Cut out main engine hatch
Rear centre engine hatch cut out on the Tiger. by
Will Pattinson, on Flickr
Top hull now very weak!
Rear centre engine hatch cut out on the Tiger. by
Will Pattinson, on Flickr
Trial fit with pins, boy were they hard to drill out those holes!!!!!
Cracking on with the operable hatches on the HL Tiger. by
Will Pattinson, on Flickr
Cracking on with the operable hatches on the HL Tiger. by
Will Pattinson, on Flickr
Cracking on with the operable hatches on the HL Tiger. by
Will Pattinson, on Flickr
I have also glued on some nice Voyager brass grill covers. The UHU worked well for that, but i have some shaping and then few small dots to glue back down with cyano.
Next steps will mean i now need to make a frame that attaches under the top of the hull to strengthen, but also to give a closing point for the hatches. The rear part of the body is also going to be permanently fixed into the upper hull with some alu bracing and small subframe. So the rear and back will lift off as one. It is the only way i can make these hatches work and give the tank strength.
Under the hatches i am going to put laptop fans under there to mimick the actual fans used on real tanks, that should help cool the electrics.
I think i need to get a 3D printed engine looking thing to sit under the main hatch, but that lifts off nicely so i can gain access into the inner working sof the tank for smoke oil etc.
Quite happy with it so far and remember the cost of this tank is super low, we are doing on a budget as much as possible.