1944 M4A3 105mm

[PainlessWolf]

Good Morning all and Happy New years Eve,
I am up out of bed and in the Office for bit. (got tired of laying around) Thank you all for inquiring after my health. In the words of Monty: "I'm not dead yet!" (just feel like it) Spiffy new drugs and an inhaler will have me up and around in no time I am sure. Alpha, thanks for the tip. I'm going to try it with picture wire and see how that works.
warm regards,
Painless

[ALPHA]

Good Morning all and Happy New years Eve,
I am up out of bed and in the Office for bit. (got tired of laying around) Thank you all for inquiring after my health. In the words of Monty: "I'm not dead yet!" (just feel like it) Spiffy new drugs and an inhaler will have me up and around in no time I am sure. Alpha, thanks for the tip. I'm going to try it with picture wire and see how that works.
warm regards,
Painless

Good to hear you're up and around Painless...what can be used to make springs as well are motor windings ... so if you have junkers laying around check the gauge of the wire on the motor windings... windings on low end toy motors are usually pretty thin... also those of "speed" motors... as more power is needed as in a torque motor the windings get thicker ...so probably not something you would want for a hatch spring.... I have to make some myself as I broke on off the hull I'm using for my SHERMAN... I've had that trick in my back pocket for decades when I used to use the springs for model car throttle assemblies

Take care of yourself

ALPHA

[PainlessWolf]

31st Day: Received a fine package of stowage and spare parts and assorted bits from Alpha and Sassgrunt today. It was the bright spot in this illness nonsense. Thank you again, Tankers and Gentlemen both. Before the day wore me down, I managed to hand wind a couple of hatch springs out of picture wire for use on the Loaders hatch. They are small but not as small as the molded ones on the hatch so I may try again using electrical wire or brass wire as Alpha had suggested. The picture was taken through the 100mm magnifier mounted on my Tensor lamp so even these are very small. These are not for use as springs, only detail parts. I'll end up mounting them the way that Phil did on his excellent Sherman build. Pictures:

[Panther Ausf G]

Very interesting build log Painless.
It's always good to follow and take in the methods, or ways fellow modellers have improved, also overcome imperfections in manufacture.

[PainlessWolf]

32nd Day: Thank you, Panther. ;o) It is a very interesting and thought provoking build. Tonight, I located the best soft wire I could and wound the final springs for use on the Loader's Hatch. They are a tad oversized but will look very cool when pinned to the hatch. The molded ones they are replacing are very finely detailed and for a moment, I considered just drilling out the center of those plastic springs and rigging it to look 3D but it would have wound up (pardon the unintended pun) being more work than the route I followed that Phil illustrated in his Sherman build. I drilled the hinge of the hatch and pinned it. I'm not sure if Phil did it that way but it will work like his and be substantial. Pictures:

[ALPHA]

Hey painless those springs came out great... one trick for keeping them in line...is to put a drop of super glue on them... also if you wanted.. you could simulate the attachment to the hinges with a little stretched sprue ...thinned to the same diameter of the hatch hinge ... and cut across width
I'll have to do that since I broke one of the springs on the SHERMAN I'm currently working on

ALPHA

[PainlessWolf]

Alpha,
Thank you, my friend. I pinned the hatch all the way across with a cut down 1/24 Sherman track pin and left excess on either side for a tab of plastistruct to attach one hook of the spring to. The other hook of the spring will attach to the hatch top with a wire pass through of a plastic block like Phil did. Your new Sherman looks amazing. Alpha. I will definitely enjoy watching you assemble it.
Warm regards,
Painless

[cannedheat]

painless
coming along fine ,as said before you are good at what you do ,tally ho old chap ,[not amused with alpha I am filled with envy were did he get that hull top I wants one, off to join the navy or flying corps,not sure on the legion one cant compete ]....wot wot

[PainlessWolf]

33rd Day: Thank you, CH. I really appreciate the encouragement. ;o) Fiddly bits on the Loader hatch are keeping me occupied for multiple nights but I want it to look good and work without falling apart every nth time it is opened. Tonight I added a cover over the exposed pin I glued in last night and tested. Hatch still opened fine. Next I removed the molded on springs and mounts. Then I got out some spare plastic from an old Tank Modelbau purchase and cut a couple of hook mount tabs for the hatch hinge. I sanded to give them a curve on the hinge side then drilled holes for the hook and hinge pin to attach. Tested and the hook fits so I glued the tabs into place. Next up is the hatch mounts for the hooks. One more work night then I can really sock a couple of days worth of time into this and make real progress. Pictures:

[ALPHA]

WOW that's some mighty fine drill work Painless.... It actually looks like a much evolved version of what Phil did.... but don't tell him I said that lol
I know you didn't commit to Mcevoyi's July 6 memorial build... but this Sherman would be an excellent addition...or .possibly a pink M3 Grant

Take care of that cold... have a good one

ALPHA