Idler Arm

Adrian Harris · Post by **Adrian Harris** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:33 am

Does anyone have any close up pictures of the back of the Panzer III idler arm ?

I'd like to try and better replicate the disk+arm arrangement on the Panzer IIIN at Bovington. I have pictures from the side and above but I don't know how the whole unit attaches to the hull side. From library pictures, I think it's a fairly simple shaft arrangement.

The model has a redundant hole behind the current steel spigot, which I hope to able to use to centre the new mechanism.

Adrian.

Stephen White · Post by **Stephen White** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 12:41 pm

Adrian - forgive me for being thick but do you mean the assembly that holds the idler and the track adjuster or the swing arms for the roadwheels?

I've probably got both but let me know and I'll see what I can send you.

Regards

Stephen

Adrian Harris · Post by **Adrian Harris** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 1:13 pm

Stephen, it's the part which attaches the lower portion of the idler arm to the hull.

On Mark's design this is single arm but on the IIIN, the lower end of the arm is attached to a circular piece, which is itself attached to the hull.

I have a cut-away showing the idler shaft as it passes into the hull, I'd just like to see whether this is just a simple shaft arrangement as view from outside. I'm hoping it is, so I can use a single piece of brass with a shaft passing into the hull.

I have a photo of the piece but PhotoBucket was down for maintenance this morning when I posted the message.

Adrian.

Stephen White · Post by **Stephen White** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 3:58 pm

Adrian

I fear these just miss what you want:

I'll have a look through my references.

Regards

Stephen

Adrian Harris · Post by **Adrian Harris** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:27 pm

Stephen, many thanks for the pictures - between them I think I can make up the parts I require

Very useful. For example, I didn't know there were bolts on the rear face. Whether I bother with those is another matter - it's obviously not a part of the tank which is easy to see

Adrian.

Brian Leach · Post by **Brian Leach** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:31 pm

Adrian,

Maybe these will help also:

Adrian Harris · Post by **Adrian Harris** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 10:14 pm

Perfect Brian

Is that another Panzer III being restored ?

Adrian.

Brian Leach · Post by **Brian Leach** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 2:07 am

Adrian,

I believe so, but for the life of me cannot find the original source. The few pictures I have are invaluable, yet not quite what i wanted.
It looks "german" to me for some reason. it really is a clean restoration.

Tim Bowman · Post by **Tim Bowman** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 4:20 pm

Hi Adrian and Brian

Not 100% sure but pretty darn sure, those photos are of the Littlefield restoration of the Finnish Stug III ausf G.

I can check the numbers on the idler arm.

Best regards
Tim

Idler Arm

Idler Arm

Pics