cutting out the engine hatch

[mustclime]

cheers bud, not going to do the front hatches at the minute, but the engine hatch is a must. going to move all the switches into there so i can seal up most of the bottom hull. not sure what i could use opening front hatches for, unless i buy some new radio gear. lol
jeff

on my kt build....I put he start switch and volume switch under the hull gunners hatch...

[Saxondog]

Jeff, the arrows show the plasticard lip I added. The section of hinge left on the rear. I will take another current picture as the small bar did not last as the moulded hinge was just to weak.

I notched the lip and used a clear plastic aviation type hinge,works well and allows access to my smoker unit which I installed in place of the engine.

I hope then helps,the Kite string as you can see cuts a fine edge,just go slow and follow the hatch groove. cheers Blake

[streetfighterjeff]

cheers for that blake, shame i say your post this morning as i was at the model shop yesterday getting paint and could of picked up a couple of hinges. oh well. off to dig out my kites and see what the string is like.
jeff

[streetfighterjeff]

got the hatch cut out, did the hanges the same as mustclime and went round the hatch and hinges. cant drill out the hinge pins, so made up small shims to go on the four sides of the hull opening so the hinge is a press fit at the mo. moved the switches under the hatch, which works well, until you put the turret on , then you cant open the hatch with the turret straight. . just have to park it looking all hard with the turret turned.
jeff

[mustclime]

The tiger and king tiger are like that. Thats why I was pushing for the hull gunner hatch....sorry, I thought you knew that.

[ruben2005]

hello mate good work ,have a question i have a kt like yours but im putting in a rx18 do you know what wires to change for gun and turret movement many thanks as the mattoro is yet to be rewired for rx board

[streetfighterjeff]

didn't know it mustclime, do now. lol not to worry. ruben , couldn't tell you mate, mines a heng lomg KT bud, sorry.
jeff

[NickDonitz]

For a lot of hatch cutting i use a heated blade and melt my way through the edges clean up really well and the gap is very narrow then thread for the curves

[streetfighterjeff]

i chain drilled the panel gap with a fine bit in my pin vice then went in with thread and cut through the bridges. put a lot less strain on the thread(only broke once) . just remembering to move the thread so you get a fresh peice every so often. the hinges were a pain but all in all, it only took me about an hour to cut and clean up the engine hatch so i'm fairly pleased. next time though its the front hatches to get away from the not being able to open the hatch problem.
jeff