Jagdpanther Question

[moparmadness]

Howdy friends! What’s this small wheel on the final drive housing used for?

[Tobi]

Other than it's obviously a support roller for the track, I can't tell more, or why the MAN engineers would include this.
I've read several explanation attempts on the internet, but none were satisfying so I won't reproduce them. Should I find something in one of my Panther books I'll let you know.

[vw8243]

Hi
Was this to assist in dragging on the track with a steel cable found on panthers and jagdpanthers?

[moparmadness]

Mar 16, 2024 13:36:15 GMT -5 Tobi said:

Other than it's obviously a support roller for the track, I can't tell more, or why the MAN engineers would include this.
I've read several explanation attempts on the internet, but none were satisfying so I won't reproduce them. Should I find something in one of my Panther books I'll let you know.

Thats kind of what I was thinking too.

[moparmadness]

Mar 16, 2024 15:00:40 GMT -5 vw8243 said:

Hi
Was this to assist in dragging on the track with a steel cable found on panthers and jagdpanthers?

Thats a good point.

[Tobi]

Mar 16, 2024 16:50:48 GMT -5 moparmadness said:

Mar 16, 2024 15:00:40 GMT -5 vw8243 said:

Hi
Was this to assist in dragging on the track with a steel cable found on panthers and jagdpanthers?

Thats a good point.

Well, another piece of guesswork. The others I was not intending to mention are:

i) it's there so sprocket wheel won't throw off the track.
ii) it's there so the track does not hit the bump stop.
iii) it's there so the track won't break the track pin when going reverse.

If one of these is the correct answer... I dunno.

[armornutii]

   I agree with VW, it would make sense to be a capston device to help pull the track. The steel cable is attached to the track and is somewhat heavy, attaching a length of rope to the opposite eye of the steel cable then wrapping around that doohickey could pull the track over the drive sproket where then the transmission could be engaged to finish the pull.

[tcoat]

No way you are wrapping any cables around that. I would think the most basic thought that it helps keep the track aligned and not bouncing  is the most likely. There is more drop from that drive sprocket to the road wheels than most tracked vehicles so I can see how it would need a guide.

[tcoat]

There we go.
Stutzrolle = Support roller.

[moparmadness]

Makes perfect sense due to the distance of the drop. I see it’s rubber lined as well. Thank you for the pic.

[armornutii]

Mar 17, 2024 10:58:51 GMT -5 tcoat said:

No way you are wrapping any cables around that. I would think the most basic thought that it helps keep the track aligned and not bouncing  is the most likely. There is more drop from that drive sprocket to the road wheels than most tracked vehicles so I can see how it would need a guide.

   Yes that does make more sense, thanks for educating.

[tcoat]

Mar 17, 2024 14:11:35 GMT -5 armornutii said:

Mar 17, 2024 10:58:51 GMT -5 tcoat said:

No way you are wrapping any cables around that. I would think the most basic thought that it helps keep the track aligned and not bouncing  is the most likely. There is more drop from that drive sprocket to the road wheels than most tracked vehicles so I can see how it would need a guide.

   Yes that does make more sense, thanks for educating.

I had no clue either just went digging.

[Real G]

By the way, did anyone notice the builder didn't sand away the mold lines on the rubber wheels?

I'll get my coat.



But seriously, I'll have to keep that in mind when sanding the road wheels on my next build!

[tcoat]

Mar 27, 2024 13:08:07 GMT -5 Real G said:

By the way, did anyone notice the builder didn't sand away the mold lines on the rubber wheels?

I'll get my coat.



But seriously, I'll have to keep that in mind when sanding the road wheels on my next build!

Museum tank has museum rubber and paint and bolt/screw heads and clean and colour and wear.

A LOT of museum quality tanks get modeled.

[m1keh]

On the track cable, if you look at the drive sprocket you will see a hole, the hook of the cable went into this hole when the driver engaged the drive sprocket would pull the track back on.

From what I remember the small wheel was to stop the track from "slapping" down and breaking the track pin. Also late war saw this wheel removed and replaced by a steel guide, I can't remember the word I want to use at the moment. I will try and find some pictures.

[m1keh]

This steel shoe replaced the small wheel, this came about at some point with later G models.




Better image.