T34/85 25th Guards Brigade No 234a

[Nick Farrugia]

Hi phil
your progress is great ,its starting to take shape and look like a tank, very fast work indeed.
congrats on your comet being nominated best allied tank ,well deserved .
all the best
nick

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Nick
Thanks very much,it was an enjoyable day out and I spent a lot of time mentaly
recording all the craftmanship and details on the many models,so that I could learn
more from everyone.
The T34/85 wil be like the Comet I think,with lots of scope for detail,finishing and experimenting.
Cheers
Phil

[robert michael hilton]

Hello Phil, I have been watching the video of the Armortek open day....you are enjoying yourself.
I also spotted John Wiggins...who I recently had the pleasure of meeting.

Congratulations on your winning Comet.....a super build and well deserved

I will add a few finishing touches to my tank over the autumn/winter.

Well done mate....keep posting on the T34/85 build.

Best wishes......Mick.

[phil fitzpatrick]

Thanks Mick
I havent seen the open day vidio yet,I will have to go and search for it.
It was my first visit and a great day despite the wet bits.
Cheers
Phil

[phil fitzpatrick]

Getting some more parts ready

Hub Caps and front Mudguards and MG Housing

Mud Guard Parts

Hub Caps finished

[phil fitzpatrick]

Some pic's of my Cast MG Housing and MG Mantlet that I have been working on







I still have enough movement for my MG Traverse.
I read that the traverse was only a limited amount on the T34.
I have noticed from photo's that some Mg housings have Hex head Bolts,some have sloted counter
sunk and some have both.

Dont know whether it is too rough,but I have options after it is fitted and the weld is done,to
stipple the red oxide bits out that are still showing or load more spray on and some of the roughness
will smooth out on its own.

I'm really looking forward to having loads of fun time on the T34/85 Turret

[John Fitzsimons]

Looks great

SLOTTED HEADS ON THIS ONE



THIS ONE ALSO.

[phil fitzpatrick]

Thanks John
Those are 2 good pic's
I assume the tall "U"" bracket is where the big slab of steel somee addded was slipped into,like on the Duxford T34/85.
Buit it was good to see on that photo showing the 6 lugs which I take were for holding the spare track links
Cheers
Phil

[Bill Riedel]

Hi Phil,

Did you use milliput for both the MG guard and housing? They look good!

Regards,

Bill

[phil fitzpatrick]

Thanks Bill
I used milliput for the MG Guard,I did the disk part first and shaped it round the Gun and to the ball
and left that to harden.
Then I made the little front bit and formed it so I would not deform the disk when blending it in.

For the MG Housing I used Exterior proffesional polyfiller,I practiced on a couple of galvanised steel
strips first,to see how good it stuck and it was fine.
I did the MG housing in one go and the brush I used for the stippling effect was the type you can
get for painting fences,with about 150mm x 25mm bristles which were not too stiff.
This turned out just right so will be fine when I come to do my Turret
Cheers
Phil

[phil fitzpatrick]

Assembled my hub caps

[phil fitzpatrick]

Fitted the MG Housing to Glacis Plate.

[phil fitzpatrick]

Double click on the picture for a short vidio of my MG Travers mechanism.
I use the VR knob and channel 6,so it will travers at any speed and stop where you put it

A picture of the mechanism.
Just a simple 4mm threaded rod screwed into the MG ball and runing in a carbon tube as the servo turns,so
its not directly connected to the servo wheel.

[Jan_Donadoni]

Hello,
from what I see and understand the whole motion pack will have inverted position.
That is the 2 motors will sit in the rear part of the tank !

Does anyone who already got the motion pack confirm this?

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Jan
Dont have the option packs yet but the motors are rear drive.
Cheers
Phil