All the memories of the recently passed Phil makes me realize just how short our time is here. Whenever we lose someone we've
connected with in some way no matter how briefly, a life long friend or loved one it makes me consider the way I spend a good
bit of the time I've been given. I can't lay claim to any great works or humanitarian acts, I build model tanks. Put that way it sounds
rather weak yet the good friends I've made because of this hobby and all the young people I've touched with my hobby work over the years
at runs, fairs, model shows and historical events seems worth it. And the personal rewards when something actually works! It seems reasonably
worthwhile at that moment....

Anyway I wanted to show some of the work I've done, albeit at a lame snail's pace to a set of 1/10 scale Panther ( actually for a JagdPanther)
wheels. The basic wheel is a Maier aluminum wheel set to which I've added at custom end cap and safety clips.

I made the die to press the caps from steel, as well as a second die to punch the holes in the safety clips which are made from
.005" steel shim stock. Each wheel hub was tapped with 8 0-80 threads -quite tedious yet I didn't break a tap once..

The clips are functional.

Jerry