Panda Hobby Panzer 38(T)

[silversurfer1947]

The Voyager photo etch kit includes a number of alternatives for some of the bits and pieces. This one is what I think is the air intake for the engine compartment. The Panda kit includes a single piece photo etch, but the Voyager is much more detailed. There are alternative screens and also an option to fit a working sliding screen. I had my doubts about it authenticity, but found a photo of it on a tank in action. You can guess what I have chosen to fit!

When fitted to the tank, it is secured by a bolt and wing nut. The photo etch wing nut does not really cut it, so I have to continue the search for scale wing nuts at sensible prices which I can confirm are as elusive as the abominable snowman. The price is bad enough, but the shipping charges are ludicrous for something as small and light as these. Wecohe from rctank.de are over 2 euros each or Schumo from Axel at over 3 euros each, when you factor in shipping. I thought I had some Schumo ones but can not find them at the moment. I shall have to have another search.

[Soeren]

You could try ABER wing nuts. Those should be available locally.

[jarndice]

I am afraid to say that over the years I have searched out pretty much all the available working and faux Wing/Butterfly nuts and in my humble opinion they are all without exception overpriced.
ABER make 3 different types, two are on a sprue of parts that need building AVOID, the ABER numbers are 16-108 and 16-111,
The other is a set of almost ready to use wingnuts, The ABER number is 16-105
You will need to run a tap through them first to clean the threads.
If you go to "Ronnie42s" Late King Tiger build You will find a complete list of all the known Wing/Butterfly nuts.

[silversurfer1947]

I have been through the list. I tried the Voyager wing nuts that were part of the set for the tank. They are the fold in half type and do not look good. Also, there is virtually no shaft to speak of. In the end, I have opted for the Aber 16105. Expensive, but overall the cheapest that I could find. It is a shame that prime miniatures don't do them, but I guess the nature of the beast is problematic.

[jarndice]

When I first started along the seemingly never ending search for affordable working Wing/Butterfly nuts I spoke to Dominic at http://www.prime-miniatures.co.uk and he sympathised with me but said he had already checked out manufacturers and it was the road to penury if he did decide to stock them.

[silversurfer1947]

A few posts back I dealt with the assembly of the smoke candle unit. I stopped when I had finished the main unit. I could not face tackling the operating mechanism. However, as it was not going to assemble itself, I finally summoned up enough courage to have a go. As a reminder here are the Voyager instructions. If you click on the image, it rotates correctly.

There are 13 or 14 different pieces of photo etch and brasss rod involved and to get them assembled it would have been useful to have a very small tame octopus. 2 hands are somewhat inadequate. The more I looked at the diagram, the more it seemed that the mechanism was supposed to work, but that was a bridge too far for me. It is all superglued in place. This is the end result.

Sorry about the quality of the photo but I still have not sorted out macro photography on my phone. On the plus side, the blurr does hide my workmanship! Part of me is thinking why did I bother as it will mainly be covered up by a protective screen. However, I know it's there, which give me some small satisfaction.

[jarndice]

[quote="silversurfer However, I know it's there, which give me some small satisfaction.[/quote]


And that is what gives me the most satisfaction when people see my builds.
Stay with it sir we will know its there.

[silversurfer1947]

Some photos of the smoke candle cover, completed as per the intructions, plus the final assembly. As it is, I have fitted the faux bolt heads as instructed. The unit is supposed to be superglued to the rear panel. Whilst I am sure this is fine with a display model, I do not think it will be adequate. The rear panel to which it is attached leans outwards and remembering how the photoetch detached itself from my Tiger, something better is required. I shall therefore be replacing the faux bolt heads with proper bolts from prime miniatures, drilling through the rear panel. I just hope the whole panel does not decide to detatch itelf.

[c.rainford73]

You have eclipsed my level of detail with the panzer 38t I built. So impressive!

[silversurfer1947]

You have eclipsed my level of detail with the panzer 38t I built. So impressive!

There is method in my madness. I am hoping, when it's finished, people will be so taken with all the detail, they won't notice how bad the rest of the tank looks!