Panzer '46 - Panther Bridgelayer 1/35 Mk2

buzzbomb · October 29, 2019, 03:20:02 AM

Been a while since I contributed, so as I have the mojo happening

Picked up a Tamiya Panther G.. well most of it. My buddy used the turret and some of the hull top for a Panther Turret pillbox. I got the rest.
So what to do with a Panther with no turret.

One thing I have not seen much of in the Panzer 46 genre is support vehicles, so here with go with a Panther Bridgelayer

Oh look, the top of a M-113 fits

Cobbled together a bridge, I decided that given the exposure to Allied Bridge Layers, the Germans would be a bit more elegant later on

Started on the supports and launching gear. Having to clear how hatches open changed the plan a few times.

Becomes a big sucker

Bridge gear with no bridge. Using the Churchill example of a swing arm, but my minds eye sees more cable launching than hydraulic.

Given the weights and swinging over bits, I thing I will put a spade on the front as well, besides that might look cool as well.
Let's pretend that they fixed some of the drive train issues in '46.

zenrat · October 29, 2019, 03:32:53 AM

Cables = winches.
Do you have some, will you be scratching them or will they be inside armoured boxes and thus hidden from view?

It looks very promising.

Old Wombat · October 29, 2019, 06:36:40 AM

Neat idea, BT!

As I said over on BtS: Perhaps they used the Jagdpanther final drive, which was, apparently, better designed & fixed most of (if not all) the Panther's drive-train issues.

If you're not going hydraulics, might I suggest a chain-drive? Cables & winches for an over-lift system like that would require a launching system & a recovery system (or having to re-run the cables through different pulleys between operations), whereas a chain-drive, like hydraulics, just needs to be reversed.

buzzbomb · October 29, 2019, 10:38:54 PM

Quote from: Old Wombat on October 29, 2019, 06:36:40 AM
If you're not going hydraulics, might I suggest a chain-drive? Cables & winches for an over-lift system like that would require a launching system & a recovery system (or having to re-run the cables through different pulleys between operations), whereas a chain-drive, like hydraulics, just needs to be reversed.

Chain drive you say... hmmm

what you say has some merit as experiments today did reveal the exact issue.
Not really sure why I am spending time on the actual engineering but I suppose, it matters.

When you look at it, the Churchill Bridgelayer design is just brilliant. A single ram, using a double action to launch and recover.

The next racket you will hear is ratting through the spares box to find something.. pretty damn sure I have something just the ticket in there.

Old Wombat · October 29, 2019, 11:53:34 PM

Quote from: buzzbomb on October 29, 2019, 10:38:54 PM
Not really sure why I am spending time on the actual engineering but I suppose, it matters.

Because you just know someone will ask "How do you recover the bridge when you've finished using it?"

zenrat · October 30, 2019, 03:54:22 AM

Quote from: Old Wombat on October 29, 2019, 11:53:34 PM
Quote from: buzzbomb on October 29, 2019, 10:38:54 PM
Not really sure why I am spending time on the actual engineering but I suppose, it matters.

Because you just know someone will ask "How do you recover the bridge when you've finished using it?"

Plus, you want to play with it.

buzzbomb · November 03, 2019, 07:32:41 PM

Ok, most of the plastic mangling is done
Couple of profile shots

Bit of bridge detail and launching arm

oooh look.. chain drive

(worth a try I thought Guy)

Sans Bridge

Bridge in deployment mode.

There are a million engineering reasons why this method would probably not work. Still theoretically it sort of kinda works
Going to display with the bridge in place so a bit moot really.

Got a real Panther cupola coming, the M113 version does not look right.
Next to the paint shop

zenrat · November 04, 2019, 02:40:11 AM

Chain looks a bit undersize to me. But you have to go with what you have so you get a

Nice work on the sides of the bridge.

Old Wombat · November 04, 2019, 05:13:01 AM

NARSES2 · November 04, 2019, 06:34:10 AM

I can't comment on the practicality of the mechanics but it looks neat enough

buzzbomb · November 04, 2019, 02:46:01 PM

Quote from: zenrat on November 04, 2019, 02:40:11 AM
Chain looks a bit undersize to me. But you have to go with what you have so you get a

Fair call, it is the chain drive from the Takom Mk1 Tank.. I might use the other one and double up.
Really cannot use the other side as it would block the drivers vision even further.

This is the worst bit of practical whiffery, it has to be practical, well practicalish.

zenrat · November 05, 2019, 02:21:08 AM

Quote from: buzzbomb on November 04, 2019, 02:46:01 PM
Quote from: zenrat on November 04, 2019, 02:40:11 AM
Chain looks a bit undersize to me. But you have to go with what you have so you get a

Fair call, it is the chain drive from the Takom Mk1 Tank.. I might use the other one and double up.
Really cannot use the other side as it would block the drivers vision even further.

This is the worst bit of practical whiffery, it has to be practical, well practicalish.

If you have another one then putting a second chain and sprocket adjacent to the one there will look like duplex chain.

Captain Canada · December 29, 2019, 03:11:47 PM

Nice work ! Love the profile shots. Lots of bits in this build eh ?!

dumaniac · December 29, 2019, 08:50:06 PM

Great build - even if I only build Luftwaffe 46

buzzbomb · August 25, 2020, 10:14:38 PM

Remember this... finally, finally pulled this off the shelf to finish it. Well, to redo a lot of it an finish it.
Redid all the launch gear to something that vaguely resembles workable

After the paint shop

Talk about a zombie Thread.. this has been going for nigh on 12 months.. off and on. Mostly off.