My Stug conversion

Derek Attree · Post by **Derek Attree** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 7:39 am

Hi Guys
Well I have made a small start on my Stug conversion.

These pictures show the plates going together for fit.

The plates left high and proud to be milled to size after the angles and fit
are to my liking.

Angle plate being used to get rear plate vertical.

I am trying to keep to the Armortek way of doing things next will be a floor plate to keep the box square.
I will post more pictures later in the week I have now finished the floor plate and machined the top and base to square and hight.

Regards

Derek

Adrian Harris · Post by **Adrian Harris** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 8:32 am

That's an impressive looking build Derek.

And an even more impressive looking mill

Adrian.

Tim Bowman · Post by **Tim Bowman** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 4:28 pm

Hi Derek

Nice to see another Stug III taking shape!

I will be watching your build with much interest. It does look like your parts could have come from Armortek.

Great work Derek as usual.

kind regards
Tim

Allan Richards · Post by **Allan Richards** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 5:09 pm

I can see that this is going to be a stunning build. Please keep the photos coming. As has been said the parts look like they came from Armortek.

Robert E Morey · Post by **Robert E Morey** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 5:35 pm

Derek,
Awesome job on the Stug parts. Makes me want to run out to my mill and whip something up! Great design too - the interlocking plates will be stout. Keep us posted on your progress. I'm sure your Stug conversion will be every bit as fantastic as your Panther build.
Bob

Derek Attree · Post by **Derek Attree** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:27 am

Hi Guys
Thanks for the comments the base plate is a nice tight fit and keeps everything nice and square.
It also gives a nice surface to clamp down to on the mill.
The mill is in my shop at work and I used it out of hours as the plates were to big for the lathe /mill combo I have in my home shop.
I have now milled the top angles to size this was done as an assembled box so everything lines up real nice.
The next stage is to sort out the roof, I have made card templates first to get the fit and I will cut the roof when I have the 2 mm steel sheet I need.
I will then do the front extensions and cut the big square hole for the gun mount.
More pictures to follow tomorrow.

Regards

Derek

Derek Attree · Post by **Derek Attree** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 2:20 pm

Hi Guys
As promised a few more pictures.

The finished base plate.

The base plate fitted and clamped down to mill top angles.

The roof templates being fitted.

Roof templates side on.

IT FITS....

Good side view.

Rear side angle view.

Top view
Regards

Derek

Dale jordan · Post by **Dale jordan** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:00 pm

Fantastic work Derek .. I'm looking foward to the next stage ...It goes to show that Mark with his Machines at Armortek could handle a stug with ease !!!! ... Dale

Derek Attree · Post by **Derek Attree** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 7:46 am

Hi Dale
The angles on this beast are a pain to work out !!! but its great fun.
I have also made a form tool and I am machining the faces of the wheel's
and I will post details next week of the tool and the results,

Derek

Robert E Morey · Post by **Robert E Morey** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 3:00 am

Derek,
Really nice work, well done. You will be making tanks from scratch in no time I can see it coming....
Bob

Allan Richards · Post by **Allan Richards** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 5:42 pm

This is coming along really well. I look fwd to the develoments.

Derek Attree · Post by **Derek Attree** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 6:19 pm

Hi Guys
As prommised a couple of photos of my converted wheel faces
after turning. I have to add the welds and I will post pictures of the tool I made next week.

It took 3 hours to machine all 28 wheel.

Regards

Derek

Tim Bowman · Post by **Tim Bowman** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 6:24 pm

Hi Derek

"It took 3 hours to machine all 28 wheel. "

and worth every minute. The result is excellent. Keep up the inspirational work!

Tim

Robert E Morey · Post by **Robert E Morey** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 2:07 am

Derek,
I had to go back to other threads to see what the original wheels looked like. Thats a big improvement. Your machining is excellent, no chatter marks. 3 hours for a job like that isn't bad really. Fine job!
Bob

Stephen White · Post by **Stephen White** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:52 am

Derek

Wonderful - thanks. However much accurate detail can be included in a scale model, the overall effect still depends on a characature - picking out characteristics which form the image. When tank crews are taught vehicle recognition, the lessons identify key recognition features peculiar to the subject. I'd suggest for the Pz III that the line of the catwalks and the shape of the roadwheels are important and you've captured the latter so well. Hope these pics of the Bovington Pz III help with the detailing. I'd love to see the form tool - I don't have a lathe yet but planning permission has been applied for........

Regards

Stephen