birgers reconstruction of a HL_Jagdpanther

[birger]

Hi guys,

today I want to show you, how everybody can simply upgrade a HL-Jagdpanther.

First I striped it apart. Then I removed everything from the inside and closed the big gap with a new poly plate. I also closed all suspension gaps located at the chassis walls.

I also added a base plate to get a platform for the electronic box. My box is wider than the space between the suspension mounts. So this plate has to have a thickness of 10mm minimum.







Instead of buying stronger springs, I increased the spring power by drilling a new spring seat hole.







I bought metal suspension arms and mounted them.



While stripping the tank apart, I figured, that the gears have a plastic pinion. No way. So I replaced it.





I also installed a stiffener wall to prevent oil and grease from flying around inside.



Prepared the electrical parts with the connectors for my box. I located the main switch to the tanks rear.





Created a mount for the loudspeaker and the battery.







Then I bought some metal tracks and a tensioner.







I striped the upper hull completely. Closed all holes with little poly pieces and filled them from the outside.







Took care of some structure.

Take glazing body filler and a bristle brush. Put some of the filler using the brush to the hull and speckle and turn it at the same time. Do it for the areas that shall have shaping structure.

Then speckle the filler without turning to the gun mantlet and all cast structures.

After the filler has dried, grind the filler almost off for the shaping structure and grind a little bit for the cast structure.

I hope, you can understand what I mean.

The result should look like this:







Let´s do the wire mesh guard next. For the wire mesh we use simple fly screen. Just watch.









Add a few screw dummies to the corners of the rectangular frames.



Report continues

Greetings
Birger

[Christoph]

Nice work Biger.

[Phil]

Looking good, like the speaker compartment should sound good.

[Red Devils]

Thanks Birger, you have some great tips to offer...

Derek

[PainlessWolf]

Good Morning,
Beautiful and useful work as usual.
regards,
Painless Wolf

[Wildboar44]

Nice work Birger..... can I ask what speaker you used , the make and wattage ? . I have a broken Jagdpanther one day due for restoration .
The sound I notice is very muffled as standard , hence the question on the speaker .

[wibblywobbly]

A very nice and tidy build. Good to see you using all of the economical methods of building to keep costs down. It will help others who wish to improve their HL tanks.

One little tip is to make the speaker box airtight, it will improve the sound quality by forcing all sound out throught the speaker rather than allowing it to seep out into the tank hull.

What are the electrics? It looks like you have built a self contained box for Elmod?, is that what I can see on the bench?

Rob

[birger]

@Wildboar44
I use FM 8-ohm speakers.

@wibblywobbly
I use Elmod as a changable electronics.

Greetings
Birger

[birger]

The four lifting eyes need to be corrected. They are glued the wrong way around. Next picture you will see them correctly placed.



Got a new antenna base and replaced the old one.





Added handles to the two round engine hatches. I used 1mm wire.



After I grinded the structure I worked on the edges. Made some scratches to let them look like flame cut. I did it with a rough rasp.

Before:



After:



Added the missing lifting eyes to the cooler plates.







Created the mounts for the tow cables.











And glued them to the rear.

The lock bars are made of 1mm wire.



I don´t remember why, but I closed this hatch.







Because I wanted to use the earlier exhaust pipes, I got a pair of cheap on ebay.

These ones were taken from a HL-Pantiger.

I don´t have a special original to build after, so I don´t care mixing styles.





Then I took a small thread bar and the according nuts and replaced the dummies on that hatches.









Now let´s do the mounts for the C-hooks.









And, of course, we create mounts for the tools at the rear.



















The Notek-rear light needs to be moved. Cut it of carefully.





The old engine starter crank handle was t obig so I created a new one.







Here you can see the Notek at its new place.



The top mount for the jack was missing, so I made one.





I also changed a detail of the tow hook. It needs a different handle.









Report continues

Greetings
Birger

[birger]

Let´s do the storage boxes next. I wanted to simulate hatches. So I took small electrical wire and removed the coating, cut it in small rings, glued three at the time and simulated small hinges. On the other end I did the same and simulated locks.









I used the wire to simulate the lock handle. It is simple looking, but I think, it is ok.





Ok, I declare the chassis as finished.

Let´s continue finishing the upper hull. I started with completing the headlight with its wire and a new front cover.



And again, added welding lines.











Added two screw dummies.



Changed those three whatever they are into what they should look like.





To mount the spare tracks you can buy special fasteners. I prefer making them myself. And it is very simple, too.

Let´s figure out, how long they have to be.



















Now, let´s create a new mount for the log.

























Next come the two support brackets for the rear hatch.











Well, ok, it is not 100% accurate. I could have done a better job. But I have not. Sorry.

Let´s add the clamps for the track mounting cable or whatever it is called.

Take a thin small piece of poly or metal. And watch the next pictures.















Take two little pieces of shrink hose to form the thimble.







Don´t worry because of the look. The original ones were shaped by wire.



Let´s add a few loops.









I know, some guys really put incredible details to this cleaning utility tube. I just added the angle plate.



Then I prepared the tools and the mounts for the engines deck.











Next step is to add the covers for the heating. Just watch.

















Report continues.

Greetings

Birger