it's own weight and the top cover having a locking mechanism. In my tank the covers lock together, as the lower door is not heavy enough stay in place on it's own. The radio operators escape hatch mow has it's latch and handle. Next to the radio operators chair there is a wall which is part of the engine bay bulkhead which for some reason is cut across at about 45 degrees Most probably to give access to the engine bay from inside the tank. Most of the pictures that I can find show this as being a bolted in section apart from one that shows it as having a hinged access door. I decided that as my ignition coil and amplifier are situated in this area a hinged cover would be a very good idea. When I made the radiator hinged cover, I made it as a two piece assembly. Once the hull top was in place it became obvious that it wouldn't close and should have been made in three sections. The only thing that then concerned me, was would it block the radio operators escape hatch. Once I had altered it, it became obvious that it tucks away nicely out of the way. The radio aerial on the panzer 2 is raised from inside the tank using this device. The handle is rotated up to raise that aerial and rotated down to lower it. The end of the handle is sprung so that when it is in the raised position it locks it's self in position, to lower the aerial you pull the end of the handle out and rotate it down. The unit to the right of the main unit contained a rotary coupling for the cable from the aerial to the radio apparatus. The shaft going between the rotating unit and the aerial outside the tank would have been in two parts and insulated so that the operator didn't get a shock when he touch the handle. In mine the shaft is in one piece. The radio mast was attached to the shaft via a coupling. This is the one on the Panzer ii in Bovington. And mine. When the mast is in the down position, it lays in a wooded tray that is bolted to the track guard. Sorry that it was such a long update, I get carried away or as my darling wife says, I should be carried away. Jon Edited July 7, 2020 by johann morris 9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67burwood Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Fantastic workmanship as always 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rootes75 Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Superb metalwork. Seeing it progress like this is very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highland_laddie Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 I think this thread would make a great book once the project is complete. It's much more detailed than what has been published to date on the TWC Panther. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted July 10, 2020 Author Share Posted July 10, 2020 On 7/7/2020 at 10:38 PM, Highland_laddie said: I think this thread would make a great book once the project is complete. It's much more detailed than what has been published to date on the TWC Panther. You could be right, maybe worth thinking about in the future. Evening All, I want to get all the tools, boxes, etc that are attached to the track guards in place before I remove the upper hull, all of the tools are held in place by these clips, An original My version I had thought that they would all be the same and I would just have to make 8 identical clips but in true German fashion, nothings that simple. There are 7 different variations to make, some just bigger or small but others totally different so each one takes a bit of experimentation. They were all lined with felt or similar, so that has to taken into account and that will be riveted in place after they have had a coat of under coat. That's all for now Jon 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted July 20, 2020 Author Share Posted July 20, 2020 Evening All, One thing that I never throw away is Oak, I can always find a use for it. The panzer needs a jacking block as part of it's tool kit and as I had some large off cuts left over from when I built our extension, out came the chain saw. Most of the original blocks that I have seen have been made from several pieces joined together but I decided to make it out of one lump. The block in its holding bracket. I decided to use a new fire extinguisher painted to recreate an original, my thinking is, if there is a fire it would be nice to know that i have the equipment to put it out rather than to look good. The two other items that I have also have added are, the pinch bar and this enclosure that holds a box listed as an Zubehorkasten MG34, so far, i have been unable to find any information on the latter. Night, night, Jon 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
43rdrecce Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 (edited) Z-Kasten accessory box. I think it's this one Jon. Good news is it looks like a standard ammo box externally, presumably stowed on its side. Contained sub assemblies for the the gun. There was an E and V- Kasten too. Edited July 20, 2020 by 43rdrecce Spelling 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highland_laddie Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 1 hour ago, johann morris said: Evening All, One thing that I never throw away is Oak, I can always find a use for it. The panzer needs a jacking block as part of it's tool kit and as I had some large off cuts left over from when I built our extension, out came the chain saw. Most of the original blocks that I have seen have been made from several pieces joined together but I decided to make it out of one lump. The block in its holding bracket. I decided to use a new fire extinguisher painted to recreate an original, my thinking is, if there is a fire it would be nice to know that i have the equipment to put it out rather than to look good. The two other items that I have also have added are, the pinch bar and this enclosure that holds a box listed as an Zubehorkasten MG34, so far, i have been unable to find any information on the latter. Night, night, Jon Hi Jon, haven't read this web page in detail bit it lists different accessories for the MG34 and one of them is the Zuberhorkasten, and has various pictures of lists of associated equipment. Hope it may help. https://www.bergflak.com/ezvkasten.html Cheers Julian 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon king Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 David Bryden’s Tiger1.info website has a page for MG34 toolboxes. I wonder if the same box was used in the PzII? Sorry....cant link so google “Tiger1.info MG34 toolboxes” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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