RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Continued:

Good evening Painless:

On and off over the past few months I've been working on my Stuart. So far I made bushings out of brass tubing for the road wheels. This made a big improvement on their function.

Currently I'm trying to figure out how to remove the wobble in the return rollers. I also want to address the rear idler arm. I've tried using different springs, but haven't been satisfied with the results so far.

If the brackets shown became available I would definitely be interested in buying a set.

Regards.

Frank

Good evening,
Got you down for a set once I find a guy with a Scanner and Printer who is willing to run some off. The brass is something I have listed on mine as well. Do you have a build thread up? All of us doing these Stuart builds can only benefit from shared knowledge and resources.
regards,
Painless

Spent a little time today taking apart and thinking over the Stuart's Bogie assembly. It is exactly the same as the one on the static version so the solid road wheel is a direct swap over. My thoughts on the bogies go in two directions. There are some beautiful resin sets which match the originals minus the working springs. With some work with wound brass strips, springs could be made to to match and work on these resin bogies. However, the site specifically states that their upgrades and add-ons are for static models, not RC. This leads to worries about breakages going over stones, etc. On the other hand, the stock bogies somewhat resemble the real pieces and are complex yet stout little pieces of kit with a working central coil spring. Also, resin detail kits exist made just to dress up the Stuart bogies and idlers and make them more realistic. With detail added and some basic brass collets made up and a lube job, those bogies would look great and function beautifully. So that's where I'm at today, considering the next steps taken for running gear. Also, I joined a 1/6 scale forum ( 6th Army Group ) to pick their brains and gain some insight on the Stuart and what the build requires that I might not see. Pics:

P.S. I have two folks who are interested in a set of the hull braces. If I can get a couple more, I'll ping Woz and see what it would cost to scan and run off 4-6 sets. I'll also have to find the original maker and ensure that it's OK to do so. If anyone one else wants a set, PM me please.

Still awaiting resin parts to detail and complete the bogie assemblies and outer lower hull. It's a perfect time after the Thanksgiving furor to turn back to the Stuart and get a little peace of mind. I need to make a silicone mold and do a resin pour to make a replacement early\mid production M5 mantlet. That requires some clean up of the 'master' to begin with. Pictures:

I'm Guessing this is not going to be finished by Christmas ...I hope you get your silicone for the mold...because if there is anything that can be labelled as fun...is casting and watching that fast setting stuff harden

Blink and it will be done

ALPHA

Alpha,
Heyas! Yes, I'm getting the silicone and resin this weekend and doing the pour next week. I have a few days off around my birthday and will soak them into this build. ;o) Best thing I can do with spare time lately! Christmas!? This is my Winter build and I'm ahead of the game so far. Not officially Winter yet ;o)
regards,
Painless

Not Christmas Yet??????????????? Bet you put up decorations...just in time for the 12 day countdown ............
Interesting note though...have you noticed how scarce snow is this year....I've had contact with friends on the East Coast...and they still have Moderate temps with no sign of frost or snow

ALPHA

One of the things occupying my time lately while waiting for parts to show up has been finding out the origin of some old parts I have requests to make copies of. I have the early mantlet and the hull fillers and the transmission cover detail pieces. I've been searching and have run across the possibility that at least the mantlet ( maybe the transmission covers and fillers as well ) were sold to a German site called Die Werkstatt who is now defunct or at least out of the scale tank parts business. Their molds and such were bought up by an English concern called Newthorpe Models and a fellow named Lee. The trail stops there and I'm waiting now to hear back from Lee as to what he knows and if it is Ok for me to copy the old parts I have. This is just a heads up to the couple of guys doing Stuarts who expressed an interest in having parts made and sent just for the cost of shipping.
regards,
Painless

You're a Scholar and a Gentleman Painless.....not many would go through the trouble of contacting a "Maker"..before copying a part for reproduction...Good one on you buddy

Waiting unfortunately is the curse of this hobby....everyone has too ...Me?...I'm waiting on some patience so I can finish those darn Modelkasten tracks

ALPHA