Home Grown PZIII/Stug rear idlers

[tiger205]

i know ally is hard to weld pete, i'm a qualified fabricator/welder, but those lumirods i put a link to are not strictly speaking welding, its more like brazing, its not a full fusion weld, so you dont actually melt the ally, if you can solder, or braze with a blow lamp then you will be able to use these, they were "invented" for people who need to repair small items of ally, and who also dont have access to an welding inverter(expensive), i have used these, and they do a really good job, and i'm not that good at brazing, my brazing looks like pidgeon poo ::), give them a go, you wont be dissapointed

                      Tony

[grompix]

Nick, Pete,
I've never heard of Tony's lumiweld rods but as he's a qualified welder they might be worth a try. I don't know if the joins can be made small enough so not to look like molten blobs on the 1/16th scale idler spokes though. I'm also unsure whether the zinc content in the die-cast idlers will make a difference but hey - I suppose you don't know until you try it!
I would try it out on something you don't want first though!
Chris

[tiger205]

hi again, the lumiweld rods have been about a few years now, mainly for the car resto' trade, with abit of practice you may be able to get joins small enough for the idlers, it does say on the website it does work with zinc alloys, though ive never used it for that, what i would suggest is first look at the web site write up on them, then if youre still not sure give them a call to make sure, they are a friendly and helpfull company, ive used a lot in the past,
either way what pete and nick are up to is a good idea and i hope it comes off for them cos they will make a few ££ from it i'm sure. pete i forgot, have you tried gaffer tape?

            Tony

[Gigantohawk]

Thanks for the Tech info Gents.
I tried something similar to lumiweld rods quite a while ago (1991) when I built a 1/6 scale rc Fokker Dr1 (triplane). The elevator and rudder were fabricated out ali tube and joined with ali solder rods. What I found was that the joins were strong but the ali solder didn't seem to flow. I just wondered if lumiweld flowed into the joins like conventional brazing ?. If not, it seems like Pete and I will have to create our own foundry and satisfy the Tankworlds need for correctly sized PZIII Idlers.
What do you think Pete. Should I get to work and make a more accurate pattern ?.

Nick.

[tankman]

Hi Nick checking back through the forum there is an intresting link from Tony 205 about scratch building at it's best http://www.rc-panzerketten-forum.com/wb ... tuser=1594. I see that you also checked it out but there are some very intresting pictures on home casting there including a home made centrifuge and other stuff that would be very usefull if you go into production of the panzer III idlers. All the best for now
Alan

[971wright]

Hi Nick from the Photos it looks pretty good to me might have to put a little filler here and there but it is a good starting point for a making a mould .


          regards pete

[Gigantohawk]

Hi Alan I've seen the link Tony pointed to and words escape me as I gaze at the man's genius. Making my own centrifuge is within my capability, However time is my biggest enemy. I just don't get enough free time. By the time I've done my commute at the end of a long day I'm pretty much goose'd.
Pete, two things. First of all I'll probably clean up my existing pattern. Having said that, on reflection I think I might make a new and more accurately aligned one. Secondly, I got the Darkith bits today including your sound card.
Now I'm not quite sure how to proceed with this. I'm good at soldering and can recognise electronic components. But I have to admit I'm a bit lost without a wiring diagram !. I can only assume that the wiring instructions are on the Darkith website.
Pete I'll post your card when I get back to work on Monday. Just pm me your address.

All the best,

Nick.

[971wright]

Hi Nick have sent P.M. with details of web site for building the boards with my contact N.o. just read the instructions twice while you are looking at the bits the start to build them will send you the conectors on Monday for the DBU .

    regards pete