Photos added to gallery

Colin Richards · Post by **Colin Richards** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 7:44 pm

Just added an album in the gallery section showing photos of the half track build so far.

Dale jordan · Post by **Dale jordan** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 8:36 pm

Outstanding workmanship Colin . It's nice to see some more half track builds comming togerther . keep up the good work and post more photos . Dale

Colin Richards · Post by **Colin Richards** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 9:16 pm

Thanks Dale, now I've got the hang of posting photos I'll add some more tomorrow

Jeffrey Goff · Post by **Jeffrey Goff** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 2:51 pm

Hi Colin the halftrack is looking great, you have put in some hard work, I started to look at your pictures this morning, but they seem to have vanished, I can not wait to see some more

regards
Jeff

Colin Richards · Post by **Colin Richards** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:22 pm

Hi Jeff

unfortunately I pressed the wrong button and managed to delete the album. Gill is on the case and have just re-registered, hopefully I'll start again tonight and upload the photos again.

Colin

Jeffrey Goff · Post by **Jeffrey Goff** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 6:27 pm

Hi Colin, I know the problem, I have just bought a new computer, nothing wrong with the old one, but you have to have all the toys, this one uses Vista 64, and since it arrived all I have tried to do is set up a network with the old one, 1 wireless router, 1 switched hub, and 1 cable router later, I still can not connect both machines to the internet at the same time, the only good bit is that I realised that the pictures on my gallery are one year out, as I did not alter the date on my camera, I am impressed with your build, how long did it take to cut the rear door opening?

regards
Jeff

Colin Richards · Post by **Colin Richards** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:26 pm

Jeff, I'm now back up and running and have just completed my upload.

The rear bottom door is only a dummy, I thought the aluminium was too thick to tackle by hand. If the aluminium had been thinner I might have tacked it? How long did it take you, and how did you tackle the job.
I messed up the original hinges for the upper doors and kindly got some replacements from Gill and had sufficient left over to use on the bottom door. The aluminium dummy door is held in place by superglue and the rivetts which penetrate into the bodywork are glued into place with superglue.

All the door handles have been hand made using a 3mm hex head bolt soldered to a piece of brass flat bar and shaped by dremmel and file. These go straight through the body/door and are fixed in position by nut on the rear. All other door furniture is made from brass and hand finished.

Jeffrey Goff · Post by **Jeffrey Goff** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:43 pm

Hi Colin, you have been busy, you will have yours on the road before me, love the rivet work, and the door chains, I foumd the easiest way to cover them was a thin piece of leather, with Evo-Stick and just roll it on and cut off the waste, as for the rear door, I marked it out, and then drilled 1/4 inch holes as close together as I could, then using a hacksaw blade, not the junior type, cut between the holes, and then filed it smooth, it took about 2 hours, and I think it was worth the effort, are you going to add the sound card.

regards
Jeff

Colin Richards · Post by **Colin Richards** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 7:22 pm

Hi Jeff
thanks for the suggestion on the chain covers, I'll give it a go, I was thinking of getting some of the heat shrink material (for sealing electrical joints) and spraying it an appropriate colour as the original colours are either white of bright. Your idea is a lot better.
With respect to the sound, I'm not going to bother, I have the sound option on my Tiger but don't use it too often, I keep losing the signal and I find it infuriating when the signal goes and the system goes in to its shut down mode.
Have you started on your 88 yet or still working on the half track. I guess you can't have much more work to do on it?
It's a shame there arn't more owners posting on the gallery. It's a good place to get ideas especially when you get stuck on an idea and don't know how to overcome it.
I'm still pondering about the lights.
Colin

Jeffrey Goff · Post by **Jeffrey Goff** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:06 pm

Hi Colin, the 88 is already made, but I will customise it, and will add a lot more detail, I will pair it with the halftrack, this I have not even looked at for a week, there are still things to do, I made the boxes for the indicators, but have not put in the arms yet, or the exhaust pipe, the side screens need to be altered, all the painting and camo needs finishing; well the shortest day has gone, and the day are now getting longer.
anyway you have a great Christmas, we have already got our toys,
but I wonder if santa is getting me a Jagdpanther

regards
Jeff

Yves Maurice · Post by **Yves Maurice** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 12:55 am

Hi Colin!
Regarding to the shame about posting something on he SDKFZ7 , I agree with you ...

I have the last tiger to built and I bought the sdkfz 7 with the 88 flak and the 222 recently and I 'm working on the 222 now ( same "problem"no lots of post! ) ..... I really wonder how many kits are sold and perhaps it will be good to learn some tips from other buiders!!
Jeff and Vince only reply to me ( thanks again !) but Ican't belive there is only 3 222 and no more sdkfz 7 sold to this day!...
For the sdkfz 7 , I'm sorry but this is hard to me to advise something as I have just check all the parts and not starting the kit!...

I have just one question if somebody had starting the 88; is there is no problem to screw all the parts of the canon ? As i' ve just try it when checking the parts, It seem to be hard...Let me know about this...
Hope to have more reply!!...
Merry Christmas to all of you and congratulations about your work on the sdkfz 7 Colin!..
Yves

Post by **Armortek** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 8:52 am

Hello Yves

Although we have many customers who take part in the forum, I know of many who are not very keen on computers and quite a few who do not even have one! I always try to tell people about the forum and the benefits it brings, but computers are still very scary things to some people

Gill

Colin Richards · Post by **Colin Richards** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 9:34 am

Hello Yves

Many thanks for your kind words. I have built a Tiger early variant and the half track to date.
My favourite has been the half track as there has been greater opportunity to scratch built a lot of smaller detail parts and I love the look of the vehicle.
I have only seen 3 88's in the flesh apart from the Armortek original. If you look in the archive you may be able to get some of the answers you are looking for.
Mark and Gill are both great at answering questions no matter how detailed they are. Another avenue is to talk to Lee Sellars of Newthorpe Models, Lee builds Armortek models for customers who do not have the time or space to build their own, his advise is also good.
Hope you will use the Forum as your Half track build goes forward. I wish I had posted some photos earlier. I guess I'm lazy but If I can be of any assistance I will be.
I certainly got a lot of inspiration from Vince Abbots posts in the early days and use his web site a lot. He has a useful collection of photos which are invaluable.
I have also got a lot of good ideas from Jeff's pictures in the gallery. he has done a superb job on his half track. I saw it before Jeff bought it ans cannot believe the improvements that he has made, he's a verty talented builder.
Best of Luck and seasons greetings for you and your family.
Colin

Allan Richards · Post by **Allan Richards** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 12:11 pm

Colin,

A superb model, with a lot of effort put into the detail. These half tracks have a lot of scope for adding detail compered to the tanks, as everything is on display. Keep up the good work.

Yves Maurice · Post by **Yves Maurice** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 12:50 pm

Thanks you all for kindness replies!...I will post pictures as soon as my works will be a little more advancing...
Excuse me for my poor english!..
Season' s greetings for all!
Yves