1/16-15 BANDAI Hummel to Nashorn conversion

[xrad]

some details:

Bandai suspension all cast as 'R' side so one side is backwards (!)..not worth 100$ to fix. BUT, I have added 9/32 brass tube to remove slack at hull mount, and the sus[ension will be held to humm w/3mm allen head screws rather than push pins (bandai style..not good for remote running)

Bandai road wheels are built as one unit which does not allow the upgrade metal track link guides enough depth to work (between the rubber tires). So, you have to trim off some of the outer road wheel (or use tamiya wheels..but that requires more work for the axle fitment.

Tamiya, HL, and HL upgrade suspensions for panzer IV all have too little ground clearance when mounted to the Bandai hull. So I will use the Bandai suspension but with my modifications.

[xrad]

more work done:

Great resource: panzer tracks nashorn ..plenty of pics of gun and mount

Overall, gun mount is pretty close to the 88mm mount. many little things need modification..it won't be perfect, but close..

Some correction made:
1) whole cradle that the gun slides on had to be moved forwards ~13mm
2) tamiya barrel for 88mm
3) shorten tammy barrel
4) Extend rear barrel with brass tube to the breech
5) reverse breech block and all the little handles and bolts, etc
6) front cap of cradle modified to look like 88mm (almost)
7) gun sight moded to look like 88mm one
added two adjusting wheels (one on left and one on right)
9) angled drive shaft to third rear adjusting wheel
10) reversed the top 'recovery'? tube
11) changed front barrel mount/slide
12) changed rear barrel mount/slide
13) moded the rear part of the cradle to look like the 88mm
14) cut hole into breech for flash tube and wiring


more to come...

[xrad]

main gun...i still need to shorten the back end about 3/4 inch

[xrad]

I couldn't take it anymore...the same sided suspension has to go. I broke down and bought the Bandai upgrade spring suspension on ebay...Hope it holds up under load.

[Plastic scouser]

Coming along nicely Xrad looking forward to seeing this one finished

Cheers Ian

[xrad]

Held up for a while trying to find out if the final drive covers were P-III. Finally found one pic out of 5 books of the side hull plate just after drilling. It has the P-III drive guards.

So then I took the tammy P-IV covers off the hull sides (after just fitting them 2 weeks ago). Finished grinding down the Bandai P-IV drive guards. And installed a set of Tankzone P-III metal guards. Drive wheels and motors still fit fine.

Also, just received a real nice set of working suspension pieces from ebay (Hobby Summit ..look under Bandai 1/15). see pics. Nicely made and the spring plates are retained with a groove and tab so none will fall out. Spring action is medium for the first few degrees (one spring located inside mounting hub) and as compression progresses, the big main spring actually comes into use. It is very firm but works well with the other spring for an overall great unit. Now i have four rights and four lefts!!!

The new suspension components are held in place with a rotating lock. I have added brass bushings to the hull and a washer to the lock system to distribute forces more evenly. Bandain wheels fit to aftermarket cast axles the same as on the original BAndai pieces.

More to come.

[[ICE]monkey]

very nice ,its taking shape, love the gun detail
regards , ice

[xrad]

Thanks Ice! You can get pretty close to the look of the 88 with the supplied parts.

[grompix]

This is looking REALLY good. I have a Bandai Hummel myself (still in kit form) and I've always wanted to make it into a Nashorn. Your build is inspiring me to have a go now - just need to finish (one or two ) other projects first LOL!
Brilliant work. Thanks very much for posting.
Cheers
Chris

[xrad]

Good luck to you Chris, it's a fun build. It would have been so easy if Bandai made a Hummel kit with the alternate 88 parts...but then no challenge..