I realized the bumper numbers were wrong but it was too late and figured I’d embrace the mistake. Thanks for the heads up when I do my next track I’ll be all over the other details.
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Hi gents,
I started work on a couple of leaf spring packs:
These are for the front of the KW 963. There are 12 leaf springs in each pack. I ran a narrow sheet of copper on the top, and formed an eye and inserted aluminum tube bushings. I used metal for the top because the model will be heavy and I don’t want the springs to sag, and by integrating the eye in the metal, it will stay where I want it (aligned correctly), and be able to take some abuse as the installation goes together.
I thought about using brass for the leaf springs, which I’ve done before - but only 6 per pack, which was a lot of work and harder than you might think to get all the centering pin holes aligned. I didn’t like the idea of drilling out 24 brass bars with a #72 bit! And, the scale thickness of the evergreen is closer to real, than what I could find with brass.
There is pin through the center used to keep the pack aligned, and to keep it centered on the axle, and a plate on top which will serve as a u bolt carrier.
Cheers
Nick
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I made a Panzer III/IV tread maker for diorama bases:
Spaced apart as on the actual kits so I just have to roll it across whatever my surface is instead of pressing the model itself into the ground work.
Have to see if I have enough spares/drive wheel spares for the other panzer types but after building 28 Pz III/IV chassis I definitely had a starting point for this project.
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That is simple genius!
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I’m very delight with the several LifeColor sets I use too
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Great idea ! I have made stamps in the past for the same purpose but your system is better as it allows for control of track spacing .
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WIP 
Hi gents,
Pleased to report that my giant tires arrived from Blast Models today. They’re 3" in diameter, which represents a 73" diameter tire in 1/24. The truck I’m building is a 6x6, and I want to have posable steering, which when coupled with those tires, requires a lot of adaptation of all parts. The wheel hub/planetary in the front includes brass and alu tubing, evergreen, and parts from 1/25 and 1/35 wheels, naturally mounted to a 1/16 scale wheel!
For scale, the tire on the left is from a 1/25 Kenworth kit. The axle is from KFS and is pretty nice, but, it’s too narrow as is, so I’m going to cut off the knuckles in the center of the areas marked by the red boxes, and add 1/4" to each side, which will get my overall width to 5 1/2" to match the real life 132". Once that is done, the axle will get a lot of work. The leaf springs are only dryfit.
On we go!
cheers
Nick
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That paint scheme rocks!! 
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Today I worked on a shelf queen a bit: AFV Club 1/35 Wiesel MK20A1.
Also worked on some 1/72 Aircraft Weapons.
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Hull went together nicely without any surprises.
Textured edges of armor plates & added weld seams.
Nose before weld texture…
…after
Added zimmerit to turret.
Thinking this will be fun to paint, especially with some RAL 8012 red oxide where the zimmerit chipped or torn out.
The 70’s vintage Tamiya Tiger 1 project is fun again, with the sprockets wrapped.
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Finished a figure and almost done with a gundpla kit for 2 campaigns. Started up 3 more 28mm minis and primed a bunch of small stuff for wargames.
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That is one nice spring pack. The rebound clamps look amazing.
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Nice Mäander camo, Mike! 
Difficult to paint on, even with a bush. I know guys who airbrush Mäander even on 1/72 aircraft … 
Would be impossible for me.
Greetings from 
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@ Torsten (BlackWidow). Thank you!
I’m using a ‘Montana Cans Montana Acrylic Empty, 0.7mm Paint Marker.’ with a modified nib (widened to 2mm). It’s been sloppy going, so I’ll need to do a fair amount of touch-up later on.
—mike …
…
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Just built a small brick/window section for tests. Was inspired by Uncle Night Shift’s recent video; the bricks and backdrop are made from foam core board, and the window from plasticard. The bricks are coated in Tamiya grey putty. I’ll add mortar later. Will hopefully paint this soon!
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