RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

I also have the rotary tool mr chef, though that one hasn’t drew blood I do tend to find I use the manual files and other digit removing tools

MrChef wrote: ↑Wed Nov 15, 2023 1:51 pm https://www.amazon.com/SAW-RAZOR-X-ACTO ... 5955114143

Thank you! I only have a bulky Tamiya saw and this one will allow me to reach smaller nooks and crannies.

"The most painful and gnarly cuts are from Serrated knives." been there...done that..." The Xacto razor saw is a basic tool, but consider competing brands. The Xacto blades are a bit too shallow for the mitre box made for razor saws. Consider https://www.zonatool.net/cat/razor-saws-miter-boxes/ A jeweler's saw is very useful, too. https://www.google.com/search?as_q=jew ... tG-kM,st:0. I have both that I bought in 1971.

I like your suggestions there Herr Dr. The Razor Saw I have is actually an Excel that I bought as a kit with the mitre box. It came in handy when making the schurzen for my Jagdpanther. I have several blades for it.



I taped a section of a vinyl sign to the bottom of the box to save the blade when I was cutting flat styrene sheets. You can see the slots that run the bottom of the mitre box that hold common sized styrene rods.

I came to find out that these razor saws are also called Japanese furniture makers saws. Don't know if thats just slang.

The Jewelers saw is a great idea. I have a typical coping saw with a selection of fine blades but can see how the jewelers saw would be even better.

I was able to squeeze in a bit more work but it was just wet sanding with 1,500 the stuff I cut earlier and the air intakes. Nothing to show really. But I did pick up something for the hull MG that I hope to start and share about soon. My goal is to get the upper hull sorted by Tuesday and ready for armor texture and weld seams. I got Green Stuff epoxy to test my mettle with weld beads.

MrChef wrote: ↑Wed Nov 15, 2023 1:51 pm
I'm laughing, I'm likely the least skilled in this project group and more than likely the least equipped, and you guys like my tools... Not that the chopsticks count as tools. But the razor saw I saw modelers use in Youtube videos. I also have a coping saw. Oh and the rotary tool but I find it is not as precise as the razor saw and it builds heat and melts stuff. So back to basics is sometimes the best.

Oh aye. Don’t sell your self short. Your skill level is way above my level of incompetency.

Meter rat wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 7:12 am Oh aye. Don’t sell your self short. Your skill level is way above my level of incompetency.

Thank you for the kind words Ian. I managed to Not cut, stab, poke or otherwise draw blood or injure myself while wet sanding last night. So there is hope.

A bit more done today.

Working on the Hull MG Ball mount.

Got the idea from another member to use the beads on womens/girls hair ties for the ball. Picked up a bag from the dollar store. Sizes of the balls are 10mm and 15mm. I liked how the 10mm fit but when looking at it the 15mm looked better.





So the hole was a pilot hole and I had to drill the hole bigger progressively with bigger bits because when I tried it with just a large bit the glazed plastic bead exploded.



Recessed a bigger hole halfway so the gun/light element would seat better.





Looked decent enough and Much better than stock or the Mato piece.

Now to fit the hull. More grinding, buzzing, minimal cutting and holy shit no blood this evening.









Time to cut the ball in half and BAM rotary tool battery dies... Wa wa waaaaa....

Had some dinner and about 45 minutes later the battery was back to life.







All I'm missing is the sight aperture on the ball.

Better than stock.



Also better than Mato.

Closer to Tiger 131





Now Gents, I'm completely happy making this ball mount static. It could also be made movable. I've seen several ways to do it, but the way I like best is how its held in with the ring and screws on the inside of the Panther/Jagdpanther/King Tiger. And I'm kinda at a loss for how to make that. But that isn't extremely important to me at the moment. I do have enough beads now to do more than a few more MG ball mounts.

Takes "Round Ball" sticks it in a "Square Hole" and makes gun mount! Genius, Well done...

Great work and creative use of alternative materials! Glazed and exploded... glass or ceramic material?