Pauls 2014 #4 Mid Tiger 1

[Paul McMartin]

Hi All
This is my first post on the forum but have been keenly reading everyone's builds for ages. Last year I reached out to Liam Mahoney as I saw that he was in the same state as me (Queensland Australia), we chatted back and forth and when he said that he was having a drive day (Dec 23) I was keen and drove down (only 1000ks each way ). I met some great people and picked up a boxed 2014 Mid Tiger1. It took about 5 minuets for me to get a call from my wife thinking our bank account had been hacked, so I told her what I had bought, and got a stern "we'll talk about this when you get home" . So, I am officially part of the Armortek family. I wanted a dedicated room to build in so every time I closed the door everything would be as I left it. I've finally finished my room and started my build. I am not a modeler, just a heavy diesel mechanic who loves to build and make things. It may sound silly, but I have read so many threads I feel as I know many of you. I will be relying on everyone's experiences - successes and failures to help me through this exciting time. Seriously, unboxing this was like Christmas as a kid!!

Drive day line up 2023

My first-time driving an Armortek tank

And it begins, unboxing and priming

[Andrew Gaze]

Hi Paul, and welcome to the fold.
I am also in Oz and just started building a Tiger 1, looks like we are at about the same stage in our builds.
I am keen to follow your progress, who knows, I might even do a road trip to catch up with you Queenslanders some time in the future.

Cheers,
Gazey.

[Paul McMartin]

That would be great! I have been following yours, Dales builds. Liam mis having another drive day at the end of July and I am heading down, the more the merrier .

[Andrew Gaze]

Liam did reach out to let me know there was a run day coming up.
I can’t make it this year but will aim to get there next year.
Might even have my Tiger going by then.
I have ordered a set of Panzer III track from Liam so I could pick them up while I’m there

[neil graham]

Its the Aussie Tiger Division!!

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I will be there in July, though without a tank

EDIT: and I refused to tell my wife exactly what I paid until this week.... but she accepts it has provided me many hours of enjoyment (and frustration). One of my friends said it was probably cheaper than playing golf every week for a year!

[Wolfgang Nebart]

Hi Paul
Your tiger is coming along nicely doing a very nice job good to see it getting built finally well done.
RGDS Wolfgang

[John Fitzsimons]

Great work area. Nice to have others in same country with same interest. Enjoy the hobby.

[Paul McMartin]

Thanks John
Keep up the YouTube videos coming, I really enjoy them.
I'm doing a video log of my build so maybe one day I'll put up a YouTube series of it.
I think there can never be enough Armortek videos out there .

Cheers Paul

[Paul McMartin]

Well, some good progress was made this weekend. Disassembled and painted all internal surfaces white. Started on the suspension arms, mine are the old style before the grub screws were fitted. I have decided not to drill and tap them, (I know it might be a mistake, but time will tell). I spent hours sanding and rounding off all the edges, but I think they look better, I cleaned all the threads and used Loctite primer and 277 high strength thread locker. Using some hardwood with an undersized hole drilled between 2 halves in the vice. Tightened by hand as much as possible then used a soft face hammer to get more tension on the threads. I made sure I checked every orientation so that with suspension arms at 30' all the grub screws on the torsion bars were upright and can be accessed easily with Allen key without having to turn suspension arm. I feel I made some good progress, I know it won't always be life this!

All internal sides painted white

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Sanded and rounded the edges

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Primer and a lot of 277 used on threads

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Tightened as much by hand as possible.

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Used soft faced hammer to put tension on the threads

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I think the rounder edges look better

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Reassembled hull and sat suspension arm in bushes

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All suspension shaft grub screws facing upwards.

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[neil graham]

Good idea to use a strong threadlocker on the suspension arms....I made the mistake of following the instructions.

[John Fitzsimons]

Thanks John
Keep up the YouTube videos coming, I really enjoy them.
I'm doing a video log of my build so maybe one day I'll put up a YouTube series of it.
I think there can never be enough Armortek videos out there .

Cheers Paul

Thanks Paul, Videos are taking up a lot of my time. channel is a bit slow to catch on. I'm not a youtube expert but hopefully it will pick up more subscribers and move up the viewing food chain soon. Working on front mudguards at the moment. Trying new method of construction.

Regarding the suspension arms. It's worth drilling through the arms and bolts and pinning to stop them coming loose.

[Paul McMartin]

So, I went to our local aluminium engineering shop today armed with a carton of beer and asked if I could grab some offcuts out of the scrap bin. Their eyes lit up and as I handed over the carton, and with a big smile I got a "hook in mate" and with that, I helped myself . I think I did pretty well out of it, everything from 1mm to 10mm.

[Adrian Harris]

Just

[Dale jordan]

Great pick up Paul . Only in Australia ! The old carton of beer trick .Dale

[neil graham]

This is the most Aussie post....ever!