Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

[Phil Woollard]

I can adapt the cupola ones no problem

[Phil Woollard]

Fiddly job these wipers but a very nice addition to the build. The gap under the centre section of the card mount I will fill and bevel, small fixing may also be added. Using the plasticard mount means that you can remove the units as a pair for painting, then finally bonding in place when all is finished.

[Dave Dibb (Armorpax)]

Good system Phil ,

Based on one of your pics the wipers for the gunner are a reverse of the ones supplied. I am sure they can be modded but won't work as is. Might need to do a pair of gunners wipers a pair of drivers.

Cheers

Dave

[Phil Woollard]

I shall look forward to receiving those Dave, many thanks Phil.

[Mark Heaps]

The wiper blade drive shafts on each cupola wiper drive motor could not get out of synch. Any photo or video suggesting such is down to either one shaft has lost all drive ( never experienced this ) or the grub screws securing the blade to the drive shaft have become loose and only occasionally catching on the drive shaft. Simple check was to lift the blades away from the lens and then try to turn one of them. If all was correct there should be a lot of resistance and the other would turn with it. If either turned freely, tighten the grub screws

The drive motors for the wipers on the drivers sight and gunners sight were different items and operated in a different way. I am not sure after all this time if the wiper blades for those were interchangable with those of the cupola wipers.
Mark

[Phil Woollard]

Lots done, having a break from finishing the NBC box. Turret detailing and there's tons of it.

[Phil Woollard]

More turret roof detailing and the nr side kit basket goes on.

[John Clarke]

It's all looking impressive Phil, lots of detail other models can only dream of. I haven't looked too hard at the model cupola and was wondering how easy it is to turn the commanders machine gun hatch/ roof/mount.
It does make you wonder how far a commander could actually turn in his position to actually use the cupola machine gun. 90 degrees off turret front centre maybe? It must have been uncomfortable beyond that even just searching for targets.

[Marco Peter]

On the last pic those antenna-bases look so German!

[Phil Woollard]

Thanks guys, the cupola rotates very easily but I won't be fitting a servo to that, well I had no plans to. The Ali antenna base is indeed German and I will need to fill those flutes in to make it more convincing, the rubber mount is the clansman base from m Armorpax!

[John Clarke]

Thanks Phil for the info on the cupola. I was thinking more of a "servo yacht winch" than just a ordinary servo, You can easily get 2 to 3 360's from servo winch drive output with a considerable hi torque. Add a couple of pulley wheels and a belt, should easily get a 180' total on the hatch/machine gun mount.
When Dave at Armorpax, finishes the Cupola bits, a moving illuminated spot lamp maybe too, then add a super brite LED to the Armortek machine gun sound module output.
Should be during twilight hour driving.

Like a majestic swan, the cupola machine gun and lamp swings round effortlessly. Where in reality the hatch is closed and the commander is frantically working hard below, trying not to put his back out looking for targets, and of course having to deal with all his other duties too.
(You'd only need the models commander head shoulders, head phones and beret just under the hatch) (No dandruff jokes please )

I'm always looking for an easy animated option.

[Phil Woollard]

Nice one John, I've been doing some research today so I can add even more detail to this important area.

[Stephen White]

Is this Chieftain?

No

[Steve Ellis]

Hi Phil
I just happen to have a Commanders Sight sitting on a shelf in my workshop, I can send some pics if you like.

Steve

[Phil Woollard]

Steve that sounds great!