Cheap scale cleaning rods.

[Dogberry]

I thought you might be interested in my method of making scale cleaning rods for my tiger 1 build.
I was going to use an Aber set but decided to scratch build instead and I think it worked quite well.

You need some 2.5mm wooden rods (off ebay) these are advertised as craft dowels but are dried bamboo skewers. They range between 2.3mm and 2.8mm they are slightly egg shaped with a ridge down the length. Put them in the Dremel use sandpaper and something with a M3 threaded hole in it as a gauge to get it 2.5mm and round.

[Dogberry]

Research the lengths of the cleaning rods required this varies from tank to tank and from early to late versions. A late tiger 1 had 6 rods 5 980mm one 918mm. On a piece of card mark out the lengths required and the lengths of the ferrules for the ends

[Dogberry]

Cuts the ferrules from 2.5mm brass tube ( Off ebay). Then reduce diameter of wooden piece so that brass ferrule slips over. Caution be careful as the Wood can split. Now glue the ferrules on using lots of thin CA glue. This secures the ferrule and soaks into the wood stopping it splitting.

[Dogberry]

When dry drill halfway down the ferrule with an m2 drill, the cut a few M2 bolts to the required length and then glue the bits in.

[Dogberry]

Anyway they look way better than the Tamiya ones provided with the kit

[Meter rat]

Thank you for the tip.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Thank you for the photos and explanation of a relatively simple but effective detail scratch build.

[Ecam]

Well done. Creative and simple, but far better than what is supplied with the tank.

[MrChef]

excellent share.