Posts: 3735
Joined: 3/21/2006 From: Boynton Beach,
FL, USA Status: online
RTV is silicone, the stuff you coat engine gaskets with, or to seal windows on cars or in your house. You can see the orange RTV in this tank as I ran out of clear and don't build engines anymore so it found new uses in my Tiger to seal it from water and dirt. It's pliable, acts as insulation or a cushion, and is not permanent making removal and installation easy.
That's not my tensioner, it's modeled after the real one on an Armortek Tiger. I see no reason why it couldn't be scaled down to work with our HLs with the addition of an L bracket to support a longer shaft.
There's an old post on our track tensioning designs here on the forum somwhere. You might find reference to it in Kabul Tankers build. I think I started that one.
< Message edited by swathdiver -- 12/14/2007 8:44:14 AM >
Posts: 3735
Joined: 3/21/2006 From: Boynton Beach,
FL, USA Status: online
Finally some more progress! Geez this is taking a long time.
Prior to today it took weeks to install the bearings and rebuild the gearboxes. Gears were run in again and turn within 14rpms of each other. White lithium grease is my preferred lubricant now and my new pencil torch helped to melt the plastic into shape over the boxes to act as covers. The installation of one bearing went fine, then I messed up the hole on the other one while foolishly trying to work through a myriad of interruptions. Used little strips of styrene to fill the hole and then RTV'd everything to seal it.
Today I made the mounts for the remote switches and charging jack. The jack is mounted by itself under the radio operator's hatch because the height of the gearbox precludes fitting additional switches on this side. Under the driver's hatch are the volume, smoker and on/off switch.
Then I made the electronics tray and tested two potential fans. The first one is 40mm, typical Northbridge fan from a computer. The other was the little 25mm Novak. The little Novak won the volume of air throwing contest by at 3x! The tray will fit in between the L brackets that hold the batteries in place. The speaker will be relocated to the opposite side where it is now so the relocated antenna won't have any issues. The Receiver instead of being mounted on this tray will reside on the sponson in the original speaker position. The smoker was moved further aft and RTVd in place. The electronics tray will be RTVd in place to make installation and removal simple and offer some shock resistance.
In case you didn't know, I like RTV!
The adjustable rear idler has been scrapped for now, maybe later. Really hoping to cut a new barrel and build the gun tomorrow and then paint the tank and put the road wheels on. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Posts: 3735
Joined: 3/21/2006 From: Boynton Beach,
FL, USA Status: online
Progress slowed with all the partying an tech support the last few days. Anyways the airsoft unit is about done. Months ago I took out the armored shield over the gunsite and made it flat like the originals and filled in the hole for the LED warning light. Flipped it too of course!
Last year I'd taken some measurements off a scale drawing and determined the aluminum inner airsoft barrel would need to be 250mm long to be accurate. This time instead of building the external barrel from scratch I bought some of those aluminum extensions from Blueslateman so I could save some time during the builds. Using this part the final length of the airsoft barrel was 239mm. I could have take another 1/2-1mm off but left it and filled in the seams. No hole in the barrel.
The gun was emptied, cleaned and re lubed with silicone grease. The clutch was glued together and heavy wire short springs with spacers were installed. I also put some flux on the piston spring and then soldered two beads on each side so only half the spring will stretch. This closes the breech more forcefully and sooner then before allowing the full volume of air from the piston to push the bb out. Also spent considerable time adjusting the headspace between the barrel and breech bushing before glueing the barrel to the breech. Wasn't completely satisfied with the results as I have guns with more power and less work. It shoots 175fps. Maybe the barrel I used was the 6.08mm one. Will have to check and measure tomorrow.
I am thinking of painting the road wheels in the disruptive color, which in this case is RAL 7027. The 7027 camouflage bands will be on the upper hull, deck and turret like a real tank. What do you think? This is like the current scheme on Tiger 131 at Bovington.
Here's the two colors, first is RAL 8020 and then RAL 7027:
Opinions appreciated!
p.s. for a better view of the 8020 see my PZIII build!
Posts: 1568
Joined: 5/1/2007 From: Escondido,
CA, USA Status: offline
Swath,
Awesome work, I am running into the some fit issues right now, so I am really impressed with your layout of the switches and the electronics tray, sweeeeeeeet. You definately keep pusing the envelope and breaking new ground for modifing and improving the Heng long tanks!
Posts: 3735
Joined: 3/21/2006 From: Boynton Beach,
FL, USA Status: online
WOOOHOOOO!!! PROGRESS TODAY!!!
Finally got some top coat paint down last night and today, even the camouflage pattern. Also assembled the rear plate with custom muffler with rain caps that will emit smoke and muffler guards modified like the 501 did. Even installed the tail light and reflector.
Also cut .020" styrene strips to take the slop out of the turret, 4 strips later it was nice.
A unique feature of 2 Kompanie tanks were two tool boxes mounted high up on either side of the turret bin, I scratch built those to the awe of my children.
Paint looks good, it changes color and loses its gloss the longer it sits so will wait until tomorrow to sand it.
I am debating whether or not to paint the road wheels in the base color of 8020 or the disruptive pattern of 7027. Hmmmm....
Posts: 1568
Joined: 5/1/2007 From: Escondido,
CA, USA Status: offline
Swath,
You have to go disruptive, IMHO. It makes it a makes it harder to sight in on if sniping on the moving tank, and when standing still it blends with the rest of the camo work!
Posts: 3735
Joined: 3/21/2006 From: Boynton Beach,
FL, USA Status: online
Frustrations in painting! Today I made the stencils for the turret numbers and cut them out. It needed a little touching up and I didn't too good a job so I decided to respray hoping to even out the white outlines. That didn't work! Too much paint came out and run under the stencil on one side, Gotta sand it all down and redo it! ARRRGGHHH!!!
Overall I'm very pleased with the colors. The story with the tank is that it has run over a mine hence the missing road wheels on the outside and the new sprocket. The roadwheel on the other side was lost too. Still much to do and redo!
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All Forums >> RC Cars, Buggies, Trucks, Tanks and more >> RC Tanks >> RE: Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf H1 Tiger of Pz.Abt. 501 - Tunisia - January '43 - Build 
RE: Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf H1 Tiger of Pz.Abt. 501 -... - 
