by John Mohnen » Fri Jul 08, 2011 5:43 am
Well finally got some time this week to add some litle bits to the project. It was a bit of a madhouse the last 2 weeks at work what didn't leave much time for the hobby.
In the meantime I received several additions to my library and each of them answered some of the many questions.
I managed to get some preliminary reports booklets issued during the war by the War Office and they give a reasonable detailed description of some captured German AFV's. Prepared by the School of Tank Technology I received a copy from Merriam Press of the STUG III, Tiger I, Pz III, PzIV (2 x, Mod D & Mod F). They are cheap and give good information on the subject.
Then I finally got some Dienstvorschriften of various AFV's (Nashorn, Pz III, Pz IV, and several other ones) and man the info contained is great specially the detailed drawings of various parts of the vehicles. Text is sometimes in Gothic German but after some hours of pulling out my hairs it starts to get a bit easier to read them.
Disappointing was the fact the area where I have the least info of (Radio Operator Bay) was not really described at all. But all at all the pieces start to fall together.
I also received the CMK kit of the driver compartment and at first glance there is plenty of stuff inside which can be used for a Nashorn or Hummel. The kit is designed to fit in a STUG III. Looking at the Tranny and Brakes it looks I made some big mistakes in my working drawing which is constructed mainly from Photos or various drawings out of reference books. Good point to not trust them to much without proper research.
20110708Tranny-25.jpg
Here is a closeup of the Tranny and the Brakes. The transmission comes without the heatshield which is shown in many photos of museum shots of the STUG, PzIII and Hummels. Assume that the transmission would get quiet hot inside the driving compartment and expect in the Russian Winter the heat shield would have been desirable.
Still trying to figure out if these were installed standard. Maybe someone has some ideas. Detail in the CMK kit seems to be crisp and will need only a few alterations.
20110708Tranny-2.jpg
I had to drill out the centre of the brakes to facilitate proper alignment of the Tranny. These holes will be concealed with some putty and the placement of the drive attachment. It was a bit tricky to figure out how the various shafts are connected from Geardrive to Brakes and Final Drive Sprocket.
Here is a pic of the alignment of the brakes at the hull sides.
20110708Tranny-5.jpg
The Placemarkers in the kit don't line up and I have to scrape these away, the markers on the brakes are for the STUG kit.
20110708Tranny-3.jpg
After removing them and some sanding the brakes fit snug to the hull sides.
Here is a shot of the test fit.
20110708Tranny-19.jpg
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