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The rear plate on this Panzer IV has suffered quite badly from rust during storage.
I could probably clean it up but it would be pretty pitted, so I've had some replacement parts water-jet cut from aluminium:
I filed a 45 degree chamfer on the parts, to make a groove to retain the Durafix aluminium rod once molten, then clamped them into position, with a piece of square steel to hold everything true and to retain the heat, as the workshop was at about 5 degrees

Once the part was fixed I filed off the bulk of the overfill and then finished on the Proxxon disc sander to get a nice flat and true finish.
Here's the two parts together:
All that's left is to drill the mounting holes and some clearance holes for the idler fillet mounting bolts.

The steel part weighs 850g, whereas the aluminium one weighs just 307g, so over half a kilo of weight saved in just one piece.

Adrian.

Nice Work Adrian,
Looks like the Durafix works well. I have yet to try it. I didn't know you had a PZ4. Good to see.
Best regards,
Bob

> Looks like the Durafix works well. I have yet to try it.

I can definitely recommend it as a fastener free method of joining aluminium.

With chamfers on both sides, to create a V shaped canal to retain the molten rod, it's really easy to build up the joint so there's the minimum amount to file back, plus there's no build-up on the inside, so you get a very clean finish. I gave it a tug once it had been filed back and there's no give in it at all.

> I didn't know you had a PZ4.

It wasn't part of the plan but I took a punt at the Open Day

It's a bit of a mixture of old and new kit, so I'll probably be making quite a few replacement bits for it, especially like this one where the steel has rusted from being in storage for so long.

I'd like to make it into an F1 / F2 hybrid, so I can change turrets between the long and short barrelled guns, but that relies on me being able to make the necessary bends and curves

I'd really need to use same idlers as Günter did for his F1 but I can't get Jürgen to understand his website doesn't seem to be set up to permit ordering from mainland UK.

Adrian.

Adrian you have a pm.

Thanks Peter - now replied.

Adrian.