1941 StuG III Ausf B

[ALPHA]

Talk about Frog Eyes....this version of the Stug really has a Frog Face.....what's even funnier is...I spoke to Sass about how to paint the one I got about a year ago...When the GuP movie Vs Anzio came out...told him I was going to paint it green or something...with the Pizza insignia...I tell you what Painless...I'll have a RC Frog
She's looking good...see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel yet?

ALPHA

[PainlessWolf]

Good morning, Alpha,
The StuG's definitely have character. This one will be a really good runner. I ordered the HD spring set for it from Murphy the other night. The rear was developing a tendency to sit down a little and not spring back unlike the front. Heavy with that resin block and all the topside metal. Also, the springs seemed to have different tensions on them particularly the ones for the shock mounts. Earlier in the build, I had to remove some of the running gear and swap the springs around, testing the stiffness of return. The tank had acquired a tendency to settle on one side. *chuckles* The stiffer springs went to the shocks up front by the motors and gears and that resolved things for a while. Now, I see that stiffer springs will be required in the rear shocks as well. My current thing is the Tarn\Convoy lighting. I'm going to test the existing lights again to see if I can get them to illuminate at all and if so, I'll rig some sort of contact for them. Space is at a premium as you noted and I cannot go and add a bunch of wiring and extra plugs. If the bulbs are bad or the voltage is some weird German standard, the headlamps may be it for this one.
regards,
Painless

[ALPHA]

Good morning, Alpha,
The StuG's definitely have character. This one will be a really good runner. I ordered the HD spring set for it from Murphy the other night. The rear was developing a tendency to sit down a little and not spring back unlike the front. Heavy with that resin block and all the topside metal. Also, the springs seemed to have different tensions on them particularly the ones for the shock mounts. Earlier in the build, I had to remove some of the running gear and swap the springs around, testing the stiffness of return. The tank had acquired a tendency to settle on one side. *chuckles* The stiffer springs went to the shocks up front by the motors and gears and that resolved things for a while. Now, I see that stiffer springs will be required in the rear shocks as well. My current thing is the Tarn\Convoy lighting. I'm going to test the existing lights again to see if I can get them to illuminate at all and if so, I'll rig some sort of contact for them. Space is at a premium as you noted and I cannot go and add a bunch of wiring and extra plugs. If the bulbs are bad or the voltage is some weird German standard, the headlamps may be it for this one.
regards,
Painless

Aren't these convoy lights the same as the KV's ?....this is the plastic hulled Taigen chassis right...aren't the springs "clockable" like on the HL ? The shock springs can't I know... but I would have thought Taigen has the same provisions like the HL s

ALPHA

[PainlessWolf]

Hello!,
The light is not the same. Different vendor from when I purchased the one for the KV-2. Searching around last night, I noticed that other new lights offered by sites like Tank Modelbau had the same spidery looking wiring on them. It must be an improvement over the normal rubber clad copper I am used to. ;oP PITA! to try and solder. I did not check the road wheel springs. It is the shock springs playing Hob. You have to buy the entire set so may as well change them all out. I considered adding a pad inside the shock housing to see if partial compression would make them stiffer but did not in the end. All the springs in the plastic set that I replaced were very soft.
regards,
Painless

[ALPHA]

Hello!,
The light is not the same. Different vendor from when I purchased the one for the KV-2. Searching around last night, I noticed that other new lights offered by sites like Tank Modelbau had the same spidery looking wiring on them. It must be an improvement over the normal rubber clad copper I am used to. ;oP PITA! to try and solder.

I hear you Painless...fine wire...stranded...those are probably the worst....my mini connectors have the same kind ....you would think they would take the solder faster and easier ...but they don't ...what adds to the frustration is trying to insulate them

I did not check the road wheel springs. It is the shock springs playing Hob. You have to buy the entire set so may as well change them all out. I considered adding a pad inside the shock housing to see if partial compression would make them stiffer but did not in the end. All the springs in the plastic set that I replaced were very soft.
regards,
Painless

Now that you mention it...I think I changed my springs to HL springs as well ...Taigen has to take an overview of their spring department ...it does seem to be a weakness in their armor

Carpe Diem Painless


ALPHA

[PainlessWolf]

Back from a non tank weekend in Denver and ready to pick up the StuG again. Nothing in the Post yesterday so I took the evening to play around with the Notek and Convoy lighting again. I must have received bad bulbs since I cannot get these to illuminate at all using a known, good pair of pins on the board. The mounts are solid and painted so I am weighing the option of ordering a couple of Mato's inexpensive Notek lights and pulling the LEDs and wiring from those. I've coiled up the wiring on these and taped it down out of the way for now. I painted the rear Convoy light and will consider swapping it out as mentioned above. I'm leaning towards just leaving the whole mess alone and enjoying the working headlights. The MG circuit works so I have an idea on how to make that useful. The solid work of the evening involved deck paint touchup and figuring out a way to make the light buckets a solid mount but removable as well when needed. Pics:

[ALPHA]

I neglected to notice in Sass's book Painless...did these models have the Armor plates on the front end like the later models?

ALPHA

[PainlessWolf]

Alpha,
Good afternoon! No, these early StuGs did not have the additional armor plating installed until later during Operation Barbarossa. I think you asked me this before, a little earlier in the thread. ;o)
I'm following your Abrams thread and enjoying the photos and descriptions of your work. I'll have to get one of those next year and replace the green HE version I gave to my friend.
regards,
Painless

[edpanzer]

Coming along nicely painless

[edpanzer]

Opps forgot to ask how do you connect the convoy light up on a Taigen mfu? Do you splice it into the headlight or does it have a socket to plug it in??