RODNEY'S 25 PDR LIMBER KIT

Ian Rodney · Post by **Ian Rodney** » Thu Mar 26, 2015 3:58 pm

Hi All,

Thought it was about time to down load some of my pics on the Limber kit.
With adding some of Dave Armorpax upgrades and a few upgrades of my own, + as usual a couple of working drawings I made to go along with the builds, to which the Armortek Kompact kit is turning out to be fun to build so far!
But first a few pics from the very start of my Limber project.

Cheers
Ian

Ian Rodney · Post by **Ian Rodney** » Thu Mar 26, 2015 4:48 pm

Next I continuing on with my Limber build up pics of the main body box like structure adding Dave (Armorpax) upgrades on the sides and ammunitions trays and cartridges, shells etc. Then had a go at improving some new bolts arrangements to the mudguards arms………

More pics on my Limber to follow…...

Cheers Ian

Ian Rodney · Post by **Ian Rodney** » Thu Mar 26, 2015 5:11 pm

……….and next continuing on with my Limber kit….adding the tray.
But after adding Dave's (Armorpax grab handles) and of course all the rivets which was fun!…..
I thought that the Limber tray looked a bit blank and not much details. So after having a closer look at the Limber on the (web-sites) with it's tray, I noticed there was a lot more I could add, so I added more grab handles and more rivets around the edge of the tray.
Also I noticed there was a tie bar running along near the top edge of the limber where a canvas cover is attached. So I made a tie bar to make ready to take a canvas cover which I will come back to at a later stage on my build.

Next the Limber Tow Bar!

Cheers for now
Ian

Ian Rodney · Post by **Ian Rodney** » Thu Mar 26, 2015 5:38 pm

………..Back again with pics of my latest build on the Limber Tow Bar, which I have not finished yet!

Once again I thought that there could be a more upgrade parts I could add to the front of the Tow Eye area.
Which is turning out to be a good old challenge, but so far it seems to be working out quiet well, and hopefully enhance the over all look of the Limber's Tow Eye and Bar.

I did not like the original tow bar handle so made a new one that will replace it and fit into a new arrange set up that I would like to add sitting behind the tow eye. To allow the tow eye it's self to sit out further away from the new upgraded parts, I have shortened the main spring size in length which works well and allows the tow eye to go in and out of the tow bar. I will be adding two more smaller springs that is housed at the front underneath the large handle which can be pressed down to let the tow eye move out at the front. Not sure what the reason is but I'm guessing that it does!

Well that's me up to date with my Limber build. So far so good.

Cheers
Ian

Dave Dibb (Armorpax) · Fri Mar 27, 2015 7:53 pm

Fantastic work Ian, the difficulty for me is knowing where to draw the line between enough detail to make the kit work and too much making it too expensive or too long in coming to the market.

I think we hopefully get the balance about right and give everyone that little bit of extra scope to make the model their own..................as I also seem compelled to do even if the base model is brilliant.

Look forward to seeing this finished. I haven't even got primer on mine yet............

Best regards

Dave

simon_manning · Post by **simon_manning** » Fri Mar 27, 2015 8:24 pm

great attention to detail as always ian, sketches,upgrades all add to the interest, another quality build to follow, regards simon manning.

Ian Rodney · Post by **Ian Rodney** » Sat Mar 28, 2015 12:52 am

Thanks Guys for your nice comments.

Yes Simon I'm enjoying this build on the Limber kit and as usual creating some sketches and upgrades, more to follow some day soon!

And thanks to Dave of (Armorpax) for inspiring me to make more parts to enhance your fine upgrades, on my basic limber kit.

Will be back soon with more challenging parts to make for the Limber.

Cheers for now
Ian

Ian Rodney · Post by **Ian Rodney** » Mon Apr 06, 2015 10:45 am

Hi All….."Happy Easter"

Just back with a few more amended 'final' working drawings that I will be making upgraded parts from, for my Limber Tow Bar.
And hope that some of my drawings are of use to any Limber kit owners who are wanting to add more details along with Dave's (Armorpax) excellent upgrades.

Cheers
Ian

Adrian Harris · Post by **Adrian Harris** » Mon Apr 06, 2015 5:09 pm

Superb pictures Ian

Maybe Gill should get you to add your illustrations to the build manuals for future kits

Adrian.

Ian Rodney · Post by **Ian Rodney** » Mon Apr 06, 2015 6:36 pm

Thanks Adrian,

Yes maybe Gill and Mark could add my illustrations to the build manual for future kits!
But first I would need to get up real close to the real Limber and 25prd gun for example.
To be able to create even better, more accurate drawings. I spend a lot of time studying from the web and from books, also other resources like the pics that Dave of Armorpax had taken too help those who ordered up upgraded parts from him.
There's good resources out there on the 25pdr and Limber.

The rough working drawings I made were created so that I could understand how things work and simplified down to add to my own kits. And I would need to be satisfied that the drawings are accurate before they went to print.

However I would be happy to lend some illustrations to Gill if she wants them to add to their manuals.
Might help Mark to make new upgraded parts for Armortek basic kits.

Maybe there is prizes for illustrations on Armortek kits on OPEN DAY in October!

Anyway glade you like them…..

Cheers
Ian

Ian Rodney · Post by **Ian Rodney** » Fri Apr 17, 2015 8:08 pm

Hi Guys,

Back with a few pics on my slow progress on my Limber Kit.
I've made a start on upgrading some of the parts on the limber tow bar.

Decided to make another spring to add to the existing Kompact main spring which by following my technical drawings.

More upgraded parts to come along soon!

Cheers
Ian

Ian Rodney · Post by **Ian Rodney** » Tue May 05, 2015 11:18 pm

Hi All,

Just a few more progress pics on my Limber Tow Bar!

Cheers
Ian

Marcus Kwa · Post by **Marcus Kwa** » Wed May 06, 2015 8:35 am

Ian,
Just love your drawings! The exploded views are an excellent help!
Equally amazing you make them from photographs, I imagined you made them with the piece in front of you! For my 25 pounder I actually photographed every part of a real example, only to find out at home I missed some part...... Not to mention if you want to draw the part from photographs, amazing!

I assume you make the parts from aluminum, do you glue or solder/braze them together (for example the little tray under the towing eye supporting the two springs, how did you fix the floor plate)?
At the moment I am still working mainly with styrene, but in this scale the styrene parts are sometimes quite fragile. So lately I am switching more and more to aluminum as it is soft enough to work with and is a lot stronger.

Keep em coming!

Regards,

Marcus

Ian Rodney · Post by **Ian Rodney** » Wed May 06, 2015 11:50 am

Hi Marcus,

Thank you for your nice comments on my working drawings for the Limber. And if you think that these drawings help, all the better! But do bare in mind that these are only working drawings I have created and try to make as accrete as possible to the real thing!…but simplified down for the model.

A lot of my time is spent studying photographs and books on the subject matter, for example to be able to create these exploded drawings from photographs, helps me to understand how the parts work and make simple upgrades, that I would like to add to enhance the over all look of the limber or whatever!
In this case of the limber, I don't have close ups of the real thing? like in a local museum to study from and have to rely on good photos to be able to make the parts I want to add. Of course the design of the parts can change if needs be, a case of trail and error, until I'm satisfied!
Also by adding Dave (Armorpax) upgraded parts begins to make it all worth while.

Yes I mostly use aluminium for my upgraded parts which is easy to work with, but sometimes find that filling or drilling aluminium metal, causes files to clog up and having to be very carefully when drilling!

In recent models I have been using Loctite Hybrid Glue which I find strong enough for glueing parts that would not be under stress!... for example the little tray floor plate that supports the two small springs. It's only glued in and a nice tight fit. So the floor plate is not solder, just glued in.

See pic below if your thinking of trying any strong glues, It works for me.
I buy the Loctite Hybrid Glue at Homebase or B&Q.

But of course there are other good glues out there on the market too.

Anyway back to the Limber Tow Bar

Cheers
Ian

Ian Rodney · Post by **Ian Rodney** » Sat May 30, 2015 7:20 pm

Hi All,

At long last I have completed my limber tow bar eye section and created some new technical coloured drawings to match the upgraded working parts I wanted to make to add to Dave's (Armorpax) parts.
And I'm pleased with the overall results, which makes Armortek Kompact kit look like the real thing!

But first the pics then to follow on the drawings.

Cheers
Ian