Sdkfz 7/1 #6 / Steering wheels / Military Vehicles And Half Tracks

So much to do so little time, for now at least. Steering wheels are done, thread is still to be applied, the most time consuming job as I decided to cut grooves out, giving tires a bit more life, or just to practice precision cutting. I did not change anything within wheel/tire construction.  Main wheel has been assembled using two side cover rings, ribs glued vertically between them and edged. Assembly diagrams are missing parts (20b), (20c), both should be put together into inner edging strip, with colour inside.  I had some trouble with fitting axle, as part itself was not long enough to get desired diameter (bottom of the axle was fitted to the rim, and top was left loosely rolled).

Sdkfz 7/1 # 5 / Engine & Gearbox /

I spent some time building engine and gearbox, which came as two separate components joined together and fixed to chassis and onto front/main axle. Basic assembly started with shaping up long exhaust pipes, making engine block and gearbox (which was tried on first, according to instruction should be mounted upon two axles, 25f, kit provides only part 25e, one long axle, apparently for running wheels). Engine block (Y shaped) and gearbox were connected together and details were applied, some rivets and small pipework. The most challenging part of the build were collectors and exhaust pipes, made out of copper cable and sleeve. The trick was to bend cable to required shape and fit it to collectors and the engine. It did not turn out the best though, I have something to improve next time. 

HP Hampden & V Wellington

Conservation Centre at Cosford opened it's door to the public for a week, and I could not miss such opportunity to see aircraft under process of restoration. There were Vickers Wellington, HP Hampden and Harrier available to see up pretty close. 10 - 15 minutes long documentary displayed next to Wellington informed how this plane was built, from basic assembly of framework (what is currently undergoing restoration process), electrical circuits installation, bodywork, engine mounting to test flight, and how long did it take. Surprise is, only 24 - 30 hours were required to build fully operational bomber. Other exhibit - Hampden - was in pieces, mid & rear section of main body, landing gear and engine separate.

Sdkfz 7/1 # 4 / Chassis & details /

I bet everyone is familiar with saying: "the devil is in details", needless to say - it's true! Don't know if "he" starts poking fingers into not only mine, but everybody's work when it needs to be done quickly and well, but I have this sort of strange feeling sometimes he does. The more I try, the less I make or build and then, I think, is a good time for break, or some other activity, options are many, in fact, always more than time. 

Sdkfz 7/1 # 3 / Chassis /

This is the first model I built that stands on it's own wheels so soon. After rather long assembly of rear suspension components and tracks, basic chassis came next and gave me a chance to try everything out. For safety reasons it was not fixed permanently. All applicable components for main framework were thickened with card, I used 1 mm thick card (long flanks are 2 mm thick, 2 parts fixed back to back), what, according to assembly instructions, is a bit too much by 0,2-0,3 mm, but after considering overall weight of finished model it may be just enough for permanent support. Increased thickness of frame components can be noticed, but does not seem to be a problem, everything is still lined up correctly without any relocations.

Bovington Tank Museum #1

I finally had a chance to visit Tank Museum in Bovington, trip was quite long, 190 miles one way, but well worth it. I think it is a Must Visit for any tank modeler.

Before even approaching main buildings there are many examples of what can be seen (or poked) inside - tanks are everywhere. Tour around the Museum involves several displays, The Tank Story, Trench Experience, The Discovery Center and Battlegroup Afghanistan. There are plenty tanks to be seen across all these sections, from time of Great War  to very modern.  I did not even realize how big they actually are, Tiger is huge, but King Tiger or JagdTiger are monstrous. So are power-plants and engines (also on display) for such machines. It is pretty impressive seeing in reality how thick tank armor was, and how thin it may have seemed to what enemy may have prepared to use against. It all served and serves still one purpose though - breaking enemy resistance.
 

{Link to Part 2}

Trip to RAF Cosford

Having some spare time I took another trip to nearby based RAF Museum in Cosford. 20 miles done with no problem and no delay - quick & easy, only parking to be paid and that's all the cost. Friday morning was not bad choice at all, two coach parties of pupils and few adult visitors - perfect. Before kids appeared in the area where all War Planes are, I took closer look at few shown below:

Sdkfz 7/1 # 2 / Tracks & Sprockets /

Any paper model of a tank or a half track is very requiring and time consuming because of great number of parts for all wheels and track links. Without applying "cutting many in one go" methods the build would take even longer. For square shaped parts  it's good to use knife and metal ruler to guide blade avoiding wave like edges left by scissors. Perfect, if parts are grouped together (like in this kit:) and one cut sorts few out in one go. Tracks are made out of single links connected by a pin. Usually, but not always, 2 versions of tracks are provided: single links or strips (models for experienced modelers are usually supplied with only single link version, other option seems to be waste of space). Strip version of tracks can be made pretty quickly, main difference is thickness, flexibility and construction time. Single links are very flexible (pin-joints), take easy any curves especially around the sprocket, where strip may crack or be difficult to shape up. There is however third option, which is laser cut set of tracks. It looks like simple, strip version but with all details cut out (see Stug IV).   

SdKfz 7/1 #1 / Road Wheels /

This one was long(er) time coming, as my attention was drawn away for a bit, into wet and peculiar reality of Silent Hill "Downpour". New release of this old and famous horror series features Murphy Pendelton's story, escaped convict looking for a way out of prison bus crash site. He ends up in Silent Hill, a very dark town. Town itself  may not exactly scare, but give a bit of goose flesh, and that feeling of un-reality. Murphy is allowed to scout the town in certain limits, roads are still cut off, any available way out is blocked, but more areas are available to explore. Side quests are present in those extra locations and give some additional info about story line and Murphy's past (after all there must be a reason why he is in claws of madness). Game can be easily put in line with part 2, which is widely considered as best out of the series. The Downpour takes what is the best out of all previous games I suppose, novelty is escape or rather running away from "red nightmare" in different versions of "other world" (similarity to Silent Hill Shattered Memories for Wii). Game definitely deserves attention, it's "must have" for all fans. Completing it once is never enough especially having bonuses in second play through :D 

Sturmgeshutz IV #6

The fewer details it seems the longer it takes. Engine hatches and back engine plate with all details are done. Miniature of the gun came next, it's base with characteristic "snout" ("Saukopfblende") shape is made but not yet fixed to the upper hull. Gun barrel was rolled out of kit's card, after almost hour spent rolling can say I'd rather prefer offset paper as alternative. Offset is softer, easier to control and keep in line. Card is too thick for small diameters, moreover if too much pressure is applied while rolling surface my crack or bend leaving visible marks. For rolling I use 2 mm in diameter, few inches long steel bar. Surface for this method is important, it has to be soft and flexible. I use back side of old mause pad, which is "foamy" and ideal for this kind of job. The 'slope' part of gun's base has difficult shape, had to fold it first in proper areas than stick it piece by piece to the rest. Design here did not fail, but part requires extra attention especially on the "round" corners, angle is more than 90 - 100 degrees, curved and has to be flat on joining point.