LVT (A) 1 Alligator

[littletankman]

Hi Nick that was a silly question about the barrel After starting making the turret today and seeing how tint it is . I will fix my barrel but like you I planed on rotation of the turret . Mind you if it fired whilst in the water the HL jerk would be a night mare Id imagine . Your LVTs excelent mate Im realy impressed.

all the best Andy

[Matdragon]

looking sweet!

and actually andy i think the hl jerk would look quite fitting if its fired on the water!

[nickmow]

Ahh I just worked out what the "HL Jerk" is now ...I'm not the brightest sometimes. Historically I dont think they where designed to be a floating gun platform, more to gain the beach then kick off big style. Though Im sure the MG's would of been capable of being trained on a target despite the motion of the waves. Its such a monster I dont think I'd like to of had one of these things crawling out of the waves at me, make me think twice about defending the honour of the mother land and think more about a comfy POW camp

[nickmow]

Tracks arrived so now on with the suspension fit. This is very much prototypical so I am open to suggestions. What Ive done for strength is fabricate a brass mounting frame across which are support arms for the 12 wheels each side. Each wheel is mounted on a "U" bracket with a Steel Wire spring for suspension. Each "U" bracket has a brass tube soldered to it to attatch it to the support arm and give it a movement for the suspension. I am still waiting for wheels so the wheel in the pictures is one of my prototypes made by filling a 10ml syringe with resin and cutting to width. I will screw and epoxy the completed frame to the hull sides and pontoons.

[vonrundstedt]

Very impressive build. By the way, do you make your own plans or do you get them from some where?

[littletankman]

Hi Nick , that looks good mate sort of what I was thinking . Ive been looking into the rear vent looking sections . Im of for more accupuncture tom then try and do some more to the top. Fingers crossed . Think the Sherman tracks will look better Nick excelent idea of yours mate.

Thanks and coming on well mate .

Andy

[nickmow]

Plans came from a Bradford Book,
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Im sure guys on here must know the Bradford books, they are excellent little books with scale drawings. There is even a conversion chart to up or down scale them. I scanned the 1/35 plan and upped it by 216% and with a little paintshop editing got them printed out in 1/16th.
Im also using a 1/35 model as a reference.
Yeah Andy Im lookin at the rear grill as well. Thinking cocktail sticks ? Good luck with the acupuncture....actually check out the diameter of the needles they might be just right for the radiator grill

[littletankman]

Hi mate that looks a great book . I have the Late war German vehical one in the same group , and theres some intresting stuf in that one . I ment the rear vent type thigs with angled sections , bit hard to explain . As for the engine grills yer that might work I got a thin sheet of black styrene . I thought of making a grill over the top . But Im guessing the internals will be ok if I used the old RX13/14 with a mounted fan ? Done a little more to day but was busy having acupincture this morning . Nick they through the needles away , dont think they would of done the job . But Im keeping my eye out and if any thing comes up I will let you know mate . I see you have cut an access hole in the rear . Is this just the size of the engine grill ? I have seen pictures of it open , it has hinges to the rear . I did think of making the grill and the panel inbetween that and the main body come of . And put some sort of waterproof seal in so the water wont get in when its closed ?

Andy

[nickmow]

I know what you mean now Andy, the sort of grill things at the back of the tracks. I think they must be to stop or direct the water the tracks throw off, at least thats what I came up with. Should be reasonably easy out of sheet styrene ? Hatch at the back is to be replaced with a Grill but will be fixed in place. Im thinking of making the centre section removable and with waterproof seal like you said.

[littletankman]

Sounds great mate . Will there be holes / slots in the grills . I just worry about water gettin in . Ive done some smal detail today , nothing major . Its the weekend now so progress will slow downb a tad and Ive a lot on next week , docts , jobe center , physio and more acupuncture but Im sure I will fit some work in , he he . The bottom section is it seperate to the rear upright pannel ?

Andy