Wait a minute Mr Postman!...

[jackalope]

Since you're giving them away I'll take the King Tiger please! You are now my favorite member here BTW!

[43rdRecceReg]

Hi Roy, not only will you need to assemble that printer but you will need to set aside time to get comfy with a 3d design tool... When were you planning to sleep? Anyway congrats on joining the 3d printer users asylum and have fun.

Alwyn

Thing is, Alwyn, I had no plans to join the ranks of the Forum's 3D advance guard: our technological Recce unit. Well,.... not for some time at least The 'Homework' is already piling up and, with the very best of intentions, my son has really repatriated me back to school again- without being aware of it.! I can deal with one compulsion at a time, but managing three (and a fourth that's way more than assembling plasticard, Shaun ), well.. that's going to put the rest of life on hold.
Having already experienced the vicarious angst of the forum 3-D pioneers...at a safe distance..it looks like I'm doomed to weeks, nay even months, of nail biting and expletives..

[43rdRecceReg]

Oh dear, someone else who, not satisfied with the premature dementure that being in this hobby brings, has embarked on the nightmare experience of 3D printer ownership. Insomnia will now become a way of life, Prozac will become part of your daily diet, and regular visits to your optician and psychiatrist will become a matter of routine.

Being the owner of two, which both caused me endless headaches initially, I can say in all honesty that by the time all of your friends have forgotten that you existed you will be having great fun with it, be living like a monk, and wishing you had more money for hair restoration cream.

I may yet buy a third, or convert one of mine, so that I have a much bigger build plate. If I could print a one piece hull I would then be truly happy.

My response is, Wibb: a series of 'dittos', and a long groan. The only comfort to be drawn from this self-imposed descent into technological torture, is that I'm not alone on that path...or perhaps, that mechanical minefield

[43rdRecceReg]

I would have thought the Cromwell a doddle for you, after all its just a bit of Plasticard isn't it? and you being at the true home of the Water of Life it should be filling you with the unrestricted vigour of a Celtic supporter
I am sorry Roy I know how much you dislike bad language
Please do not talk to me about achieving perfection with Panzer 4s or any other human endeavour,
When I left the service I determined that as it had taken so much blood sweat and tears getting fit it would be a waste to lose it and so I enrolled in an "Akido" Class.
My Master was brilliant as an instructor except he insisted we only speak in Japanese,
If you did not he would hit you,
It would go something like this--"RENSHU punch WA punch KANPEKIDESU" punch punch punch punch punch.
It means PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!
I have never been able to write or read Japanese but on the odd occasion I meet people from that country they are always surprised how well I speak their Language,
The women no matter what their age giggle like schoolgirls when they hear me.
It's always refreshing to know I can make the ladies smile still
I remember one of the very few times I impressed my Lady we were at Heathrow going to Mauritaus and we did not know which gate to go to so I asked a couple of Ladies from "All Nippon Airlines" they of course giggled but told me the gate and my lady just sat on the Aircraft for 9 hours saying almost nothing.
Almost worth the punches.
Shaun.

Problem is, Shaun, even plasticard poses a severe challenge to the perfectionist! (I admit to having that tendency.. ). Yes, I can easily reach for a peaty 15-year old single malt, and let the Uisge Beatha (Whiskey) be my 'Sensei'.. but temporary
amnesia.. is all too soon dispelled by glaring reality: there are things to do that haven't been done. In my case, some essential maintenance (dog maintenance, painting, decorating, gardening, repairs etc..). But these things tend to slip down nagging omnipresent list of 'priorities', when a Tank related issue muscles, and barges its way to the head of the queue
I've not tried yoga nor eastern martial arts to maintain health, and personal regimen, but used to enjoy reading 'Haiku verse'..especially Basho's 'The narrow road to the North', and have a lifelong friend living in Sapporo. However, I applaud anyone who can retain a physical fitness discipline.
I manage a 40min walk daily, but only because my personal trainer (a West Highland terrier ), insists on it! I'm too old for a 'six-pack', unless it's nice and chilled! That said, I'm in fairly good shape for my age, and have always been fairly trim.
Chasing a tank around the garden all adds to the '10,000 steam' per day... That's an unexpected benefit of the hobby

[jarndice]

Roy I have been following the Cromwell build since day one and I look at and think NO definitely not for me
Far too much like free thinking,
I need someone to hold my hand, which is why while my builds don't have much of HENG LONG or TAIGEN left when I have finished the build I was always working around a silhouette,
Whereas your having to envision the overall picture of what YOU are trying to achieve in your mind and that is one or perhaps two paces further than I think I could go,
And then you said something that chimed ,
How your even dreaming about the build,
For years I have used sleep as a time to solve problems, Just get a nub of the problem in your mind DONT DWELL on it, and just go to sleep and it is amazing how often I see a solution that had never occurred to me before.
I worked out how to make a working Magnetic quick release for a Tiger 1 in my sleep and it works,
Anther time I was trying to work out how to fit the "MATO"Metal Rear Plate to a Taigen Tiger 1 which it was never designed to fit, even Dave (Forgebear) warned me it would not fit But I was so fed up with the Plastic tabs on the original plates shearing with so much use I figured a Metal one was the answer,
Off to bed and Et Voila I awoke certain that I knew how to do it and IT WORKS,
I have always been a great advocate of Sleep Its just nice when you can justify it.
I love how we accept the encroaching of things like 3D Printing with such a blasé attitude,
When they first came out people were saying great I can build my own Tank and then realism cut in, But I don't think those days are as remote as we were warned they were.
Technology when it is both too complex and too expensive almost routinely finds a way to make itself cheaper and more user friendly, Here's hoping.
Shaun.

[43rdRecceReg]

Since you're giving them away I'll take the King Tiger please! You are now my favorite member here BTW!

That's more tempting that you'd think, Jack!. I did say 'choose' , though not 'covet'! Interesting choice too. I already have a Torro Metal ed. King Tiger that comes with it's own crate. It might have to go in order to make room for the Tamiya...My shelves are looking overcrowded, and buckling under the weight of armour there. Somebody on the Forum could really enjoy it, I expect. Unfortunately, posting that to the US would absorb my life savings... Even posting it in the UK(whole package weighs over 20lbs) is like to be pricey.
I'll have to mull that over.

[jackalope]

Since you're giving them away I'll take the King Tiger please! You are now my favorite member here BTW!

That's more tempting that you'd think, Jack!. I did say 'choose' , though not 'covet'! Interesting choice too. I already have a Torro Metal ed. King Tiger that comes with it's own crate. It might have to go in order to make room for the Tamiya...My shelves are looking overcrowded, and buckling under the weight of armour there. Somebody on the Forum could really enjoy it, I expect. Unfortunately, posting that to the US would absorb my life savings... Even posting it in the UK(whole package weighs over 20lbs) is like to be pricey.
I'll have to mull that over.

LOL! I've got so much in line that needs to be done I wouldn't be able to even touch it for God knows how long.

[43rdRecceReg]

Roy I have been following the Cromwell build since day one and I look at and think NO definitely not for me
Far too much like free thinking,
I need someone to hold my hand, which is why while my builds don't have much of HENG LONG or TAIGEN left when I have finished the build I was always working around a silhouette,
Whereas your having to envision the overall picture of what YOU are trying to achieve in your mind and that is one or perhaps two paces further than I think I could go,
And then you said something that chimed ,
How your even dreaming about the build,
For years I have used sleep as a time to solve problems, Just get a nub of the problem in your mind DONT DWELL on it, and just go to sleep and it is amazing how often I see a solution that had never occurred to me before.
I worked out how to make a working Magnetic quick release for a Tiger 1 in my sleep and it works,
Anther time I was trying to work out how to fit the "MATO"Metal Rear Plate to a Taigen Tiger 1 which it was never designed to fit, even Dave (Forgebear) warned me it would not fit But I was so fed up with the Plastic tabs on the original plates shearing with so much use I figured a Metal one was the answer,
Off to bed and Et Voila I awoke certain that I knew how to do it and IT WORKS,
I have always been a great advocate of Sleep Its just nice when you can justify it.
I love how we accept the encroaching of things like 3D Printing with such a blasé attitude,
When they first came out people were saying great I can build my own Tank and then realism cut in, But I don't think those days are as remote as we were warned they were.
Technology when it is both too complex and too expensive almost routinely finds a way to make itself cheaper and more user friendly, Here's hoping.

Shaun.

Thanks for the mature, and hard-won insights, Shaun Curiously, like you I've found that 'programming' a problem into the old grey matter before hitting the sack can have the welcome, and surprising benefit ..of a workable solution appearing, and waiting patiently on fringe of consciousness, just as you yawn, stretch, and resurface..the following morning (Or week, if it's been that exhausting one!)
Personally, I've also had my best musical ideas that way (though some might beg to differ ..); but getting them down on paper, onto the tape recorder, or the guitar can have them vanish like elusive spirits, unless they're 'fixed' (like photo negatives) immediately.

While much of this is just friendly forum banter- and I like nothing better- there's a slightly more serious side to my apparent whingeing about having so many pleasant things to do, and tech things to explore. I often wonder how forum members
- especially those with jobs, young families, and the usual things in the 'daily grind', manage to find the time to build amazing models. I saw a display of static tank interiors (tank anatomical 3d models), cannons, gun pit diorama etc. in the Swiss Military museum a couple of years ago, upstairs from the real armour exhibits, and was blown away by the skills, and (possibly obsessive) dedication involved in producing them (http://www.festungsmuseum.ch ).
Well, I've also seen plenty of examples of superb quality builds and enhancements here too. Where they find the time remains a mystery, and an open question : ...even though we jest about the OCD symptoms manifest in certain contributors
My 'daily grind' since December 2015, has been one of bone on bone. After surgery for a seriously broken right ankle (both main bones + dislocation), where my 'pedal extremity' (to quote Fats Waller ) was flapping around like a useless castor, I spent most of 2016, and have spent much of this year graduating from wheelchair, to crutches, then to walking sticks..much as in the 'ascent of man'. In the process of overburdening my left leg, with the duties of the right, i also acquired not one
but two ingrowing toenails on my left foot (never have been known to do things by halves!!).
I now have a meccano set in my right ankle, severe muscle loss, and gouty looking dressings on my left foot where they nails have been removed. Apart from that..life is marvellous! Ok, I'm not looking for sympathy (really not), but just trying to explain why- superficially at least-with two Tamiyas, and a printer) I should be jumping for joy. But the fact is, I can't jump at all Now I have a massive backlog of domestic jobs to tackle, being totally immersed in model building has come at an inconvenient time; added to which there's the lure of the tempting Tamiyas. On the plus side, maybe I could print myself a new walking stick with the 3D tech ...
Here's the full 3D package:

3d for me..

and assembled (only took an hour, luckily..and the woman assembling it on the accompanying video had really nice hands..):

Dimensions new..

Now, trying to find a space for it next to my Mac is another challenge.
Meantime, the Cromwell's waiting for attention..and so is the dog...

Cromwell..wart and all

Hmm .. this thread really belongs in three other categories now, ah well.

[DRC]

Sorry to hear that you didn't receive a Number 4 Mk2 in the post. A good one is getting hard to find these days.

Sent from my SM-A300FU using Tapatalk

[AlwynTurner]

Hi Roy, one piece of advice on the printer, while assembling it place a piece of card covered in foil under the heated base to protect the drive band holder from warping, it will save you future grief. When I get home I will send you the .st files for the x and y axis drive band clips so you can print spares for when they do warp.
Best regards
Alwyn