hi triton,
thank you very much for your kind words!
at this moment i'm in full swing, but... i've found myself more work!
i've added to the "to do" list i write down in my first post something new:
- new working rear mudguards, made from brass sheet, like the frontal ones
- new side trackguards, made from iron can sheet
i've the side trackguards already cut and with shape done, i'm in the process of soldering que internal triangular supports, but have to wait until a new 'jet solder' arrives, the one i was using died
meanwhile, i'm glueing again the supports for the track changing cable and for the tow cables, also, i 've to redo some of them, they become damaged when i took them apart from the hull.
so the updated list of the first post is:
(not in chronological order):
- Tracks jumping off. I’ve tried a lot of ideas and tips. I’ve been only able to solve it exchanging the track tensioning system (with springs) for the HennTEC one. No more tracks off since then (I will cross my fingers…)
- Ball bearing supports for gearbox shafts
- Plastic road wheels and axles reinforced with polyester putty. ‘Double’ wheels simulated.
- Frontal ‘armor’ added, sheet of metal under the extra track links in order to protect the lower frontal hull from rock hits.
- swapped HL airsoft system for a VS Leo2A6 one. It hurts now!
- corrected canon length
- Track change cable made from cupper wire, supports from bits of metal (from a floppy disk)
- Tow cables made from steel, supports made from bits of resin
- Gun cleaning rods made from wood
- Discarded HL aerial, made a internal one from an old radio antenna (the cable type)
- Moved aerial to the correct spot, simulated it with the HL one cut to size and shrink tube.
- Corrected position of the commander cupola. Now to be exchanged with a metal one.
-
Cut ‘separation’ between fenders -->
plastic fenders discarded
- Added armored cover to the lower hull air intake (next to the jack wooden block)
- Added engine grills
- Added periscopes
- made the turret vision slits look as if they were actual slits
- modified exhaust, off the protecting cover
- modified Feifels to early two drums type
- modified the jack: added base, supports and crank handle
- added the Bosch lights wiring
- Added transmission armored covers
- Added cooling fan to the RX18
- Sound changed to a Beier USM-HL Soundmodul, customized sounds made by myself from internet sources.
- Speaker upgraded to a Visaton FRS7 in a bigger wooden box.
- New ‘waterproof’ container for all the electronics inside the lower hull
- Rigid gearbox covers to prevent oil splashes
- moved sound potentiometer and all switches under radio operator and driver hatches
- Two wireless mini cameras installed one on the driver visor port, the other looking via the turret MG hole.
- swapped 'metal' gears with steel ones, very noise reduction achieved
- working frontal fenders made from brass
- correct turn point for the turret
- correct shape to the Rommelkiste
- correct shape of the elevation trunnions (without hole and with mushroom shape)
- Added wiring to the smoke grenade launchers, and smoke grenades
- sanded off: molded tools, water tight cover for air intake, extra aerial tube on the left side of the hull, right convoy light.
- New jack block made from wood
And the list of things/mods/corrections I’m doing at this moment:
- New pry bar made from metal
- working rear mudguards made from brass
- metal side trackguards made from iron sheet (from some olives can)
- new tools supports made from brass
- weld lines made with milliput
- new driver and radio operator periscopes
- new cleaning rods (Tiki had 5, not 6, and they were longer)
i'm sure some new 'features' will be added to the 'to do' list
best regards