RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Hi,
I started some basic detailing of the gun. The gun sight apparatus is quite complicated to build. It is difficult to replicate without a 3D model and only using few pictures with some angles. I gave the part only some resemblance to the real thing. I cut many corners by reusing the part coming with the kit in order to maintain my sanity. I always disliked gun sights for the same reasons...

Happy Easter,

Louis

Louis looking excellent nice to see you making such great progress. Have a great Easter

Hi,

I did not like the gun sight I did on Friday. So, I destroyed it and will start again fresh, with some new ref pictures to help.

Lessons learned, drop everything if I feel lazy or tired. I did not get that far to cut corners.

Regards, Louis

Hi,

I've done my research on the gun sight this time and after 6 hours of work, I am satisfied with the preliminary results. There is still some fine tuning to do but overall, it is much better than my first attempt and I believe it is quite accurate. It will look good.

Here is how it compares to the main reference picture of the Aberdeen Nashorn on Prime Portal.
The Sfl. Z. F. 1a gun sight is reworked from the Juckenburg kit part. It was shortened and overall details have been redone. But at least it can be used as a base.
Some close up from various angles. The grey plastic parts that served as the main body for the apparatus are reworked 1/35 Panzer IV road wheels. I also reused some Juckenburg bits of kit part.
Gun sights are difficult to scratch build and I am glad that I am done.
Regards, Louis

Looks very nice

That is crazy tiny stuff. Awesome.

Hi,

I am close to completing the gun, with only the shields needing to be installed. The Juckenburg gun is a very good base but it can be improved with small details that, other than the gun sight, are not very complicated to do.

For an accurate model, the simplistic molded-in details need to be removed.
Here are some of the kit detail parts provided for the gun. Some are good, some are wrong, some are useless. You have to pick and choose what you want to use and where. The instructions are not clear at all for that area and I did not find use for many of them. We are lucky to have a Nuts & Bolts book on the Nashorn to fill the blanks.
Here is the new right side with plasticard tubing and whatever I could find in the house to help. Two of the kit resin hand wheels had the wrong shape and were replaced by very accurate ones found on ebay for a couple of euros. Much better.
Underneath the gun
Now the right side had the same treatment. The molded-in details were erased and replaced with my interpretation of the pictures I could find. I think it is not too bad.
Now with the gun sight installed. I am pretty satisfied. Once fine tuned, polished and painted, it should look very good. It is much better than the kit parts and also my first attempt at the gun sight. It was a good decision to scrap it and take the time to do a better job. Springs from a pen were used for the seat.
Regards, Louis

Louis fantastic job in every way possible Your details have upgraded the gun to an outstanding level of detail.

Watching with great interest

Carl

Hi,

Today was the installation of the gun shields.

Below are the only parts provided in the kit for the shields, the two shaped shield sections.
None of the various braces are provided and the instruction pictures are not clear, leaving the builder to ponder his options. I still do not know if I ended up installing them upside down...
It does not take long to find out installing the shields will be difficult and risky. The kit only provides parts with basic shapes, so nothing fits naturally. The shield represent the junction between the shield mount, the position of the gun (a bit more forward, or a bit more backward...), the front armored plates, the top of the upper hull, the height of the side armor plates, all at various angles and height. It's the perfect nightmare. Determining the best gun position while still being somewhat accurate is very important, then resin parts have to be cut with the builders best guess and must fit perfectly together. I determined the shields had to be resized and also had to be heated to rework the curve. The front armored plates had to be shaped to receive the curved shield. This is a critical step because any mistake can ruin the parts or make the assembly not look good.
After two hours of efforts, many attempts, small mistakes, lots of frustration, when everything seemed to go wrong, I finally got it to my liking.

The gun is now positioned more forward than I anticipated, requiring minor readjustment on the base, but all is good. It compares well against references.

The shields are in place and looking good.
Getting the required fit requires patience and some luck.
The inside of the shields were braced with bars and rods similar to the ones seen on the Aberdeen Nashorn. These are not for the look only, they really help with the fit to the armored plates and keep the shields solidly in place. The curved bar in resin on top of the gun broke up while installing the shield, it was replaced by brass rod. I will let the glue settle on the whole thing and let my nerves calm down before I add the finishing touch to them, on another day.
Regards, Louis

Very nice job Mr Louis Very nice fitment and finishes. Keep up the great work!