MLRS / MARS / M270 1/16

[birger]

Hello everybody,

another new project is in sight. For a long time I wanted to have a MLRS in 1/16. Well, there has been a couple of guys here in Germany who created them as a joint project. But they created only six of it and that´s it. Well, ok, what else could I do? Create my own one.

This project will be a joint project, too. The active members are:
beppel (that’s me): Construction and prototyping
Christian Ludwig (Chris3): Chamfer working and sales

Jepp, you read right. That baby will be available on the market as soon as the kit has been completed.

What is done yet?

See the pictures:
























Both transmissions are prepared for use of 1mm screws. To fix the transitions right, there will be two adapter pins.



The cover at the back of the engine compartment is now in place and it can be opened.

At the driver side both doors are finished. They also can be opened.

The driver door (other side is mirror like) is finished and waits for more details.



The driver side is now completed with different details. Doors and windows can be opened.

There are also two 1mm drill holes to fix the long driver hold.

The attachment for the antenna is mounted, with a 1mm hole in the centre. So you have a centre to drill whatever you need there.



The passenger side is almost completed, too.

The door and the window are finished and the lifting bail is also mounted.

At the motor compartment the exhaust is nearly finished. It is open to the inside to realize some airflow for cooling.

It will not be as delicate as the original. The thinnest plate I can use is 1mm. But I think, it is ok.



Well, next step is done.
The complete exhaust area is finished. And the baby has two mirrors. They´ll be mounted with 1mm wire. They should be adjustable with it.



After that I started creating the front. The three window covers are almost done. You can build two types. First type with closed fins, second type with open fins. Or you can mix. Whatever you want. Both are shown in the picture to show you the results. You also can decide to leave them like the position in the picture or to swing them open. They are free to swing.



Report continues

Greetings

Birger

[birger]

Well, let’s continue.

After reconstruction of the blinds to make them moving, the bases for open status are created and positioned.

The roof got its hatch, workable, of course.

The front is in its final shape, too.



The base to fix the opened driver compartment is created and positioned, too.

The lights are created temporary on a plate to be changed by spares or not. Whatever you want..



Those are chamfered out of a block. They can be removed if necessary.



Then I continued with the Engine compartment. The frames of the upper hatch are almost finished.



The cover of the motor compartment is completed. The missing parts are created.

See pictures before and after.






Then I started to construct the chassis.

First I created the PIII-suspensions as a simplified version. The suspension adapters are to be mounted easily by gluing to the side plate.



The brackets for the buffers are still missing. They will be created in one of the following steps.

The wheels consist of nine parts. I tried to construct them as good as possible for 2D-chamfer parts.





Here you can see the finished chassis.



I also solved the gear problem. The ordinary HL-gearboxes can be used. Only a small piece of sheet needs to be cut off. The gear on the drive axle will fit into the reduction gear hole.



Well, that´s it for the week. I hope you can understand my English. Using all those special words is not easy for me. If there is anything to be corrected, please let me know.

Greetings
Birger

[birger]

The chassis is finished. All missing parts are designed and mounted.

Drive-wheel and idlers are chamfer parts until I am sure, that everything fits all right. Then drive-wheel and track-rollers will be changed to swivel-parts.

Now actual pictures:









As tensioner I use the one from Guido, Tiger I. Fits almost perfect.



And again, step by step, it moves forward.

I started working on the launch box.

The lower part is the same as the one of my Tiger-construction. It needs a little more adjustment to the lower hull until I can position it. Therefore I need to check a few more measurements.

The size of the upper part needs to be checked, too.





On the following picture you see the frame that will carry the whole launch box. It is screwed to the bottom of the hull, so it can be easily removed.








Well, that´s it for the week. Report continues.

Greetings
Birger

[birger]

The launch box is under construction:









Well, details and not enough time really slowing down this one.

But it continues.

I finally finished the details at the back of the launcher.

Before:



After finishing details:





Created support brackets, centering pin, front plate and heat protection plates.

The tie down hooks are under construction. The will be just there without function.

Here is the actual picture.



Oh boy, details cost time.

But work continues

Finished details of the launch box bottom.



I also completed a few details inside.



At last I prepared the bottom frame for the simulated lifting spindle gear.



Well, that´s for the day. There is so much more to create. So stay tuned.

Report will be continued.

Greetings
Birger

[birger]

Finally,

it is done.

The first part of creating this kit is done.

The construction work has ended.

After finishing the last details and correcting a few failures, here is the result.



















What is next?

Every single part of this kit has to be prepared for milling.

That will take another two weeks from today.

Then the parts need to be milled and shipped back to me.

As soon as I get these parts, I will continue this report as a building report.

There you will see all details and parts.

So be patient.

Report continues.

Greetings

Birger

[trackmech81]

I think AFV has tracks and sprockets for Bradley / MLRS

[birger]

Oh yes they have. But I am not a millionaer. They cost almost 400€ all together. So I made a compromise by using Panzer III suspension and tracks. By the way, the PIII track is the only one that fits in width. All other tracks are to big.

Greetings
Birger

[wibblywobbly]

I have been following this on RCU, it's good to see some progress. It will be amazing when finished. I have often thought about building one using two Bulldog/Pershing lower hulls, they wouldn't be as accurate as this one, but pretty close.

Looking forward to the styrene/resin build.

Rob

[birger]

Thanks for the compliment.

I use Inventor 2011. It is a 3D construction program. And it is not that much. Most of the projects are done, yet. I didn´t post them here because I was not a member. Now I translate them all into english to share them with you. After a wile I will post less. You´ll see.

Greetings
Birger

[birger]

Ok guys,

let´s continue.

The prototype kit finally arrived and I started the assembling. This will take time, too. So please stay tuned.

Let´s start.

First I will assemble the chassis.

At the beginning we have to add the mounts for the swing arms to the side walls.





Then we´ll take a front and a back plate and assemble the chassis.





Now the base plate.







A few accessories.





And more accessories.













There hast o be a second one on the other side. Therefore two parts are missing. I will add that one later.

Now a few hooks.





Well, that´s for today. Stay tuned. Report continues.

Greetins
Birger