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Just wondering why Armortek went down the path of resilient wheels ? Was it because with the Covid alloy round bar was in short supply . Plus a lot less machining and waste per wheel of material . Stamping the steel outer rim is quicker .. Dale

I'm missing the complete picture here.... Resilient wheels? Virus Alloy round bar? I know what resilient wheels are but
which model is this in reference to (if not a King Tiger or Jagdtiger)?

Not trying to be a wiseguy or troublesome but the subject caught my eye.

Jerry

Your question applies specifically to the King Tiger and Jagdtiger - which in real life both have resilient wheels.
Previously we simulated resilient wheels by turning the parts out of Aluminium. This time we changes to pressed steel as they are more true to real life.

Both models were made prior to Covid, so material availability was not a factor in our change - it was done to make the kit even more realistic..

Same thing with the new Panther wheels that we are doing.

I believe only the 2019 KT and the JT had the steel resilient wheels.

Next Panther will have steel wheels but they are just dished and not the sandwiched resilient style.

Maybe Armortek was trying to make the kits more authentic by making the wheels the same way as the originals ?

Aluminium prices went through the roof but the 2019 KT predates the pandemic and Ukraine invasion, so I don't think cost was a factor.

Jerry, I'm guessing "virus" was an autocorrect of various. It would be interesting to know if the old style wheels were made from round bar, or milled from flat plate. I would have thought parting off bar that diameter would be tricky, unless they came from the supplier as pre-cut blanks.

How's that for a post chock full of speculation

Adrian.

Good answer . Just wondering as my early KT had the solid alloy wheels which where great ... but I'm looking forward to see how the new resilient
look ... Dale

Adrian Harris wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 05, 2022 10:59 am

I believe only the 2019 KT and the JT had the steel resilient wheels.

Next Panther will have steel wheels but they are just dished and not the sandwiched resilient style.

Maybe Armortek was trying to make the kits more authentic by making the wheels the same way as the originals ?

Aluminium prices went through the roof but the 2019 KT predates the pandemic and Ukraine invasion, so I don't think cost was a factor.

Jerry, I'm guessing "virus" was an autocorrect of various. It would be interesting to know if the old style wheels were made from round bar, or milled from flat plate. I would have thought parting off bar that diameter would be tricky, unless they came from the supplier as pre-cut blanks.

How's that for a post chock full of speculation

Adrian.

Yeah I thought about auto correct after I wrote the note, I have a love/hate relationship with auto correct.... Sadly most of my own mistakes and typos I can do on my own...

I've used my share of aluminium over the years surely, I must have more than 700kg (plate, bar, sheet, tubing, ingots, etc) at home (I once purchased a carload of used 12mm plate from IBM and saved all their used castings -long story). Some of you might know I do my own foundry work.

Every so often when I look at my pile o' tanks, my aluminium tanks, I think to when during the time of Napoleon the metal was more precious than gold...and his most honored guests were served on aluminium dinnerware and our Washington monument is capped with it.

I'm waiting for the right time to jump into my own KT and JT kits. Namely when I know I can manhandle the beasts

Jerry