Upgrading my tanks

[jarndice]

Arnie, Hi, Can I offer a word of warning about the Panzer 4 metal hull,
www.welshdragonmodels.com a highly respected dealer, sold them for a while but they got so many complaints that they ceased stocking them,
Hopefully whatever was wrong has been corrected but I thought you ought to know. shaun

[Arnie_DK]

Thanks Shawn, I did read that somewhere(after I had bought the hull), but Whelsdragon do have it on their webshop, again maybe. I take it as a good omen, that maybe the hull have been upgraded since it first came out
http://www.welshdragonmodels.co.uk/asia ... 1985-p.asp

I also found a great build thread on a german forum, that I will try and follow for this thing. But if all else fails I can use all the metal pieces from it and it do come with a nice(I assume) brass gearbox. Plus I got it for 115£ instead of Welshdragons 150£.
I will see how it works, when I get to toy around with it. just 17 more days, till I get home!!

Here are some more detailed pics of the upgrade stuff from RCtank.de
Didnt really need the upper hull, but for 40€ I couldt resist with all the extra pieces on it.




Although the pictures on rctank's website sugested otherwise, the kv-1 lower hull does indeed come with the quick disassembly system and not the version with two screws, so thats nice


Different small bits and pieces. All the electronic parts are for my Tiger and T-34 WSN conversion. I found out I suck at soldering things, so just got some on/off switches with wires already soldered in place. Also I ordered these items, before I found the PzIV hull, so I guess I have spares for the Track tensioner and return wheel mounts.


So, still have a few things in the mail from Forgebear and Panzer_command.
4 KV-1 metal hatches
PzIV turret hatches
Tool kit set, with a led headlight for my Tiger
Photo etch grille for the WSN t-34
New headlights for the PzIV (no ugly bulb sticking out of it!!!)
Metal driver hatch for the WSN tiger
Photo etch debree grill for the WSN Tiger
Aluminium/brass 75mm KwK 40 L/48 for the PzIV
And ofcourse the Asiatam PzIV metal hull

Will update with pictures as stuff arrives and the wife sends me said pictures

[Arnie_DK]

I am actually considering making separate build threads, once the work begins. Will make it easier (at least for my self) to keep track of things underway

[Arnie_DK]

I have been trying to find a set of additional fuel tanks for my T-34 and KV-1, but I simply cant find anything. Only thing I can find is a single fuel tank from RCtank, but I woul like a set with the smaller rear fuel tanks as well.

Anyone know where to find this inside EU ??

[Tankbear]

These can be easily made with some plastic plumbers pipe from your DIY store, bit of plasticard for ends and thin metal or plastic for straps.

Ian.

[Arnie_DK]

Heh, didnt even think about that

Thanks

[Tankbear]

From memory need 18-19mm diameter pipe but might have to go larger to suit what is available.

Ian.

[hawkeye3guns]

Have you tried A Model boat Manufacture. ie. Mobile Marine or Deans Marine. They both have a whole selection of differant resin oil / fuel drums in differant sizes for their scale tugs and frieghters.
they also have some other nice white metal fittings ie. extinguishers brushes oil cans and other tools.
Denzil

[Arnie_DK]

Think I'm gonna try my hand at scratchbuilding them, but thanks for the boatshop tip

Have yet another question.
I have been looking into the drive shaft supports, but I am very uncertain which type to get. There seems to be quite a few variations, depending on the driveshafts. I have no clue what driveshafts are in my tanks!
The description on rctank.de says the T-34 have "4.1 steel gear with ball bearings" http://www.rctank.de/METALL-EDITION-TAI ... tracks-etc
Tiger 1 have "New steel gearboxes with better motors " http://www.rctank.de/360-/-24-GHZ-TIGER ... -and-sound
Also, are they necesary on the metal hulls, or are they just for the more flexible plastic hulls?
KV-1 have "improved metal gear" http://www.rctank.de/KV-1-with-action-r ... sound-unit
And the Pz IV will use the brass gearbox from the Asiatam Hull, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ASIATAM-Aluwa ... 20fee66c32

[hawkeye3guns]

Hi.
Drive shaft support bearings are good in any tank/ hull.
They take a lot of the lateral load off the gearbox bearings / bushes and transmit it straight into the hull ( to which they bolt/screw to).
Once aligned and secured they should greatly increase the life of your gearbox and also will in some cases allow your gearbox to run a lot smoother.
Regarding Gearboxes there is differant ratio's and manufactures to choose from, normally the higher the ratio the more torque you have but these comes at the sacrifice of speed.
An example take a standard Tiger 1 as it comes out of the box with 3:1 gearbox. the tank is a bit to quick and will struggle in long grass or off the road. Replace the gearbox with say a 4:1 or even a 5:1 and now the tank is much slower (nearer to scale speed) but the increased amount of torque by dropping the ratio will now allow the tank to move a heck of a lot easier off road and also climb obstacles easier.
Denzil