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Re: Saratov StuG III

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2019 7:21 pm
by jimbo_wa
Cheers John, I don’t think that they are scale perfect copies of Ostketten tracks, and I was worried about additional strain on the drive train - but I have to agree, they look the part.

This will be a relatively simple build compared to the masterpieces on the forum though!


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Re: Saratov StuG III

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2019 9:32 pm
by HERMAN BIX
Loving the progress mate. StuGs are a tough AFV that is a versatile subject to model, plus they run really well .
Just a detail note, your tracks are Ostketten , introduced mid war, the tracks on your recovered StuG are Winterketten which were introduced very early but had to be swapped over for the summer tracks when the ground dried out. If they were not changed, the blades broke off sometimes causing the pin joint to fail as well.
That’s why the Ostketten were created , stronger and able to remain fitted across the seasons with full reliability.

Re: Saratov StuG III

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 8:03 am
by jimbo_wa
HERMAN BIX wrote: Just a detail note, your tracks are Ostketten , introduced mid war, the tracks on your recovered StuG are Winterketten.
Thanks Herman, these were the only option online from Forgebear. However, Dave did put in some spare metal tracks for detailing and I’ve realised they are Winterketten. May have to chat with Dave again (poor man!).


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Re: Saratov StuG III

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 9:59 am
by HERMAN BIX
jimbo_wa wrote:
HERMAN BIX wrote: Just a detail note, your tracks are Ostketten , introduced mid war, the tracks on your recovered StuG are Winterketten.
Thanks Herman, these were the only option online from Forgebear. However, Dave did put in some spare metal tracks for detailing and I’ve realised they are Winterketten. May have to chat with Dave again (poor man!).


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When(not if!!) you get your set of Winterketten tracks(I just know this will bug you now !) I have loads of links you can use as spares without worrying about trying to have spare links for the hull and running short of vital running gear hardware.
I can send them to you F.O.C if/when you need them.

Re: Saratov StuG III

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 10:33 am
by jimbo_wa
HERMAN BIX wrote: When(not if!!) you get your set of Winterketten tracks(I just know this will bug you now !) I have loads of links you can use as spares without worrying about trying to have spare links for the hull and running short of vital running gear hardware.
I can send them to you F.O.C if/when you need them.
Thank you Herman, I'll PM when the time arises - much appreciated!

Looking with the correct 'winterketten' term, I can see that Torro made them as well as Taigen (probably from the same moulds...)

Re: Saratov StuG III

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 11:05 am
by Soeren
What a pity that you are not allowed to drive this tank model outside of the winter season. 8)

Re: Saratov StuG III

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 11:17 am
by jimbo_wa
Soeren wrote:What a pity that you are not allowed to drive this tank model outside of the winter season. 8)
It's *always* Winter in my heart! :D

Re: Saratov StuG III

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 4:03 pm
by jimbo_wa
Starting to make a proper mess of the upper.

Combination of a hand saw, cotton and files to get the hatches cut out.

Will need to put in some extra Styrene to stop the metal replacements from falling through... ImageImage

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Re: Saratov StuG III

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 6:33 pm
by c.rainford73
Sorry if I've missed it but will you be using the benedini mini sound card or the taigen panzer iii set? :wave:

Re: Saratov StuG III

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 6:41 pm
by jimbo_wa
c.rainford73 wrote:Sorry if I've missed it but will you be using the benedini mini sound card or the taigen panzer iii set? :wave:
It's going to be a Taigen Panzer III set, as the Benedini is out of my price range after all the other purchases!

Managed to get one from Erik at Taigen Tanks in the US...

Expecting that the import duties will be more than the card!

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