1:16 Sherman convert to "Oddball's" tank

[sparks]

Thanks Johnf,
No paint, but I'm hoping to get the music. I have a small enough mp3 player to fit in the back of the tank(after the speaker cabinet is removed to make space for the smoker) that will play "All for the love of the sunshine" and a few other Oddball clips, and I think I have sorted out how to operate it remotely

Problem at the moment is getting the headphone output into a suitable speaker that is loud enough (and small enough) to use
Advise from anyone who has knowledge in that field would be appreciated.
I was hoping to fit a speaker into the scale loudspeaker on the side of the turret, but one that small wasn't loud enough
Thats a long way off yet, so plenty of time to get it sorted.
BFN

[Johnf]

Great ideas. I know what you mean about speakers.

[sparks]

Hi , ventilation cover arrived today along with the upgraded idlers. gave the idlers a coat of primer and then 2 coats of olive drab. While I was waiting between coats, I set to work cutting out the opening for the ventilation cover.

Rebated the back edge so it fits flush with the top surface.


BFN

[fleshpedler]

Nice very nice Sparks...Fleshy..........

[sparks]

Thanks Fleshy

[sparks]

Hi all,
Fitted the upgrade idler wheels (nice bit of kit)

Only after taking this close up pic that I notice the holes in the wheel nuts, I assume from the casting process, but the mechanics of them is very good, nice smooth free rotation.
They come with a nice sturdy fixing plate that is a vast improvement on the stock Tam part.

[sparks]

I wasn't 100% happy with the way the engine deck was seating,( a bit proud). So I removed it to Dremel away some material from the outer edges on the underside. While it was off it occured to me that it would be a good idea to have the whole thing removable,to get better access to all the gear that will be in there, so I installed a couple more styrene strips at lower level to allow for the thickness of a couple of magnets.

While the styrene was out, I fitted a centre bar in to give the etched grille some needed support.

While I was working on that area I extended the raised rim around the turret with styrene to meet up with the section on the new engine deck.

Now I have a flush, tight fitting,but removable deck
BFN

[sparks]

Constructed shock absorber and suspension assemblies.

Using ETO Armor wheel bearings and Schumo hex head replacement bolts.

BFN

[sparks]

Fitted the suspension assemblies using more Schumo hex head bolts.


Also fitted the final drive plate supports with bearings from ETO Armor.

BFN

[sparks]

As you may have guessed, I'm not going with the VVSS conversion. Seems like a lot of work for something that might or might not work well. Judging by the price of the Mato narrower tracks for the VVSS system, they are plastic, which again, to me, seems like a step backwards after buying metal tracks and all the extra reinforcement parts for them.
I am thinking of doing a VVSS make over using converted Mato parts, just trying it out at the moment, to see if it is workable.



Obviously, not properly fixed in place at the moment.
Any comment or feedback would be welcome
Cheers
Sparks