Panther Progress!

Jeffrey Goff · Post by **Jeffrey Goff** » Tue May 19, 2009 9:05 pm

Hi Robert, if you search Google for Delft Clay Casting System it will show you the stockists and it is ideal for one-off projects, I have a small electric furnace, using crucibles that hold approx a kilo of brass, but the most I have melted at one time is about 1/4 lb
the furnace will heat to about 1200 degrees, when it is poured into the mould, the clay around the object chars, you just scrape this off and reuse the clay
regards
Jeff

Robert E Morey · Post by **Robert E Morey** » Thu May 21, 2009 4:59 am

Jeff thanks for the info,
I've found a source in the US. Theres even some good how to video's here:
http://www.contenti.com/products/_new_i ... me=casting

Interesting concept. I've never heard of this type clay or of using it like a sand casting process. Id like to try it to make some small brass or bronze parts.

Thanks for again for mentioning it! Looks like this old dog learned a new trick <to try out>!
Kind regards
Bob

Robert E Morey · Post by **Robert E Morey** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:13 am

After a short vacation and break to do a little triathlon - I'm back at it. I decided to remake the mesh grill covers, not being happy with the fragile kit supplied part, and not happy with my first attempt at an improvement. In my first version the M3 bolts stick up too high, and are nearly whacked by the turret. Also it looks wrong sitting on top of the deck. The real mesh covers were recessed and fit flush to the deck.

So I redesigned the part and made another frame on the CNC. Both frame and mesh are brass so they can be soldered together. The screws were changed to #2-56 which look a lot more scale. However compared to the M3's they look puny! Approx 2mm is removed from the top of the white metal grille to provide the recessed look.

I think this one looks a lot closer to the real thing. Close enough for me to make the other 3 and finish this part of the project.

What do you guys think? I know it is not 100% accurate. N-joy and feel free to comment.

Fabrice Le Roux · Post by **Fabrice Le Roux** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 12:00 pm

Bob,
Very nice.

The standard M3 hex screws supplied are very overscale in some places. I have had quotes to have M3 threaded bolts cut from smaller hex stock but I would have to place orders for thousands. However there is a risk of a smaller screw breaking when under load.

My solution is to where possible beef up the structural fixings with concealed M4 or even M5 countersunk socket screws. Where the screw heads are more noticable, or even just decorative, and under less stress I used smaller BA screws, in some cases just epoxied into the holes. In the UK, EKP Ltd make BA screws with the next size down head, eg a BA8 with a BA9 head. Very handy.

Making correct scale castellated nuts is another headache altogether..

Keep up the good work!
Fabrice

Kent Wiik · Post by **Kent Wiik** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 1:14 pm

Bob,

Very nice, this looks so much better - well done!
When I fist saw the upper photo I thought 1:1

While you were at it did you ever consider making the 2x sloped inserts as well?

Cheers
Kent

Robert E Morey · Post by **Robert E Morey** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 8:03 pm

Kent,
I did consider making the sloped insert, but haven't come up with an easy way to to do it. Maybe a resin plug that gets epoxied into the holes? Its not a very noticable detail like the mesh screens are so for now I will skip the sloped insert. Wouldn't be that hard to make a wood master plug and a small RTV mold to cast them in resin.

Maybe someday when I have no other projects

Fabrice, that would be a great solution to get M3's with a M2.5 or M2 hex head. I don't know how easy that would be here in the US. I can get 4-40 and 3-48 hex though, that may be a good compromise size wise for the hex. I don't care for mixing metric and english threads though.

For now I think I will live with the size difference.
Thanks for the feedback guys!
Bob

Tim Bowman · Post by **Tim Bowman** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 5:52 am

The mesh covers look real nice Bob! Nice work.

Kind regards
Tim

Gerrit Haarhoff · Post by **Gerrit Haarhoff** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 9:20 am

Very well done. Amazing! Don't you want to share the method of creating the mesh in a mesh101 tutorial?
Regards
Gerrit

Robert E Morey · Post by **Robert E Morey** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:40 pm

Hi Gerrit,
Thanks for the feedback and comments. As for the mesh I bought it from an industrial supply house (McMaster-Carr) here in the US.

I didn't actually make the mesh. I can provide the P/N for it for those interested. A 12 X 12 (inch) piece is surprisingly inexpensive, approx $17 USD. Material is brass.

As for the tutorial, I would be glad to do a how-to on how I made the whole part - but I used CNC to make the mesh bracket. If enough are interested in how the whole part was made I'd be glad to put together a "how to". The mesh bracket can be manually machined and doesn't have to be CNC machined.

I gotta say Gerrit your Panther was a huge inspiration to me during my build. Your details, paint and weathering are fantastic. Between you, Steve Norris and Tim Bowman I had a lot of great details to draw on. Thanks guys! This forum was and still is great source for information and inspiration.

Let me know your thoughts on the how-to...

Thanks all for the kind remarks and feedback.
Bob

Stephen White · Post by **Stephen White** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 6:44 am

Yes please Bob - I'll have to something similar for the Pz III. Regards. Stephen

Derek Attree · Post by **Derek Attree** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 2:32 pm

Hi Guys
For those in the UK
The brass mesh I used came from Squires in
bognor regis I posted pictures in my Panther
gallery last year.
I made all the grills for the Panther and have
enough for the Stug / PZIII grills as well.
the sheet cost Â£10 for a 500mm x 300mm sheet.
the part number is on an earlier post in the Panther section.

Hope this helps

Derek

Robert E Morey · Post by **Robert E Morey** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:06 pm

New pictures with the weathering almost done. Probably going over the top with the painting now

but I like the weathered look. Once I start driving it - it will weather itself! The tracks are un-pinned so that I could paint the rear idlers. Still have not decided whether to make the rear storage bins or modify the kit bins

Have one more rear deck mesh screen to make then that project is done!

Jeffrey Goff · Post by **Jeffrey Goff** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:15 pm

Hi Bob its looking very good, with all the work you have put into it, it would be a shame not to do the storage bins,
regards
Jeff

Tim Bowman · Post by **Tim Bowman** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:49 pm

Just outstanding Bob! It looks like a real veteran. You should be very proud of your Panther. I'm with Jeff, you have to do the bins.

Does this mean you'll start on the Tiger now!!!

Kind regards
Tim

Robert E Morey · Post by **Robert E Morey** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 10:08 pm

Guys if I make the bins that will take another 6 months! I'm slow as a snail.

I'm embarrassed to say theres no electronics inside yet either except the main motors. Not even the batteries. I've spent 2 years detailing the outside!

The tiger will have to wait, I gotta get this one rolling first!

I resigned myself a long time ago that I cannot keep up with you Tim!
Bob