Machine gun Fibre optics

[Spartan tracks]

Can anyone recommend a type its for mg on elephant

[Max-U52]

Sparty I'm looking for the same thing myself. I have these tiny little LEDs but they still aren't tiny enough to go in the MG-34 on the Stug, so I'm also thinking fiber optics. I'll be watching this closely and if I find anything that will work you'll be the very first to know.

[jtracks]

I bought some online after doing a google search. You want the flexible fiber optic. I purchased 1.2mm. Sorry I don't have the name of the company I bought it from.

OK, looked back at some of my purchases and found the name where I bought the flexible fiber optic. It was called LightHouse LED. Hope this helps.

[Ad Lav]

I think Welsh dragon does the fibre optics, under leopard 2 I think on the website.

[Max-U52]

OK, I took a look at Lighthouse LEDs and this is what I'm thinking about trying

http://lighthouseleds.com/5-0-end-glow-fiber-optic.html

I'm trying to do the MG34 in my Stug and the barrel at it's smallest is about 2.15mm so I think .5mm should be OK. I'll have to separate the gun at the base of the barrel and then I'll have enough room in the body for the tiny little domed LED I got, and the fiber optic cable should carry the light to the end of the barrel. Hopefully. Here's photos of the gun, you can just see the tiny LED sitting on top in two of the photos. I picked up an extra MG34 so I'm gonna give it a whirl. I'll order the fiber optic cable tonight.






But there's one thing I wonder about - should the MG34 have the armored barrel? This is obviously the infantry variant.

Wish me Luck!

[Spartan tracks]

Let me no how you get on max,looks a tight fit !!

[silversurfer1947]

As I understand it, normal practice was to use the hull MG34 for top mounting, in which case it should have the armoured barrel. However, this has struck me as inefficient. If I were the tank commander, I think I would have "acquired" an extra gun, in which case it would be a standard weapon.

[Rocketman]

Hi guys

Ive used these loads of times in my Mgs. Ill check thickness at home later but to maximise the brightness you create a lens at the end of the cable. To do this you take the end of your fibre optic cable and hold it against a hot halogen bulb. The end will then flatten out as it melts forming a lens. Timing, needless to say, is everything with this method. It does allow you to use the thinner cable diamater as then lens blows the light out. Feed the non lens end through your gun and attach to your LED inside the body of your tank. You then should repeat the lens method at the other end and stick to your LED . The lense at the other end makes it easier to attach to the LED. You can run all the guns from one bulb. I changed my bulbs to white as the are much more realistic. Ive got the turret and bow MGs on my pershing and Sherman running from one white LED inside the hull.

cable is here after a quick ebay check: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fibre-optic-s ... xyObBTlggN

[Max-U52]

That's good info, but the cable on that link is 1.5mm and the barrel is only 2.15mm and that's just too close for me. I'm going to try the cable from lighthouse, and I noticed that it says it's end glowing, do you still need the "lens" for that kind of cable? And would a regular incandescent light bulb work? I don't have any halogen bulbs.

[jtracks]

That's good info, but the cable on that link is 1.5mm and the barrel is only 2.15mm and that's just too close for me. I'm going to try the cable from lighthouse, and I noticed that it says it's end glowing, do you still need the "lens" for that kind of cable? And would a regular incandescent light bulb work? I don't have any halogen bulbs.

Gary the end glow fiber optic I bought worked well. I purchased it to use with a Tamiya light kit for my Pershing, it worked very well. I didn't try it with a MG but I don't see why it wouldn't work in that application.