KV 1 - quick mods.

[blimp]

Lots of tidying up loose ends means a short post , nothing to report really , but i managed to get something else tank related done at work

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. . . A master - for a ISU/JS3 hub and14 tooth Drive sprockets . tigers beware ! muhaha !

[blimp]

YAY ! A day off work . Tanky time , I have to finalize the fusebox and main power switch position - then I can mount the battery right up front so as to balance the tail heaviness ( those metal gearboxes ) but it's all working . Double Yay

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. . . A custom wiring loom has made everything managable but not as neat as it might be , the RX 18's pin outs are not helpful - it's now all hidden away underneath the fan cover and gearbox cowlings where the air vents via the motor brushes / gearboxes , then out through the rear bustle grill i did earlier

Volume control , smoker switch and refilling pipe

. . . More Quicky mods -

Removing the lid handle and sides turns the stowage bins into early ones . The exhausts ends were reworked into a better oval shape . Tail light lens is clear red plastic from a dead biro .

. . . And up next , some fibre optrickery . Oooh , the excitement .

[Tankbear]

Looking like it’s getting there now Blimp, unlike the poor Tiger in the background.

I wonder what the fibre optic is for. Cannon flash unit maybe?

[blimp]

Not to worry TB , the Tiger isn't totally ignored . A set of etched mudflaps has been ordered along with a new commanders mg + mount

The bolts for the rear deck have arrived at last -

. . . and the custom 'flat pack' batteries are in

Not much else this post , Mrs B's mum is poorly and hozzie visits are order of the day lately .

[blimp]

Yo peeps , happy new year !

Playpen time

- I've changed my mind again . The odd tranny deck has been filed down , now it's flat and the 'hump' is now where it should be , on the panel line . The bolts have been changed to more typical cone headed ones . ( from Masterclub ) and the last silly bits are going on . Primer time . . . . ready for paint soon , weather permitting .

[buckeye36]

Incrdible work!
I can't wait to see it painted!

[blimp]

Hehee , Take yer pick . . .

. . . Proof that cameras are lying b*stewards , in reality Hu 86 gets my vote for now - being slightly lighter than HL's colour . It'll do for the general basic tone anyway . . .

I'm aiming for something like this . ( colour accuracy notwithstanding , note the contrast against the fieldgrau of the German uniforms . . . ) Ngahh !

[fv432]

Nice one Blimp shes going to be a beauty

86 gets my vote as well (funnily enough same as my T34 )

[blimp]

Ooh , Nice '85 ! I'm quite fond of the T34 - the lines of the 76 version are especially appealing . Who knows , meybe a Trumpy one might fall into my sticky paws someday , it's a pity MSW seem to have stopped it . . . .

• Heigh ho , back to the 'ol KV . . .

DOH! time .

. . . . Since I've done the L-11 mantlet I've realised that the weld lines I'd done are for the later turret /gun type ( Much crosseyed ferreting about in my refs confirmed my worst fears - this construction came after the L-11 was dropped )

. . . Curses , filler time , the welds are now on the apex of the corners . . .

• . . . Then another mistake , the horn , the interweb has some excellent detail pic's of APG's example , this shows the 'trumpet' on the other side of the horn Eeek !

Razor saw time . Only after I'd removed the bottom half did I look at original photo's and saw it was WRONG . Double drat . Sheepishly , I reglued it . . .

• The gremlins havn't finished yet , either , two of the mudguard brackets went walkabout . I did find one , but the last one is still at large , no doubt sniggering at me from it's hidey hole

It won't be hard to replace , luckily , it's just that I know it's waiting to reappear as soon as I've done it .

• . . . Finally , more greif , the turret has decided it doesn't want to turn right anymore - testing the Tx on the Tiger showed the same symptom . A stripdown and circuitry check failed to reveal anything , so another Tx is on the cards . . . although the power pins on the RX 18 are ominously dead . It's time to stand back before things start flying . . . Grrrr .

[caddyshack]

Finally , more greif , the turret has decided it doesn't want to turn right anymore

It will prob be your gimble pot that has gone faulty. you can confirm this by taking a short section of wire and joining the pot over. If it is this part that is faulty your turret should spring back into life. These pots are inexpensive parts, and can be got from most electrical part retailers.