First up is a Homer Simpson moment, Take a look at the inner front of the tank. I added that bar to give some much needed structural strength at this point- sadly that created another issue.
![Image](http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad51/majordisastor/Tiger%20Ebbey%20-%20BUILD/P1010177.jpg)
Worked really well I thought – until you come to fit your gear boxes – Sort of an essential part I as the plan is to have Ebbey move under her own power . However, that bar created a problem not unlike trying to manhandle a couch through a door way after you had nailed a piece of 4x 3 across the entrance. It was never going to happen – out it had to come, to add further joy, excess Araldite had bound the whole front glacis plate assembly together.
After a bit of tugging brute force and joint cracking off it came- fortunately all the reinforcing I had carried out earlier meant that no damage was done – Ebbey has a surprisingly tough lower hull.
So back to the drawing board …. I decided to make some angle brackets up with some scrap alloy, held together with Chemical Weld.
![Image](http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad51/majordisastor/Tiger%20Ebbey%20-%20BUILD/Picture007.jpg)
I could then fit a new strengthening bracket across the front - and this time – I used screws to hold it in place .
![Image](http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad51/majordisastor/Tiger%20Ebbey%20-%20BUILD/Picture012.jpg)
![Image](http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad51/majordisastor/Tiger%20Ebbey%20-%20BUILD/Picture014.jpg)
The end result is easy access for future maintenance - and a hull deck so strong you can pick the whole heavy tank up by holding it between the two front hatches – not something to try on a standard Tamiya build for sure.
Ever had the feeling that others have gone before you ?
![Image](http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad51/majordisastor/Tiger%20Ebbey%20-%20BUILD/P1010251.jpg)
Andy