Tow Shackles - how to make your own!

[30+]

Tired of paying between 15 and 30 Euros for four tow shackles for your Tiger I, Tiger II, Panther or Jagdpanther? Then make your own by using the material that you've already got at home!

I used this material:

-The four tow shackles made of plastic and supplied with the King Tiger FO kit
-Four M3x20 screws and four M3 nuts
-One 3 mm and one 4 mm drill bit
-One way oversize drilling machine

Use the following steps:
1. Cut of the "nuts and bolts" at the end and inside of each plastic tow shackle
2. Grind each side with a grinder to get a smooth finish
3. Use a 3 mm drill bit do drill a hole through each of the four tow shackles, make the hole big enough for the screws to slide in and out without any resistans
4. Use a 4 mm drill bit and drill a hole through the tow shackle brackets on the King Tiger
5. slide the tow shackles in place and attatch it all with the screws and nuts.

You are now free to modify the screws further if you want to, to make it look more realistic.

I hope this tip will help!

Cheers, Jens

[BREL]

great tip Jens

[mt 1]

nice money saveing idea cheers

[JIMBO H]

The 20 mm bolt at 1/16 scale comes to 12.6 inches. Me thinks this looks a bit long.

[30+]

What I did, after taking these pics, was to shorten the screws to an suitable lenght with a saw and, after that, to shape it with a grinder. M3x15 mm screws had been better (the M3x10 ones were too short!), but I can't find them anywhere.

These three pics should demonstrate the difference - once the tow shackles are painted, it's difficult to tell the difference.

Cheers, Jens

[JIMBO H]

Looks real good. A great idea.

[Miggers]

Hoo-hoo,I shall be having a go at this.

Instead of using M3x20 setscrews though,I'll see if our local fasteners supplies firm,Threadfast
Engineers Ltd,has some 3mm threaded bar.
I'll be really surprised if they don't.

Incidentally,they're worth a ring or e-mail for most things engineering supplies wise and are very competitive on prices.

Find them here:
http://www.threadfast.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The girls in the office are extremenly helpful and knowledgeable.

Mark