Nashorn build from a Panzer IV lower hull

[Raminator]

Camouflage looks great, Alwyn. What's left to do before you finish up your prototype, and move on to weathering?

[AlwynTurner]

Hi Raminator, not a great deal left to do really. I need to get a controller board, probably a Clark TK22, so I can test and finalise the gun servos.

I need to do the tidying up inside the chassis and decide where to mount the on/off switch. Do some more work on the painting, the camo was just a trial run as I hadn't finished even the paint base coat but I was feeling like I needed to do some artistic work instead of cutting/glueing/printing and I wanted to see what it would look like. To tell the truth I am so impressed with the camo job I really don't want to mess with it too much, probably just give it another few coats.

I'm very nervous about weathering as the few attempts I have made previously have been disastrous. Any weathering I do will probably be very light limited to mud splash/light dusting/pinlining/maybe a mud wash etc. I have an airbrush but haven't used it yet due to threats from the domestic management about smell/damage to the domestic environment etc and it hasn't been suitable weather to use the shed outside.

So really it's about finished from an external view point.

Alwyn

[AlwynTurner]

I finally gave some thought to the on/off switch/volume control and came up with a location :

I had to pull off the lid to the tool box in the back of the cab, but made the lid removable so I don't need to keep opening up the upper hull to turn it on and off.

The kit will be modified so the tool box is hinged to make things simpler.
Alwyn

[AlwynTurner]

Made progress and connected up the Clark TK22. Other than not being able to superspin the tank is working 100%. Just have a few problems with clearances on the servos and one of the servos has died so some fiddling required. Anyway I've made a video which is not great as holding the camera whilst operating the tank is not easy but here it is.

phpBB [video]

A little bit of fixing still to do but getting there

Alwyn

[c.rainford73]

Looking and sounding great Mr Alwyn Turner! Love that camoflouge pattern

[c.rainford73]

Hi there Alwyn hope you had time to sort out the board and servo

[maxmekker]

Great post, nice to see it running

[AlwynTurner]

Hi Carl, yes everything is working, we established that the TK22/transmitter combo functions like a Tamiya setup i.e. no superspin, but the real tanks didn't have that anyway. The servos are all working fine so I have elevate, slew, and recoil. I just need to put some of the redesigned servo links that I made for your kit onto the prototype as the prototype components don't fit properly and catch on the gun carraige, but as that involves a complete gun strip/rebuild I probably won't get that done before my hols. I'm not worried about it really as all the functionality works, it's just a bit 'kludgy' and not as smooth as I'd like but that's prototypes for you.

I managed to run the tank around the landscape and practice shooting things up. The gun fire/recoil looks really good with the muzzle flash, I was lucky to have one of the really small plugs to connect to the TK22 J3 socket. Have you got your various plugs wired up for the board?

Alwyn

[c.rainford73]

I do. I have a socket setup for the j3 port for the flash. Not sure what ports to plug the elevation and recoil servos into yet. I was going to ask you about that. My wiring should arrive this week from Dave Forgebear and then it's just a wait for the Clark tk60 board from Maxmekker. Glad you had fun and sorted it all out. I envy you fellas can get together and have fun as you do!

Carl

[c.rainford73]

To be honest with you I'm not a huge fan of the super spin function anyway maybe on a modern tank I guess. You built an excellent model glad you are enjoying it!