Comet A34 Scratch build

[AlwynTurner]

Rob I just checked the sprocket on my nashorn which is a panzer 3 and it's 52mm from tip of tooth to tip of tooth and it is very dished so maybe you could modify it if you got some plastic ones?
Alwyn

[frankie]

The pzr4 sprocket is slightly smaller than the pzr3 one....48mm tip to tip....

[wibblywobbly]

This is what I was aiming for originally. No idea what I was entering into the code, it just worked how I expected it to now.

[wibblywobbly]

Filament arrived, so did a few test prints. Quality and detail are pretty good, so I am happy with that. Ordered a mountain of various allen bolts, nyloc nuts, bearings and springs to fit the various axles and suspension arms. The arms will be redesigned with coil spring mounts.

One roadwheel takes almost 7 hours to print, so that's 70 hours.... ...but they are solid and will take a roller bearing.

Need a new heater element, so that's on the way too. Need to get hold of some P3 tracks somewhere, need one pair plus one side to get enough to do this one.

Interestingly, the Sherman real world tracks are 23" wide, the Comet is 18" wide.
The Mato Sherman tracks are, by my reckoning, too narrow to be a scale 23", but they do seem to be a scale 18".
So, if the T66 Sherman tracks are also under scale and would be a scale 18", then they would be a very good choice for a Comet. The Sherman sprocket, from tooth end to tooth end is Comet sized too.

[silversurfer1947]

Looking good. I shall look forward to seeing it running on Jan 22

[AlwynTurner]

Hi Rob with 7 hour prints no wonder you need a new heater element! Coming along very nicely, following along.
Alwyn

[wibblywobbly]

The element slid out of the heater block, I went to push it back in, and one of the wires went ping, they are only £4 so it's no big deal. Pain in the bum having to wait for a new one though.

[frankie]

The Mato track is for VVSS suspension which are 17" wide..the HVSS type track like on a Tamiya are 23" wide..

[wibblywobbly]

Aha! The real life spec page I was looking at didn't mention that 'small' detail.

[wibblywobbly]

Before printing anything I decided to take another look at what I had. By redesigning the road wheels, and making them look more authentic I have got the predicted print time down from almost 7 hours to 1.5 hours, which is a bit better.

I also designed the mantlet, which was a bit of a challenge. There are a few different designs. It will have elevation, and I designed it so that I can smear milliput over it to give it the cast look.

A rough turret has been done, but I won't be printing the whole thing. I'll use this to make a supporting frame and attach styrene sheet to it. Otherwise the print time for the shell is almost 20 hours??