I decided to leave the cupola hatches until later as they would just get in the way & be vulnerable to damage.
The recoil/barrel mounting system is under way.
i've hacked up a BB firing mechanism and used that to form a base to attach the barrel to.
The barrel was overlength, but now corrected, and the joiner that will link the barrel to the recoil unit has also been adjusted to the revised dimensions.
To get the recoil assembly to mate up with the existing trunnion which is fixed in position withing the resin mantlet, I had to get, well, 'creative' with things
...............I dont care about doing it ugly or pretty, as long as it works reliably.
The lot is inside the casemate so is not a feature to see thank goodness.
I made a brass link up out of scrap that was secured to the plastic assembly, then was joined to the trunnion by(at the moment) a single M3 stainless cap head bolt. A second one will go in once alignment has been set.
To get the mantlet to hang on in place I have sliced up an old plastic H/L Panther suspension arm to glue into the inside of the mantlet which I will put a magnet onto. Plan is to place another section of Panther arm onto the trunnion that carries some metallic device to attract the mantlet.
Will soon see once the gel super glue is set.
After 7 years I have just started a new job too, so my attention has been diverted into that.
First time in 15 years I have a 'civilian job' not associated with the gas drilling industry and Im all at sea learning a new world.
I'm sure I will get it, but its a hell of a culture shock..............
HL JAGDPANTHER,HL TIGER 1,HL PzIII MUNITIONSCHLEPPER, HL KT OCTOPUS,HL PANTHER ZU-FUSS,HL STuG III,HL T34/85 BEDSPRING,
HL PZIV MALTA,MATORRO JAGDTIGER,HL F05 TIGER,TAMIYA KT,HL PANTHERDOZER,HL EARLY PANTHER G,TAIGEN/RAMINATOR T34/76,
HL AN-BRI-RAM SU-85