New to me

[Jerry Carducci]

I'm just scratching the surface working on the dashboard. Why did we (U.S.) have to put so many darn data plates on the dash??!

I've been casting about for either good photos with which to make decals or photo etch bit with but so far to no avail.

I was given the name of a chap who makes all manner of full size reproduction data plates for various vehicles including the US half tracks.
I've attempted to reach out to him to see what he could recommend but as I've heard nothing I fear that will be a dead end and my
search will continue. I'm trying hard to resit buying the costly Peddinghaus decals as there's the cost and that there's only, for me, too few usable decals.

Looking at images online I can see that the volt meter mounted to the dash appears to be a type that I've come to accept as common for WWII.
My later father being a real dyed_in_the_wool electronics wizard and amateur radioman (HAM) had an enormous collection of bit, parts and meters from that period. Somewhere buried in my shed is a large box of these things and I have a few 'loose' ones kicking around my shop. There's a few more in power supplies and other gadgets my dad built that I still use. It was pretty common for my dad to alter these meters to serve his purpose and I even recall him repainting the dials to suit.

I happened to pick up an example of an 'AC Volts' meter of the type and took an photo of it. By the time I shrunk the image to 1/6 and printed it you can see that there is a a dial scale but it's unreadable. I'm certain I have a meter with an actual DC Volts dial face but I'm too lazy to look for it and still when shrunk no one would be able to tell. Still this one should serve the purpose.

So I'll do what I'm able and move forward.

Jerry

[Chang]

Allow me to tell , it is a full scale one.

[Jerry Carducci]

Making progress on the dash. I believe I have a good solution for the various data plates. Hope to mount them shortly
and make other detail bits to go along with them.

Also found a passable design for a M1 or M1A1 anti tanks mine. Fired up my tiny antique M3D printer and was able to print off several parts to assemble a few. I think they'll look ok in the racks once I finish them. Better than being bare.

Onward!

Jerry

[Jerry Carducci]

I decided I didn't like the original dash plate so I made a new one that's a bit taller (wider?) than the original. I made a series of data plates
and while they're probably slightly oversize I wanted to be able to read them so they also needed to fit among the instruments/ I found that the original dash panel was too small and I believe the instrument holes were off a bit.

The other feature of this is that the holes to mount the dash to the body are thread with the proper 2mm threads so I don't have to fiddle with trying to get nuts into position in a place where my hands won't fit.

I did a trial with most things loosely attached or just laid in approximate position. I plan to have the glove box functional.

I find I enjoy doing the dash, as I did with the Sd. Kfz. 7...

Jerry

[Jerry Carducci]

I've been spreading my time out over several different projects and generally being lazy so progress on the M2 has slowed a bit.

I've spent what time I'm able on advancing the dash. I've illuminated all the instruments and although I've never seen one in use I suspect the
voltmeter wasn't originally illuminated- no matter I did it anyway. It was fun. I ultimately took a meter I had apart and directly scanned the dial
face to get a better image. It can't be seen in the attached photos but in person you can just about read the small dial face....

I decided to make and use decals of the various data plates; as my model isn't carrying a winch I opted not to install those related plates. The decals
came out quite well I think but the laser printer toner's adhesion to the decal paper is tenuous and easily damaged unless extreme care is taken. It
does have one benefit in that it's not affected by water...

I'm going to add a few more bits then consider it done.

Jerry