Panther F

Are the tracks printed with a different material than the tank? Have they improved the strength of past printed parts?

Jarlath

Heh. The tracks are proof of concept... Currently 3D printed using ABS.
I've also learned a lot about 3D printing in the last week... More a crash course than a gradual learning curve.

Once I get the tracks printed nice and to my satisfaction, I'll actually print a full set, plus every component for a mock up... I will however need to split up my armour plates...
The image shown is 200 micron rez, and my printer is capable of 100, so I should be able to get good quality. I'm still fiddling with surface layers, infil and such...

Old MSgt

I ordered a 2017 hardbound book on the Maus a couple months ago that has specs and a lot of photos. It's 'Kampfpanzer Maus The Porsche Type 205 Super-Heavy Tank' by Michael Frohlich.

It's a 'revised' (in English I guess) edition that was originally published in 2013 as 'Kampfpanzer Maus' by Motorbuch, Germany.

It has a lot of technical data and the story of the Maus tanks, how they were designed, tested, and what became of each. It was pretty interesting to read!

Mike in Kentucky

Jarlath

Yeah. I bought that book as well. A lot of images I had never seen before and very good for history and details. Placed the order for it on June 27, 2016, received it on February 28, 2017.

jarndice

Hi, If you don't mind paying for the fully detailed BLUEPRINT then you should go to ---
www.the-blueprints.com
Type "MAUS" in the box and click, you will find a wide choice of sizes.
Shaun.

Jarlath

I can get all those drawings from the internet already... None are true blueprints, just profile images and external views.
They are also all in the above mentioned hardcover book. I'd love to be able to get in touch with the author however...

Dropship Ace

This is an excellent build, your 3D mock-ups look so well made and neat compared to by jumbles of funny looking slabs. What program are you using? Also how do you intend to get it all fabricated? I find it hard to find any machinists and cutters willing to give small hobbyists the time of day here in Aus, with a few exceptions.

Jarlath

I'm designing using Unigraphics NX 8.5. Older program used by work. I actually have just finished converting all my "Slab armour" into STL files for printing. 59 pieces to print.

Two piece for the turret glacis. As for the actual manufacture of the components. This mill (see attached Image) is on order already. Just getting my garage in order...Already have a 12" shear/bender, and a plasma cutter.

TheBennyB

Looking forward to your progress!

Dropship Ace

Jealous. You have all the toys I want, but can't have cause of no man-cave.

Can't wait to see the first chips

novaris

does anyone know where I can find juckenburg resin kit?

novaris

any progress?

novaris

Jarlath,

any updates on the build?

I've been looking everywhere for a 1:16 rc maus tank. Will you be releasing or selling the stl files for the printable parts and plans for the rest of it? I would love to build one.

Jarlath

I've had some complications with the "workshop" I had planned.... So until next year there is no milling machine forthcoming..
I've started 3D printing some components, (Turret sections, some of the upper hull deck). My search for people to create my tracks out of metal had become void with the one who was willing in the beginning trying to alter the design to suit their manufacturing capabilities... So that part had stalled. I MAY order a set of Hooben Maus Tracks (230USD), but they are not a true scale version, just a simplified, squared off version...

It is on a back burner, not forgotten... I also need more than an hour here and there to splice the stl's for printing...

I have not yet thought about it regarding STL. The initial design is still for Aluminum, with the STL's being thrown in for proof of concept. But compared to the Hooben Maus, Mine is stupidly complex and scale...

Jarlath

Oh and I still have my Juckenburg Maus in kit form (unmade) but when I get around to selling it, I believe that Crius has dibs however... It shall remain unassembled in my possession as I am using it strictly for reference.

novaris

I was considering ordering a maus tank from hooben but their prices are quite high. i might get it if i had more info on the quality but now that you said the tracks aren't scale....

so you want to cast/produce the tracks out of metal? why not 3d print it out of castable resin/filaments?


How much did you get it for? I saw one on ebay but the prices were too high and the sprockets and tracks used are from the KT so it isn't accurate.

Jarlath

They are close.. But they all look as thought they followed the 1/6th scale Mark I cast tracks or the . The additional traction cleats on the main track surfaces are HUGE. The track is also rectangular when the bent up ends are flared... So they are close, but not completely scale (my models are taken from the scale drawings available in Kampfpanzer Maus, a great reference book)



This was my 3D printed Maus Track prototype for size and function (and feasibility in ABS material). As I plan on a production version from aluminum, I will need stronger tracks to lug the 17-22kg tank around...


Suffice to say that, I'll never tell you how much I paid for it... (Honestly, it shouldn't matter if I paid 5% or 200% of retail... It will however sell at what I deem acceptable to me at the time...) KT tracks are shorter by nearly 200mm IRL, 1.25cm at scale... That's pretty big.

novaris

What I mean is, print it in castable resin/filament then build a sand mould out of it, melt the resin/filament out of it then pour molten aluminium into it.

Maccrage

Like lost-wax casting.

novaris

it is.

I didn't want to use a fairly technical term in case others don't understand this method.

Jarlath

Thread resurrection!

I may as well have a long overdue update. As many of you know my Maus project was put on hold in late 2017...
Not a lot was done as I was hunting down sources to make my 1/16th scale tracks out of metal (Preferably not zinc, but aluminum or other durable, long lasting alloy)


Some of the RC stuff that is in process... (Some... Like you see under 1/2 of it)



The Juckenburg Maus sitting on a separate shelf awaiting additional use and a future owner...



The Maus 3D prototype as currently sitting in "storage" Thankfully not much dust



The original 3D modeled tracks showing inward flex.



The 3D printed tracks (held together with straightened paper clips) showing the same flex.



Original modeled tracks showing typical rolling flex



The same set of 3D printed tracks curled up (not tightly mind you).



Up against the Sherman for a track size comparison. Maus tracks are HUGE...



The Maus Turret... (And some upper deck pieces)



Top plate removed... Note that all 3D components are printed to scale armour thickness.



Scale opening under the front mantlet as per Maus specifications. That is 240mm of scale armor!
And the Germans made a bunch of these turrets....
There were supposedly 5 hulls welded together and even more turrets (Sans inner guts)



Turret placed upon the Sherman for a scale comparison...


Inside of the turret, 3 sections for length, under the turret you see the 2 piece lower turret floor (That opening is scale)

MAUS45

Thanks for bringing the Maus back out!!! Hope you will have time to work on it now.