Armortek

Wow looking forward to see how these port covers come out Stephen. Go for it! -Bob

Yes Stephen! I too want to tell you that your work is excellent and very inspiring to this fellow P3 builder! And, I hope you continue to share your amazing work with us all.

This is a bit of a repeat. Having made the Sehklappe mechanism in mild steel, I decided I couldn't get the detail right and opted to re-make them in ally. At least I've been able to get a more accurate shape and mount the frame with cone head bolts to check the external appearance.

Next comes the critical bit of working out the size and shape of the swing arms to get the right movement.







Best regards

Stephen

Stephen,

Everything is looking very good. I think going to follow your methods on the crank cover - you using a 3mm hex for the bolt there?

Jim - happened to be a pair of 7BA that came to hand but an M3 would be fine.

Regards

Stephen

Finally got around to finishing the vision ports - thanks Tim for setting to challenge of getting them working.

Firstly, the swing arms, which follow the full size shape:




This is the full set of parts for one port:



Here, the completed arrangement:



The ports were different. The starboard side was a Sehklappe 30 without vision block (ie a solid cover):








On the port (driver's) side, the port had a vision block. Although I haven't made the block, I did mill the slot, in the correct position below the centre line:




I'm glad I made the effort - even if I can't work out how to open them from the outside.

Regards

Stephen

Hi Stephen,

First of all, first class work on the vision port mechanism. I love the photo of it in the open position. Second of all, I didn't mean it so much as a challenge(as I know you are more then up to the task). It was more of a "We'll now that you mentioned it, you gotta do it" sorta thing.

The end result is superb and I think will add a great level of detail to your Panzer III. I think it's only fitting to bring your upper hull to the same level as you did on the lower hull.

Just beautiful all around! Great inspiration. Looking forward to future photos.

Kind regards
Tim

That's a great looking mechanism Stephen, and a real inspiration for what can be achieved

It adds a whole new dimension to what is quite a simple part on the original kit.

But do you realise you will now need to follow Jeff's lead and build a fully detailed interior

Just joking

Adrian.

Very nice job on the ports Stephen, they look and work great!

Awesome detail.
Bob

Stephen, I'm watching your PIII build from the start. It is just fun to see your work and the final results. I wish my Tiger I is finished to start a PIII and follow your examples in detail.

Perfect work ! My respect - Roland

Hi Stephen
The vision ports look great I would use a servo and
lever arm to open them from inside like a boat rudder or air craft retract on landing gear.

Derek

this is a very enjoyable build to follow,great skill.a must watch!

simon manning

Superb work on a difficult subject in getting the motion right. I also like the suggestion of a servo to open them. If you don't have enough channels on your radio you could use one of the Hunter systems Quassar UHF units to move the ports.

I've now started on the upper hull. I've modified the Armorpax lifting hooks to give them the correct shape and drilled out the cast bolts and replaced them with 7BA drilled and tapped into the deck plates.




At the back end, I've started on the engine intake covers. These were supported with eight brackets per intake cover. So today, the mindless task of milling a batch of 40 blanks. The reward came with assembling the first one seeing the overall effect. The shape of the bottom surface of the cover isn't quite correct on the model, it's flat but on the real thing there are subtle curved lips at the corners. I've debated how to do these and will probably settle for Milliput.











Regards

Stephen

Hi Stephen
That is a neat solution to the armor cover brackets.
Funny I was looking at the same thing yesterday I was looking for
small channel to use but I like this idea much more.
Looking good.

Derek