Steve,s Panther build

Luca Fossa · Post by **Luca Fossa** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 5:30 pm

Great work Steve, my best compliment

cheers

Luca

Pierluigi Patri · Post by **Pierluigi Patri** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 9:29 pm

Wonderful work, Steve

Kent Wiik · Post by **Kent Wiik** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 1:14 pm

Steve Norris wrote: Kent,
There is a 4mm gap between the swing arm and hull side

Thanks Steve, much appreciated.
4mm that will do so now another one to the "must have list"...

Another question now when I look at the photo I posted above.
This new release Panther kit does it have the hull bottom plate divided with a thicker one at the front? (as I believe the KT kit had looking at builders photos).
I have been told it is now made of aluminium and that sounds good.

Reason for asking is that I am putting up a list of upgrading parts for my own build to order from Gill.

Thanks in advance.

Kind regards
Kent

Steve Norris · Post by **Steve Norris** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 2:34 pm

Hi Kent.
After a trail fit of the Anschlagbock i have come to the conclusion that the set up i have does not give enough clearance between the bolt heads and swing arm, the bolt heads protrude almost 1mm and just touch the swing arm. After a rethink i am going to drill all the bolt positions 11/32" through the plate to simulate the counterbores then attach the plate to the hull side using 3x M3 csk bolts which will be filled so that they will not be visable. The bolts will then be fitted into the drilled holes.
I will post some photos soon to show what i have done.

The Hull bottom plate is indeed ally, but just 1 piece without any step.

Regards

Steve

Kent Wiik · Post by **Kent Wiik** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 3:10 pm

Steve Norris wrote:The Hull bottom plate is indeed ally, but just 1 piece without any step.

Thanks!
Ok, no problem I have to go for plan B instead.

I think I got the picture and believe the csk bolts will be the way to go.
Has a good photo of the Houffalize Panther from Sven Strobbe that I think he wants for everyone to see.
Might give a hint how this one looked, please note how the bolt heads are "sunken" into the holes.

The "tube" left/high has nothing to do with a real Panther itâ€™s just to get wheels on this display relic.

Kind regards
Kent

Steve Norris · Post by **Steve Norris** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 11:36 pm

A little update on the Ansclagbock.
The first shot shows the dummy attachment bolts in position, 2 more bolts fit forward of these but because of the position of one of the torsion bar block attachment screws it was not possible to drill and tap at that position. Also shown are 3 predrilled and tapped holes for attaching the Anschlagbock plate.

The next shot shows the Anschlagbock plate installed using 3 M3 csk bolts.

The next shot shows the final appearance of the Ansclagbock with the mounting screws filled and the 2 dummy bolts glued in place

The final shot is for Kent showing the inside face of the Ansclagbock with the mount bolts retained by lock tabs

More to come

Steve

Kent Wiik · Post by **Kent Wiik** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 8:23 am

Nice Steve, super work!

Spot on with the bends at the lock tabs and everything else.
Good inspiration, thanks.

Kind regards
Kent

Steve Norris · Post by **Steve Norris** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 8:47 pm

The next bits !
The hull sides have covers over internal suspension fittings so instead of cutting these individualy from sheet metal i decided to see if i could cast them.

This was the result.

After an evenings casting i had the 16 i needed.

A bit of clean up and primer and almost ready to fit

A bit of carefull marking out and drilling and the hull sides look like a seive.

Covers fitted, looking a lot better.

Finally a couple of closer shots showing the covers and additional bolts and fittings.

A very pleasing result but unfortunatly not a lot will be visable with the wheels on, But at least i know its there.

Regards

Steve

Adrian Harris · Post by **Adrian Harris** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:38 pm

Great looking parts Steve - were they dificult to cast ?

I'm surprised you appear to have done them vertically - but I suppose that stops you getting the dropped soufflÃ© effect if they were flat ?

Adrian.

simon_manning · Post by **simon_manning** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:49 pm

a master class in detail i knew it would be done, i like it , i might go for this level now i've seen the result, superb steve, regards simon.

Brian Leach · Post by **Brian Leach** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:33 am

Steve,

This is an excellent build. The detail!

Now you need to cast some brass Swingarms for the suspension!

Hey, thanks for sharing, good job!

Brian

Paul Morris · Post by **Paul Morris** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:24 am

Hi Steve.

Looking really good mate, you set the bar pretty high with your first Panther but this is going to beat it. Good stuff!

Cheers Paul

David Gray · Post by **David Gray** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:25 pm

exellent detail Steve , didnt realise there was so much on the
Panther

Dave Gray

Steve Norris · Post by **Steve Norris** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:45 pm

Hi Gents.
Thanks for all the positive comments.

Adrian, I spent quite a while thinking how best to produce the covers as i did not fancy cutting out 16 from sheet metal. Casting was the easiest way for me to produce these and after some thought i went for the method shown as i guessed it would produce parts with the least clean up to do. I was very pleased with results as they were all nice and flat with just the casting sprues and acouple of lumps and bumps to clean up.

Back to my next casting job

Steve

John Fitzsimons · Post by **John Fitzsimons** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:47 pm

Nice castings. Love the details going in there. Did a lot of casting myself in the past. Hope I can add something of my own to my tiger.
This is going to be an amazing build. Well done.