Trumpeter 1/16 PZ IV 3/14 Changing Gears

[BJ---Rest In Peace]

Well I can say I have officially Started my Kit.
I have decided to do the Nuts and Bolts build on this one instead of a 1/6th scale for now as this thing is Huge compared to what I am use to.

I am going to back date it to a late G-Early H with the Bolted on armor, and just to be different this one will be completely Disassembled to show off the stupidity.

It will be displayed in a garage scene as being restored. This allows me a lot of room for artistic freedom in how things are assembled/disassembled.

Right now I am just getting the hull all prepped and modified by removing all the access plates,adding missing plates, fuel tank covers and a few of the Suspension anti snag/skid plate covers. (Guessing that's what they were for/called)

It was all cut up with the Dremel Finger saw of death. (Just wanted to show of this nasty little tool)

Will have to re-sculpt the lower suspension details once I'm done cleaning off the rest of the fuel plates and rebuilding part of the floor.

My sides of the hull are probably a good 5 degrees out of square so this is going to be fun trying to square it up, and I'm sure removing 1/2 the floor didn't help matters much.

This will be another slow build but now that summer is over with and the shop has slowed down hopefully it will allow me some time to actually do some building.

I'll try not to over load the posts with too many photos, But no promises. Since I am such a picture whore.

[Leon]

Looks like some major surgery there Billie Jean!

I'm sure the patient is in good hands.

[dierk]

Nice project BJ! But I think you should invest in a bigger coin for the size-comparison shot
I don't mind if you can't limit the number of pictures you post - imagine the amount of words you won't need to type if a picture tells 1000 - leaves more time to build as well.

[TRM]

Oh boy...another big one on the go! I love surgery!! Save me a seat down fornt...off to pick up some snacks!!

[wbill76]

Love the whole restoration angle, should make it even more interesting. Pulling up a chair!

[doogsatx/]

Watching this! 1/16 is going to be absolutely massive!

[Tojo72]

Should be a great project.

[Deano]

Big project in a lot of ways , watching with interest 1/16 produces uber detailing .

[BJ---Rest In Peace]

Some Updated Drawings. Can you say fully functional 16th Scale Final Drive.
Will start Machining all the parts this week.. Forget the Printing. Just feel like I'm Cheating.

[dierk]

Wow! Impressive! I suppose you're going to give the engine and transmission fully functional internals too?

[Leon]

WOW!!!!!!Going all out Billie Jean.This is going to be one awesome project.

[TRM]

Some impressive detail BJ! Fine drafting on the gear-works! Too many parts collectively NOT to cheat a little...LOL! Keep it coming!

[wing_nut]

That's some, project ya got going there. Fun!

[deafpanzer]

WOW! This is going to be a big deal. You always have my attention. I have been wondering what happened to your half track... hope it is still on the bench?

[BJ---Rest In Peace]

Well actually started making the parts. The housing is on the mill right now so I started making the internals and I figured from now on I will also do the instructions as I go so I remember how to put all this together.

I laser cut all the gears the Kit will include a lot of laser cut parts (Acrylic and Polystyrene) also as there is no clean up outside of just a little surface sanding and and a crap load of holes to drill to final size. This way I can keep tighter tolerances. I am going to try and break away from the standard direction of casting parts with huge pour blocks as much as possible and start breaking parts down more to simpler assemblies. This will make the kits more challenging but still build-able but you will need to like installing nuts and bolts. These kits will not be for the beginner advance skills will be required. I think I will call them the ASM line. "Advanced Stupidity Modelling"

But no photoetch if I can help it. I like PE, and it has it's place but if I can do it in Polystyrene or resin I will. Easier to work with in my opinion.

The planetary gear is fully functional and the start of the final Main Gear.

Dierk, Actually yes. Started the engine drawing a few weeks ago, May not have the rockers working since I can't harden the camshafts and the transmission internals will be mostly Laser cut gears on rod. Actually very simple once you start breaking it all down. Just having issues finding .1mm ball bearings.

Deaf Panzer. Yes the track is still on the shelf above the bench. I needed a break from it as I caught myself starting to cut corners just to finish it so instead of doing things 1/2 fast I parked it for a bit.
ADHD thing.. Another shiny new model showed up.

[Leon]

WOW.....that is some awesome work Billie Jean!

[BJ---Rest In Peace]

Ok I went a little crazy tonight on my 16th scale PZ IV and decided to scratch build my Planetary gear in brass.
Started off with some .007 shim stock and punched the hole. Then super glued my plastic template to the brass. After about an hour of filing had my shape where I wanted it. Then soldered it the other part with the larger hole to give me the offset, filed for another hour to match.
Next I sliced off tube section and made a jig so I could solder exactly center. I use aluminum since brass and alum won't join. Then did the same thing for the 4 copper bearing guides.
then here is the test fitting of the gears. I just have a jig on the back of it right now as need to make the back tomorrow night.
I was playing with the plastic version and after a little tweaking I have manage to manage to make the full final drive operate just like the real one so this will be a fully functional Panzer IV Final drive, Brakes levers and all.
I have all the rest of the parts machined, Molds made so I will be posting much more over the next few days.
Just need to make the Brake housing and all the major components will be done.

[Leon]

WOW.....Now that is some awesome scratch work Billie Jean!

[TRM]

Well-play BJ!! Loved the gears alone, but the added brass looks fantastic! Really shaping up now!!

[dierk]

I'm starting to develope an love/hate thing for your work - love it for the incredible skills your showing us and hate it for making most of us mere mortals look like rank amateurs. I'm utterly gob-smacked.

[wing_nut]

It's so nice to see there is some one that's sicker than I am. Nice stuff.

[wbill76]

Lovely piece of work for sure! Nice! And no one's sicker than Marc, don't let him tell you otherwise.

[vlpbruce]

Nice work. You've got my attention.

[BJ---Rest In Peace]

Finally done with all the internals for the Final Drive, Right at 40 parts with bearings and a little over 100 once I get done with all the bolts and close to 200 parts once done with the Brake housing and all the controls so times that by 2 and we'll have both sides

Yes this actually does work. Surprised me that it did. but way to easy to break so the final will just be static. (Much easier to build too) I just wanted to see if I could make a working one. I will do a 1/6th or 1/4th scale version one day that will have real bearings and a drive motor as a working Display model on how planetary gears and braking actually worked on these tanks.

The new parts came in on the Generator Saturday so I will be getting them Molded and cast this week and hopefully will have an Auxiliary Generator ready by the weekend.

Now I can start on the complete TRM120 motor breakdown after Thanksgiving.

[S e r z h--Rest In Peace]

Billiejean - Super! Unique work

[Leon]

WOW.....That is some excellent work Billie Jean!

[TRM]

That is amazing BJ!! Such the effort and result! Love the fact it works!! Keep pushing the edge!!

[Tojo72]

Holy crap,that's dome detailing,perhaps I missed it,but are you motorizing this also ?

[BJ---Rest In Peace]

LOL.. No Motorizing,, It wouldn't hold up. The term working is used very loosely here. It rotates like it should and reverses when you stop one of the breaks but the telescoping brass and alum starts to bind. A person could make one to work with a Motor but you would need to use a much tighter tolerance bronze bearings. This is more an exercise in stupidity. I just wanted to see if I could do it.

I eventually plan on making one in 1/6th or 1/4th scale where I can actually use real bearings. Those I plan on selling as a learning/teaching display that will be connected to a DC motor that will have working levers and brakes so a person can push a lever to see how the mechanics and 5 principles of planetary gearing/transmissions work.
I want to do a series of final drives to show the different types. Tiger, Panther, Sherman and so on. Spanning across the ages. Something a little more interactive for the next generation to enjoy as this things in real life are getting harder and harder to find.
Plus for me this is just fun.

[wbill76]

Very cool level of complexity and refinement that you're achieving here BJ! I love the fact that you're attempting stuff to be workable just to see if it's possible. One of the joys of working in 1/16, can't pass it up.