M5A1 stuart build log!

[tankme]

That is good news as my Classy Hobby late Stuart is going to be here today...

[Model Builder 4]

The bolts arrived today for the idler swing arms, these were a little more fiddly to fit than the bogie centre bolts because the nylon threadlock nuts are quite difficult to hold while threading the bolt through the swing arm to tighten but I got there in the end
The bolts I ordered were hex head M3 x 30mm, they only need to be about 27mm long so I bought the closest size and cut them down with my thread cutter, a few comparison pics added

Cheers,Lee.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[tankme]

Looks much better without the Philips screws.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

"thread cutter"? Is that a special tool for shortening bolts? Or do you mean that you re-cut the threads after you shortened the bolts by 3 mm?

[Model Builder 4]

Thanks tankme, agreed, the new bolts do make it look a little more realistic than the Phillips heads.

I use a multi electrical wire tool professor, they only cost a couple of pound and have many uses. I've arrowed the part of the tool used for thread cutting, you simply screw the thread into the appropriate size hole and the amount that you need to cut off and push the handles back together, it gives the thread a fairly clean cut which makes it a lot easier to thread a nut back onto the end. I have found in the past that using a snips or cutting rotary tool trying to achieve the same thing distorts the end of the thread making it very difficult to screw a nut back on so now this is my go to method, hope this helps

Cheers,Lee.

[Ecam]

I use those all the time but I have never tried metric through them. For metric I use a cut off disc in the Dremel.

[Model Builder 4]

My set are metric Ecam, the size holes are 2.5 3, 3.5, 4 and 5mm, they give a pretty clean cut, ideal for small size threads

Cheers,Lee.

[Ecam]

I'll have to order a set/pair...

Thank you!

[Herr Dr. Professor]

I have just such a wire cutter/stripper. I never even checked to see if the screw shears are included on mine. I was wondering more about damage to the threads on the end where the cut is made. I usually just force a nut over the end to repair the threads---not a good solution.

[ColemanCollector]

I have just such a wire cutter/stripper. I never even checked to see if the screw shears are included on mine. I was wondering more about damage to the threads on the end where the cut is made. I usually just force a nut over the end to repair the threads---not a good solution.

That's been my usual method as well--chasing my dremel cut with the installed nut.

I'm ahem, a bit embarrassed to say that as a tinkerer in all things mechanical for 45+ years, I only discovered the use of those holes on the stripper/crimper a few months ago. Friend was visiting, needed a bolt shortened for a camera accessory and when I went to cut it for him with my dremel, he takes my strippers and says, "Here genius, use these".

"What is this demon magical device you speak of ?!"

Mike.