Ultimate Panther/Jagdpanther Build

[michael hilton]

Hello men and ladies....of course. Fitted the second tank track this afternoon.....usual method, paving blocks etc,. The tracks run very smoothly, by hand. I have invited the Tank Commander over this weekend, to check progress on his new Jagdpanther. I will ask him if he will pose for a photograph......His name is Franz. If the weather is fine and dry, the 'Comet' will be on display at the Welshpool Air Show, Sunday 17th June. This is a full size aircraft show, with (all being well) the 'Red Arrows' etc,.

[phil fitzpatrick]

Nice Mick,Looks good with your tracks on.
Hope you have decent weather for your Welshpool Show.
Regards
Phil

[michael hilton]

Franz said he would pay a visit to the factory......and he was as good as his word.

[michael hilton]

Pannier sides, Glacis plate,upper support.....cleaned with 'brillo' pads......ready for U-Pol Etch Primer. Enjoying all the builds on the Forum, and very impressed by the talented builders. So much to do...so little time

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Mick
Franz looks good.
Your Jagdpanther is starting to take shape now,enjoy every bit.
Regards
Phil

[Nick Farrugia]

HI Mick
franz looks very impresed by the standard of the build he must feel lucky that it s not a T34 YOUR BUILDING because he would have to build it himself, up to his elbows in oil and grees before he could drive it away ,your doing a great job on it ,all the best ,,,,,,,,,,,nick

[michael hilton]

Hello Phil, hello Nick, thank you for the replies....I managed to purchase three 'Dragon' figures, which is all I need, three holes, three crew......simples

I am really looking forward to building the 'fighting compartment' on the Jagdpanther. I hope to make some changes, and I have ordered upgrade parts. Also, I will make an attempt at 'camouflage'on the Jagd', a fair ammount of practice in needed first.

Okay, football time......Mick

[michael hilton]

Hello Phil, here are photographs of the frame I constructed to drive the 'Comet' off the Clarke Lifting Table, using motorcycle ramps. The same ramps are used to load the tank onto the converted trailer. It all works rather well, with no danger of the frame/ramps/ or tank slipping. I also place two pieces of carpet onto the steel ramps, to prevent the tracks slipping, on the steel surface.....Mick

[michael hilton]

The Clarke Lifting Table is pushed up to the back of the frame....

[michael hilton]

Front view, the frame is constructed from fencing posts and a piece of plywood.

[John Fitzsimons]

Great idea, i had somthing like yhis in mind. Got lazy though. Work table proved very stable driving off onto the ramps. Also made steep climg into the back of a ford van without carpet on the ramps. Just for safety i will copy your idea though. Got a bit worried when my radio battery started to die while driving back up the ramp. Must het a higher capacity battery.

[michael hilton]

Hello John, yes I know what you mean, loose ramps can be a no no....I first of all placed 'offcut' fencing posts, one on top of the other.....with the end result the whole thing fell over...leaving my Comet in mid-air......nearly had a heart attack.
So, I obviously needed something firm and solid....the 'frame' above is both. Job done, heart ticking over nicely

[phil fitzpatrick]

Thanks for posting those pic's Mick.
I will copy that.
I picked my Trolly up yesterday afternoon and like an idiot I was totaly unprepared
for its 81kg weight.
Took 2 of us to lift it up into the car and a third to help push it further inside
because the wheels were digging into all the stuff I had left in the car rear.
That was the easy bit I had to get it back out on my own,in the pooring rain
I made it though with the help of my Tank ramps that I made for my Comet.
I dragged it to the car rear door and bolted the handle back on then dragged it over onto
the ramps and eased it down.
My ramps have got a peice of bent steel that loops over the back of the car so cant slip.
I have the carpet fixed onto them and I use 4 ramps so there is no place to slip down
the gap,also a couple of peices of wood to the outer edges of the 2 outer ramps,for careless reversing out and over the rear of the car(Or lack of concentration)
Your wooden support looks a very good idea though.
Regards
Phil

[Steve Stuart]

Hi Mick
I am impressed by your ramp support, really tough. But I am even more impressed by your grass, really neat and bright green!
Congratualtions
Steve

[michael hilton]

Hello Phil, Hello Steve, Thank you for your replies.... Steve, we have so much rain in Wales....the grass is always green .
Phil....I forgot to mention the weight of the table lift I was fortunate in that my lift was delivered on a pallet, the guy dropped it right outside the garage. I then assembled it before moving into the dinning for my Comet build last year.
The table lift and motorcycle lift with ramps, are an absolute necessity, they cope with the size and weight very well.....


Moving on to the upper hull......