I've been trying to make the side stowage tube look a little better on my JagdPanther. I spent some while making and mounting the clamps as well as the end caps with thin steel( .010" )
handles. The clasps are made from the same steel material as the handles. I made a series of tools to shape the parts and as small as they are the steel thickness becomes significant.
Quite sturdy for their size; the lower portion was riveted to tghe tube body although I'm fairly certain the originals would have been welded. My tube is aluminum which makes this impossible.

Now about the clasps. They are not true to life. I know and have fairly good photos of the originals. After a few attempts to make them I realized I could not easily duplicate them in 1:10 scale.
The movable part of the clasp is riveted or fastened in some way on both sides instead of having a single pin capture both sides. Being separately fastened opens the internal axis of the clasp which is where the
actual engagement component is. So I'll claim to all those who see my rendition and recognize the variation from the original: " I chose to model the very rare late war model of the stowage tube clasp -
made for just one day by a new last- ditch sub-contractor's facility before it was caught in a bombing run and was unable to resume production before the war ended..."


Jerry