Some work on Steve Winstones Bosch headlight

[Kent Wiik]

Hi all,

Be ware Kent is back...but please, I come in peace

During my absent here this summer, all spare time has been spent on our house to my wife joy and my own despair…
However, rainy days (and we have had a lot of that) I was able to do some funnier work…

Before I go on I would like to make something very, very clear.
My only reason for posting how I customize things is pure in the interest of pushing this hobby forward, nothing else
I have and has never had any commercial interest, non what so ever and is here in this only to have a de stressing hobby and will keep continue doing so no matter what any one may think.
My posting is strictly from and for the buyers view and might sometimes look hostile to vendors but I mean and will no harm to any one – please, thank you!

I have showed Steve my work and he asked me to keep them for myself but after some heavy and serious thinking + some urged from other fellow hobbyist to post this, I have decided to do so.
I love Steve’s items and I am probably one of his better customers and I think he is one of the absolute finest aftermarket vendors we have in 1:6th.
So, sorry Steve for this posting this but you know how much I love your work and this is only to show others the potential in your outstanding parts – items I really recommend every 1:6th tank owner to have!

The item I am about to show some work on here is his stunning Bosch headlight .
I simply love this item and have 4 of them myself.
This my work is only for the small number of very, very keen rivet counter out there, maybe we are as few as 10 worldwide and the work I have done will not be recognised only a few feet away, but might be of interest to see for every one who has one of Steve’s fine headlights.

A comparison with the real thing reveals some minor things that with limited work can (quite) easily be corrected (mostly done with my best friend Dremel)

-The light slit is to high (3x17mm shall instead be 2x20mm)
-The 6 rivets in front is in wrong place (1,3,5,7,9 and 11 o’clock shall instead be 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 o´clock)
-The 2 drain holes are missing
-A nut placed centre low is missing (this one also hides the electric wire exit – nice touch if I may say so… )
-The left side hole is wrong shaped (to high and narrow)
-There is a gap where the (real) electric cable is entering
-To sharp edges
-The L-shaped rear bracket is to big and the (real) electric cable entrance bolt is to thick

Yes, yes I know!
This is pure madness but boy is this fun…

Here are some photos of the real thing:



And my work:




Hope this was of interest also for you lucky ones waiting for the KT as Steve’s headlight will be within the kit - well done improvement and a nice touch from Gill and Mark.


Cheers
Kent

[Stefan Konitzer]

Hi Kent

As always you are superb at what you do

cheers
stefan

[Pierluigi Patri]

Hi Kent,
very careful work, as usual and invaluable cue too.

[leesellars]

Hello kent

I love Steves headlight as it is.

Lee

[simon_manning]

imagine trying to make the headlights from scratch,let alone giving them the kent treatment,as always perfection and observation kent. i have 5 of steves headlights and i am delighted with them,nice photos.

[Kent Wiik]

Thanks for the kind comments!

2 of my headlights are for Tiger I and some small changes was done to the bracket for them:

- More rounded curve were the horizontal part meet the vertical part bolted onto the glacis plate
- The vertical (triangle shaped) support plate got a more accurate shape
- The bolts was attached to the bracket with nuts (this can sadly only be done on 3 of them but 3 is better then 0)
- The bolts got a less high head
- Welds that hide the electric wire (specially proud of that one... )

Photo of the real thing:



My work:




As you can see have now begun the build on my Late Tiger kit...

Huge photo of one of the headlights can be seen in Stefan Konitzers gallery.
And even bigger here:
http://stefan-k.se/_C-hook.lampa.htm
Thanks Stefan!

Cheers
Kent

[Kent Wiik]

Double posting - Sorry

[Robert E Morey]

Kent,
As always manificent work and keen observations. I'm going to adapt a couple of your changes to my lamp. I love the clever hide of the wire in the bracket - weld line. Great idea and execution! Still thanks to Steve Winstone for a magnificent part to start with!

Bob

[Kent Wiik]

Hi all,

After 20 months absent on this topic it is time to hit the Bosch headlights again .

As Dave at Armorpax begun making a metal version of the Panzerwerk headlight I got the idea to take the best out of two worlds and create a third…
I didn’t like the flat front of Steve’s cover but if replaced with Dave’s it would look so much better my idea was.

Here is a photo taken by Tim Bowman of the Littlefield Panther headlight (thanks Tim).
Please note the rounded / bulged front and also note the quite small and thin rear hook as well as the absent of rivets attaching the lamp to the base.



I suspect this cover is a post war one but for sure made with an old one as template.

Cut away the 3 rivets, cut away the hook and silver solder a new one instead.
Cut away the flat cover front and glue on Dave’s to replace it.



A bit Dremling and JB welding + mild weathering and Kent was pleased.



Please note that I love Steve’s Headlights and as the only working ones on the market I think every tank should have them.
As I believe the Armortek standard now is to have their kits with Steve’s light my writing might be of interest for everyone to see the potential in his item and not that difficult to do.

Now I just have to repeat everything on my other two ones…
Will I ever finish any of my kits...

Cheers
Kent

[Graham Ord]

I'm no expert by any stretch of the imagination but the "hook" looks like a toggle clamp to hold the front part on.

[Fredrik Jorgensen]

Kent you have missed a rivet!
The fastener thats holds the front cover doesent match the original!!! hehe.
And what ive seen i my books there were 2 different types, but depending wich year of manufacture i think.

I hope you understand im kidding.
Man i wich i had your eyes and patience.
Another ace conversion, keep em coming.

Freddie

[Brian Leach]

Hi Kent,

Nice work on your headlight (as usual!)

I was wondering if you know what the socket where the headlight plugs into the base looks like?

I had wondered if it would be practical to make the headlight removable as the original is and maybe even have it still operable.

Thanks for all your excellent work. I like your other wenb sited too.

Brian

[Tim Bowman]

Hi Brian

Hope it's OK if I chime in.

When the head light is removed there is a white-ish(porcelain looking) plug/socket. I have a photo somewhere and will try and find it if Kent can't find one. They were usually removed during combat operations so it would be awesome if you could achieve this.

Best regards
Tim

[Kent Wiik]

Hi Brian,

Thanks for your kind words.
As for the socket I am of little help as I have not seen any clear photo or drawing how the connection was made, sorry

Any how here is a photo of a Panther Ausg G/Tiger I and II Bosch headlight foot.


This is a replica that was for sale on EBay Germany many moons ago.
It seems to lack a hole for incoming electric wire.
There must have been some kind of metal allowing connection between the base and the headlight.
The nut seen in photos earlier in this topic allowed good electric contact between the 2 parts.
Also some kind of cover for the exposed electric parts would be needed when the headlight was removed.

To change it and have it workable divided will be a challenge but probably not impossible...but a challenge...I think…

To be frank even if the manual told the crew to remove the headlight and store it inside the tank when going into battle it was not that common they did so...
Especially later in the war wrecks are often seen with the headlight still in place.

Kind regards

[Brian Leach]

Thanks Tim, Kent;

Yes, please send a picture of the porcelin base. I have seen pictures of the 1/16 T1 and T2 four pin base, but from Kent's pictures (and others) it seems the light is attached via a bolt through the base.

LEDs do not take too much wattage so...

I would like to wire this throught he base if that is a possibility
and make the light removable like the original

That would be cool

and if it was detailed like Kent's ...wow!

Seriously now, I just want to seek the most realistic light possible

Have agood night folks (Yes, I think I will take another one of those beers)

Cheers,

Brian