a12 matilda

[lister fiend]

hi all,
it's been a long time but I've been on a Christmas wound down so finally pulled my finger out!
it's now been about a year since I started this so probably only a year to go!
blimey where to begin?
I've reworked my suspension brackets so that they don't foul on the mud chutes

so ground 10mm off the top to move the springs down.
as usual i've had a few problems as i'll explain later
I've remade the upper hull out of steel so I can weld bit's to it

layed it all out & have this

the gap I'm hoping to rectify by trimming the lower hull as it does appear to sit a bit high
back to the suspension

as you can see, she's leaning over which I hope to fix by tweaking the springs.
but have run out of time & I'm not back to work till the new year.
seeing as it's actually starting to look like a matilda, I've decided to change the title of my post.
the reality is, with all my continued niggles it's still "the perils of scratch building"
cheers
lister

[ALPHA]

Hey Lister! Ye shall prevail



ALPHA

[Panther Ausf G]

Nice to see you have restarted this build again.

[Dietrich]

+1 to seeing you start the build again...... ..It will be one tough Matilda when it is finished....

[neil]

hi there,
i just saw your posts about the large scale matilda, good job m8. . I think its the only one i have seen larger than 1/35th. and she looks sweet. did you ever get it finished.
I did consider one myself but settled for a 1/6th panther D. instead. i chose to do it in 1mm mild sheet steel even though i have no metal work experience at all. largely i guess because the sheets were going begging.
I learned how to use sketchup , then drew up plans using a model i had and gave a cutting list to a buddy who cut and welded all the bits into hull and turret. now the rest is up to me. the time frame for mine is to be rtr before i die. hopefully another 30 odd years or so. but i must say ,at the moment its more a source of discussion than a serious project . when discussing said tank all my mates have one thing in common, they all suggest that when finished, it must shoot something. hopefully paintballs. magpies look out, the clock is ticking.

[lister fiend]

hi neil,
alas no.
i got a little further but never finished it
the turret has beaten me as it's such an awkward shape.
i did toy with the idea of cheating & making a matilda black prince

i also contemplated this fantastic concept of a crusader turret with a russian gun from jp panzers

but for the time being have used the cromwell turret on .... well a cromwell

have you got a build thread for your panther?
i'd love to see it
cheers & good luck
lister