Custom Switch Bridge
 

If you've seen my upgrading for my tanks you know that I like organized wiring and a semblance of neatness internally on my tanks.
However, sometimes I need a break from fixing up my own tanks and I get requests from some of my good friends/tankers who want some custom designed items for their tanks.

So when dgsselkirk asks me to rebuild the internal electronics for his wife's Sherman tank, I say yes!
Dean's Sherman's always have their front hatches open for access to switches, except they are mounted in the upper hull which makes for a PITA when removing the upper hull.
And Dean is a modeller and an artist. His tanks look fabulous and can be perfectly period accurate. He is not borderline obsessive on organizational routing like I am. Enter my fun zone.

Designing and building... Huzzah!

Attachment 2267902
Three design iterations for a Switch Bridge for his Mato Sherman... Top is initial concept, bottom is final design. Note the addition of screws for an assembly.
And to many they may ask why make it complicated by making it an assembly? Answer to follow.

Attachment 2267903
Trial fit. Showing the epoxied in-place Mato specific Clark TK-2x/40 tray 3D printed (Provisions for mounting dual 25mm fans, but since this is using a TK-20, no real need).
Cheapo tube bender for showing the height of the switch bridge above the sponson floor (top of lower hull).
Also a 3D printed Speaker box just behind that. Volume control, Smoker toggle, and main power toggle switches on the bridge.

Attachment 2267904
From this angle it is a bit easier to see why the final iteration of the switch bridge is an assembly. When the vertical parts are epoxied in place, the top can be removed if you need to service switches, or replace the drive motors. Glad I thought of that before epoxying the 2nd iteration into place.

Attachment 2267905
When the upper hull is in place, the switches and volume potentiometer are just at your fingertips.
Once the complete lower is done I'll post more images of it.

Very nice and looks adjustable for other tanks.
Thanks
Jimmy

Attachment 2267911
While I do not have a starting point image of the current tank. The next tank is a typical setup of Dean's.
Beautiful on the outside, a tad haphazard internally. This is the next Mato Sherman to get similar treatment/upgrading by me.
Yes those are lego/building blocks that hold the lower to the upper... (Not my doing :))


Attachment 2267912
So we'll backtrack a bit. The gutted Mato Sherman with the Clark TK-2x/40 tray installed.
Provisions for mounting dual 25mm fans, but since this was a TK-20, not needed.


Attachment 2267913
The highly technical concept arrangements. Battery pack and HL Speaker are being used as concept place holders while I awaited the actual speaker and Tarr smoker to install. That high-tech popsicle stick being used to determine the switch bridge dimensions and layout.


Attachment 2267914
Finalized locations and installation. I like my routing to be clean as F%^$. Just awaiting some brass tubing and a tube bender for finishing the smoker plumbing.
If I'm going to do it, I'm going to make it well (I hope)...


Attachment 2267915
Finalized lower with 3D printed trays and organizers. (That is a bridge mounted tray for a Clark TK-60 in the background)


Attachment 2267916
The Switch bridge uprights have multiple mounting provisions. They can be epoxied to the hull, screwed down or even held on by 5mm x 3mm magnets.