Panzer Spirit Build 2022 - ?

[PainlessWolf]

Parts from Tank Modelbau for the Sherman and Jagdpanther were in the mailbox today. I am really pleased that Dave and Julie do not have to pull their collective hair out to get parts from Germany for me now. Without them, the PzIV Ausf F and Jagdtiger would still be sitting around unfinished. It is good to see efficiency returned ( if not cheapness ) to ordering from Germany.
Pics: ( Click to Enlarge )

[EAO]

Painless,

Thanks for this post leading me to read Panzer Spirit! I found a mint copy and with shipping it amounted to only $6.49! I've always been a voracious reader and I really liked this book. It had that indefinable 1980's style of writing to it that really brought back a wave of nostalgia! Who'd ever think that one day I'd pine for the good old eighties?!

I've been reading on a Kindle since 2015 as I barely have any more room for "real" books. I must say that the feel of paper on the fingers (even slightly musty, cheap paperback pulp from 1988) was a welcome change of pace. Even if I had to have the nightstand light on and had no idea what time it was (just one more chapter dear)!

Reading this book brought back a memory of a warm Summer night here in Missouri. A typical sweltering, humid day was finally broken up by a hour long thunderstorm. Even though it was nearly 9:30 PM the air was so cool that I figured a late evening cigar with the dogs would be a good idea. As I puffed away, the dog's ears pricked up at the sound of an approaching motorcycle...they love anything with two wheels! We live out in the country on a smooth, curvy two lane road perfect for sports cars and motorcycles. Sure enough, here came what I could identify as a Suzuki Hayabusa being ridden at a good clip given the darkness, wet road, and the fact that you're in heavy deer country. The bike had those LED rope lights installed under the fairing like those popular with tuner cars and low riders. The color was a pale, electric blue just like the JP and Sherman equipped with Mirtheil! With all the steam rising off of the warm pavement it was quite the sight as the bike and rider appeared to be floating on a mist of blue light! A few seconds later only the drone of the engine could be heard as it glowed away over the hills and valleys.

This makes me wonder if some ultra small LED light ropes are available? And some reactive paint that they would illuminate due to the lights, on the upper hull of the tanks? No idea, but the bike sure looked like what I pictured the JP and Sherman to look like in the book.

Also, I was looking at Robert McCammon's other books and stumbled across the website of the artist who originally did the cover for "The Night Boat". My wall space is almost as limited as my bookshelves, but it would look pretty cool in my Bunker.

http://www.lesedwards.com/galleries/hor ... boat/16666

The bits and bobs you've assembled look top notch. I'll be watching this with great interest!

Cheers,
Eric.

[PainlessWolf]

Eric!
Good afternoon! Having a little lunch break and watching the snow fly once again as Winter grips the Valley tightly in another Blizzard/ Winter Storm. The lights are a great idea that I had not considered. ;o) What I am running down right now is a flat, clear UV reactive spray paint by a company, name of Montana. Spray a coat on and under daylight conditions, the tanks appear normal. Turn on a standard blacklight bulb and they will suddenly glow with an Electric Blue light. Neat stuff! Let me know what you think? Thanks again for following along. I'm glad you liked the book! It has it's moments.
regards,
Painless

"Firing main gun" That line gave me goosebumps.

[EAO]

Hello Painless,

That paint sounds amazing! So many cool items on the market with so many different applications too! That is a good line from the book too. The thing that got me thinking about creepiness, was a relic tank, hatches sealed from inside, and hearing a faint clang as a round was loaded and the breech slammed shut!

I'm going out on a limb here, did you ever read comic books? I was never too infatuated with them, but I was crazy for the DC comic book G.I. Combat focusing on "The Haunted Tank"! That would be the M3 Stuart guarded over by the ghost of Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart. Unfortunately, in the small Wisconsin town that I grew up in, new copies were hit and miss in the magazine racks at best.

Hey, now there's another idea for a build!

Cheers,
Eric.

[PainlessWolf]

Good Morning,
Banging and heating water pipes to combat the sub zero temps this morning. I was always sending Alpha ( the General ), copies of the Haunted Tank comics for Xmas and such. He was oft times after me to turn my ongoing 1/6 Stuart M5 build into a Haunted Tank. ;o) I think that tank was depicted as an M3 version of the Stuart in the comics. Could be wrong. I know it was a Sherman for a while. ( even an Abrams in the modern version ) Awaiting my skull from Oz so Von Norden can command his infamous Jagdpanther again!
regards,
Painless

[EAO]

Painless,

That's too funny! It's interesting that you remember the tank changing to different one's through the years. The version I remember was the M3 version Grant or Lee. As a kid it was my favorite U.S. tank, and I distinctly remember the 3 guns and two turrets while flying the stars and bars battle flag. I was a tad confused when your post here reminded me of the comic, and I googled it! I really don't remember the Stuart at all?! Childhood memories can often be a bit hazy, but I swore it was the Lee (couldn't be the Grant and flying the Confederate flag, right)?!

Carry on trying to stay warm and thawed out. I'm just reminiscing here!

Cheers,
Eric.

[PainlessWolf]

A few days worth of parts and such coming in the mail and some actual work on the Sherman. I counted the track links and found 78 per side. One side was just adjusted too tightly. Fixed that. I took the turret apart and found a mix of loose and over tightened screws and nuts. Whatever grease they were using at the factory looked like a mix of rust and sweat or blood and sweat. Some odd, smelly red stuff. I cleaned it off and greased up the moving bits properly. A Test afterwards showed smooth action and greatly reduced motor noise levels. Finishing, I mounted up the new 50 cal and cleaned the black paint out of the ports on the 30 cal coax mounted in the turret. Looks much better now when firing. Much more to do.
Pics: ( Click to Enlarge )

P.S. I think I found the last can in the U.S. of that UV Luminescent Clear Flat paint by Montana and ordered it today. That will need some testing when it shows up.

[PainlessWolf]

Cont:
Pics: ( Click to Enlarge )

[PainlessWolf]

A little more work, this time on the Jagpanther. I needed to see what it's yrs of inactivity had caused to crop up if anything. I started charging up a 5000 MaH battery for it but had to get moving as the day was fading. I used the LiPo I had left over and it ran the heavy Tank Killer very well. After I brought Von Nordens Jagdpanther back in, I took the precaution of balance charging the LiPo before I sat it aside again. Everything worked including the smoker and BB cannon and it ran extremely well out in the rough. All that metal in the running gear really lends it a solid feel creeping along or running all out. The Author of 'Panzer Spirit' picked a great machine as an antagonist. It would have been a completely different novel if the ghost tank was a StuG or a Jagdtiger. In good news, the skulls I ordered from Oz are in the country now. They should be here soon.
Pics: ( Click to Enlarge )

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Painless, that looks like a "bone stock" Taigen Jagdpanther just like one I have. It's encouraging to see that you are pleased with its rough-ground running. What fun!