(SELF PROPELLED ARTILLERY) FERDINAND 722, Kursk, Sch.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Oberfeldwebel Klarmeyer

[HERMAN BIX]

Got the casemate cupola space filled in and ready to reprofile for the older twin hatch version of the Ferdinand.
Hatches will be fairly easy after the suspension fiasco

[Panzermechaniker]

Always wanted a Ferdinand but I was warned off any Hooben interaction almost from Day One of getting into the hobby

But I'm sure you will turn this one into a beautiful example

[HERMAN BIX]

Thanks for the faith Mr Mechaniker !!
Got the roadwheels sorted to now fit over the track guide horns, still need to take 1.4mm off the outside of the sprockets to get them to mesh , then it’s on to assembling the lower hull proper.
Using a drill and a sharp blade , scraped material from the groove & voila !
Theeeeern spent an age cleaning up the mess!!

[AlanWhite]

an improvised lathe excellent idea

[Herr Dr. Professor]

"to Thame 1.4mm off": you had me going there, Herr Bix! I looked up "Thame," speculating that it was an upside down term for "lathe" or "shave."

[HERMAN BIX]

Now corrected !!
Thame
Noun
Word commonly used to waste the time of intellectuals searching for its meaning!!
Sorry prof, keyboard dyslexia

[Herr Dr. Professor]

"Word commonly used to waste the time of intellectuals searching for its meaning!" Wonderfully put! Besides, I had fun.

[MrChef]

Thame
Noun
Word commonly used to waste the time of intellectuals searching for its meaning!!

^^^Priceless post of the year contender!^^^

[HERMAN BIX]

A credit to Mr HD Proff for taking the situation philosophically..........testament to his learned capacity to absorb low-brow B.S. without offence , as there was certainly none intended

This thing, Ladies and Gentlemen...................for me, is right up there/down there with my love ( ) for the Pz IV running gear.
I know the reputation (Hooben)
I know the pitfalls (Hooben)
I know what my capabilities are after over a decade of piss-farting around with broken discarded hand me downs...........(almost everything I have)

But this
THIS

Just why ?

Surely the folks at Hooben have looked & learned over time?
Asiatam have made upgrades for the kit.
DKLM have made upgraded suspension......
Chris Ludwig has made a better stand alone option........

Its such a well known and infamously iconic German WW2 AFV & its such a thing to assemble.
This one I have is number 150 of the build according to the included club-card in the box, from 2011................

and Hooben have made ZERO effort to improve since ????????????

[Herr Dr. Professor]

"A credit to Mr HD Proff for taking the situation philosophically." Actually, I am disappointed that there aren't more professor jokes. I have heard few throughout my life. If anybody has a good one, I'd love to read it.