Brown's T34 85 #008

Brown Hawkins · Post by **Brown Hawkins** » Tue Oct 04, 2011 12:56 pm

Lee,

I'm going to try my hand at the tow hooks. I see tow hooks in my sleep! The sculpting clay is on the table and I bought a small silicone molding kit to make a final model for the caster. Just a matter of sitting down for an hour or 2 and getting it done.

Brown

leesellars · Post by **leesellars** » Tue Oct 04, 2011 2:29 pm

Hello Brown

Well done put me down for a full set. anyway.

Lee

Brown Hawkins · Post by **Brown Hawkins** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 5:41 am

Found a solution online that will blacken aluminum at room temperature @ http://www.epi.com/pages/aluminum-blackening.

Sort of like anodozing but a lot easier to do (just dip and rinse). This is not as durable as anodizing; not sure how it will hold up. I'll coat with a flat clear coat when the tracks are completed.
This will provide a good undercoat for additional weathering. As wear occurs the bright aluminum is going to show through.

Note I also blackened the ends of the track connecting pins and the wires used to assemble the tracks. For this I used 'Blacken It' which works with most metals except aluminum and SS.

This is a track link on Ebay that I am trying to very roughly match in color.

The only thing I was wondering was is the grayish color the result of the tank it was on burning or just weathering? Or does it look painted? In any case my tracks will start out as black in color.

I also got a solution that will blacken stainless steel to use with the small cotter pins on the King Tiger tracks.

Brown

davebane · Post by **davebane** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 1:58 pm

All Russian track that I have ever handled, was primed then painted black...
All of the track on my '34 was painted black... however, as it runs the paint wears off, and rust begins... until it runs again, and the rust wears off quickly.
However, as with all tanks, the most prevalent thing on the tracks is caked dirt and mud, with some liberal remains of sod. This unless the tank, for
you German modelers, was in N. Africa LOL!

Dave Bane
Eastern Indiana Tank Collection

davebane · Post by **davebane** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 2:02 pm

Interesting...

I was just noticing the flat section track (ie. no center rib) does it not touch the ground when linked in series?

It sure does on the T-34... with the exception of the center rib, and the offset of the pin guides, they are basically the same track.
They both run on the ground. The pic looks like it is off the ground...

Dave Bane
Eastern Indiana Tank Collection

Brown Hawkins · Post by **Brown Hawkins** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 2:26 pm

David,

It's the perspective of the picture and a bevel edge on the flat no-center-rib links.

I'm just glad I didn't screw up by making all of the track links black!

Brown

Brown Hawkins · Post by **Brown Hawkins** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 3:03 am

First pass on the MG armor:

Will match these to some degree:

Ordered some scale screws for the ring around the ball mount - ~5mm diameters.
The tow hook is proving a bit more difficult. Will post when I have something to show.

Has anyone else had issues with the road wheels rubbing the suspension arm bolts? I had to grind down the tops of the bolts A LOT; took off around 3mm of 5.5mm:

I'm also working on countersinking the countersunk holes all over the tank more and changing out capheads for csk where possible:

Brown Hawkins · Post by **Brown Hawkins** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 6:02 am

Got around to making handles and attachment clamps for the 9 saws I etched long ago:

The wood dowel is too soft for me to turn so we will just have to shape them up by hand. You can see my start at the hull bracket. It needs trimming, soldering spring clips and hull brackets.

I'll blacken my saw and post so you can see if it gives it a weathered, used and abused look.

I'll contact folks that emailed an interest in purchasing a saw when I finish the brackets.

Still have not finished the tow hooks. Some day... Probably not before the baby arrives, but I can hope.

Brown

William Lewis · Post by **William Lewis** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 1:54 am

Hi Brown

Excellent work on the saws, if you have any that aren't spoken for , that also includes tow hooks, I would be interested in purchasing .

Thanks
William Lewis

Brown Hawkins · Post by **Brown Hawkins** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 5:12 am

8 saws for sale @ $60 each:

Here are the logs I mentioned long ago:

I'll now include log for free and I'll let you chose which one if you want one.

I think they look he part and are aged over 7 years!

Please resubmit requests for the saws for you guys that contacted me earlier.

I have a basic hull saw holder almost completed that is part of each saw set. Just ironing out some bugs on them.

I won't be etching any more until Spring at the earliest.

Does anyone here read Russian? I have a figure caption I need help with.

Brown

phil fitzpatrick · Post by **phil fitzpatrick** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 2:22 pm

Hi Brown
I have some russian language books,if you can let me know what the figure or letter looks
like,I will try and help out.
Cheers
phil

Stephen White · Post by **Stephen White** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 8:53 am

Brown hi. I speak Russian. Pm me if you would like me to have a go.. Stephen

Brown Hawkins · Post by **Brown Hawkins** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 1:02 pm

I'll scan the figure I'm wondering about and post it. Thanks for the help.
Brown

Brown's T34 85 #008

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