8.8 43/41 tank gun

[Larry Bates]

Hi all ,

Since James has posted in his vbench just about all the various versions of the 88 available except one , I thought I would post mine. Here are a couple of in progress shots of my 8.8 cm pak 43/41 .

This is the AFV Club kit.

[Larry Bates]

do I have to add a new post for each photo?

Here is the next one. This is a close up of the wheel/suspension assembly. It was a bit tricky as the instructions are not real clear as to how to assemble it for towing. I finally figured it out when I discovered that the photos they show are upside down. :lol:

[Larry Bates]

These next three photos will be of different angle of the breech block and gun assembly.

[Larry Bates]

As you can see, I have used James's technique of using Mr. Surfacer (1000 here) to fill the seams.

Another breech block photo and various details.

[Larry Bates]

The biggest problem I had was with knowing how much to cut off of the rubber dust covers for the hydraulic dampers to raise and lower the gun. In the towed position, which I am doing, you don't know, until you get to the step where you attach the front plate with the shovel and the a frame thing, how much you need to raise the gun. The gun actually rests on the A frame thing with a hand wheel attached to it.

[Larry Bates]

Apparently I need to add some graphics to the pics to help explain what I'm talking about. :angry:

This photo shows the A frame thing with the hand wheel. It supports the gun tube when in transit. When in the firing position it is horizontal with the rest of this assembly.

[James Tainton]

Originally posted by Larry Bates@Oct 18 2005, 07:41 PM
do I have to add a new post for each photo?

Here is the next one. This is a close up of the wheel/suspension assembly. It was a bit tricky as the instructions are not real clear as to how to assemble it for towing. I finally figured it out when I discovered that the photos they show are upside down. :lol:
no you have a chance to add five or six? pics in one post- you'll get use to it after awhile- you can edit do links- it's an excellent interface- better than any thing ELSE out there bar none. Your post are yours and you can do what you like when you like. (I wish it had a spell check though :lol: )
Check with Gordy-he'll set you up with a vBench if you want one. Welcome aboard and keep the information interaction coming.

[James Tainton]

Originally posted by Larry Bates@Oct 18 2005, 07:48 PM
As you can see, I have used James's technique of using Mr. Surfacer (1000 here) to fill the seams.

Another breech block photo and various details.
for seams and stuff where filling is needed I would use a thicker version-Mr. Surfacer 500 as there is shrinkage with this product. ;) 1000/1200 are more appropriate to use in the airbrush after being thinned down with laquer thinner.

[Larry Bates]

Hi James,

Thanks. Does a v Bench cost anything?
I'm actually having alot of fun doing this. I've been inspired by your own posts. Anything new happening?

Larry

[James Tainton]

Originally posted by Larry Bates@Oct 18 2005, 08:01 PM
Hi James,

Thanks. Does a v Bench cost anything?
I'm actually having alot of fun doing this. I've been inspired by your own posts. Anything new happening?

Larry
no-costs nothing at all.-for me- I'm working at a money/day job most of the time these days- although I am working on the Trumpeter FAMO of late. I gotta go jump in the tub- just got in and am going listen to the Van. Canucks play the Chicago Black Hawks on the radio.

[James Tainton]

BTW I find images of 700 pixels across and with a file size from 45 to 100 kgs to be the best size for posting. Allows veiwers to see details without running the edges off the page and not to big for band-width. ;)

[Larry Bates]

Cool, I'm just learning how to use this DG. It's alot friendlier than most. I love that you can go back and edit after posting. I'm definitly going to ask Gordy for a vBench. It's jus t too much fun. :) :thumb:

My compression program doesn't give me too much leeway in the size, and since it says photos are limited in size to 50 kbs I have to go with this size for now, until I learn more about what Im doing.

Here's the next pic. The armour sheild, with the only after market set I purchased for this model, the brass bolts. This set is really nice as it allows you to do the 88 as well as the 75mm pak. The bolts are soldered on.

[James Tainton]

well file size is good- but can't you use some photoshop/illustrator whatever program to resize the photos? Also maybe check out kitpic for hosting your images? BTW I have two of these kits and I'll be interested in watching your progress!+ ;)

[Larry Bates]

James ,

I know what you mean about the money. I work for myself as an architectural Illustrator. This years been a little slow and have just put mos t time and money into a new house. ;)

[James Tainton]

another thing I do is bookmark to the forum page and then in the upper right where it says veiw new posts I can just click on that and see since the last time I logged out/on and visited what new post are there without having to search through all the categories.

[Larry Bates]

James,

Right now I don;t have Photoshop or anything that good , just using microsoft photo viewer, or whatever its called. I need to get a new version for this PC. Had photoshop in my old PC, miss it. :(
Ok, just about finished ........

[Larry Bates]

Man I need to learn how to use quotes! :lol: It's obvious I've mastered the smiley faces! :lol: :lol:

I'm waiting on buying an sdkfz 7 to tow this sucker behind. BTW, I would use Mr. Surfacer 500 If I had some....lol.

[James Tainton]

hit the quote reply button. (over on the right here)-------------------------------------------------------->

[Larry Bates]

These last pics are showing the blade assemblies at the end of the arms(?). If you are going to show this gun in the set up ,or firing position, you will need to do a little triming on the blades bent arms, as in between the two arms ( two for each blade) as they fit around a bit when folded back to the position they would be in to fire. Is this making sense? It should, if you have this model and have the instructions to go by. I'll try to post some instruction photos to go along with these.

[Larry Bates]

Originally posted by panzerfaust@Oct 18 2005, 09:29 PM
hit the quote reply button. (over on the right here)-------------------------------------------------------->
like this?


He he, learn something new everyday :)

cool, thanks. Ok, last pic I think.....This is the grouping of all the sub assemblies as they now stand. The next part will be to put the six rods in place to hold the armour shield in place.

[Larry Bates]

BTW, anyone have pics of one of these being towed? Pretty rare from what I've gathered.

Alright , out for now. GO CANUCKS! :thumb:

Thanks for all the help James.

Larry

[Evan August]

Looking good so far Larry! keep the pics coming and be sure to get a V bench!

[Larry Bates]

Thanks Evan, I'm just about to go and contact Gordy and ask him. :)

[Larry Bates]

Here is the instruction sheet step 3. I glued in part E 36 when I should have left it loose so the gun could be moved up and down when this step was complete. Also, pay attention to where part E27 goes, as the instructions would have you believe it goes on the opposite side of where it really goes. Dry fitting here is a must.

[Larry Bates]

Next up is step 4. Here is where I would deviate from the instruction sequence a bit. Parts E8 and E9 make up one hydraulic leg, there are of course, one each side.

Don't glue, as I did, parts E28 and E29 to the hydraulic legs yet as you don't know what length the bottom part rubber boot should be yet and the angle of the hydraulic legs, or tubes changes as you slide the gun up and down. This will become apparant to you after you glue it all and come to attach it to the base!

[Larry Bates]

This is obviously steps 13 and 14, in the bottom of step 14 lower right hand corner, you'll see an arrow that looks ribbony, and a little box which shows snippers. This is where you'll have to do a bit of surgery if you want to show the cannon in the firing position.

[Larry Bates]

This page is where you start to say what the? It does not show very well how the configuration should be for transporting. If you look at my orange arrows it shows where the A frame thing part A26, attaches to the bottom of the gun while in the transport mode. Also, that two part plate armour thing a majig with the shovel on it, folds to a 90 degree when in the transport mode as well as the A frame thng with the wheel all folded up in the stowed position for transport.

[Larry Bates]

Here are the two pics of the base which the wheels are attached to. It took me forever to figure out that they were both of the underside of the base! :angry:

Now, you know.

[Larry Bates]

So, I hope this will make things a little easier for whoever is reading about building this gun.
Also, I should add, be EXTREMELY CAREFUL when detaching parts from the trees, they WILL crack and or break if you use clippers or an exacto knife. Some parts are extremely small and thin, and delicate. I used a cutting wheel on a dremel tool to separate most of the small parts. You still might crack some. Just make sure you sneak up on them and it will be fine.

I should add that when cutting parts off the tree with the dremel cutting wheel, that I separate the parts from the trees by dividing the tree into smaller sections, then get close to the part with the cutting wheel, until the pressure areas are gone. Then cut the part off the tree at the gate with a sprue nips.

[Finnmodeler]

Originally posted by Larry Bates@Oct 18 2005, 09:08 PM
My compression program doesn't give me too much leeway in the size, and since it says photos are limited in size to 50 kbs I have to go with this size for now, until I learn more about what Im doing.

Hi Larry,
if you have Windows XP or may work with earlier Windowses, too.
Here is Microsoft's own tool for the job, Resizer:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloa...ppowertoys.mspx (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx)

It's easy to use and gives suitable size pics.
BTW, nice looking gun. I've been tempted to get one but those look a bit too complicated for my taste ;)

Niko

[Larry Bates]

Thanks Niko, for the link. I'll try it. As you notice though, I found something to let me resize by pixels, although I don't like the quality of the photos. It'll work for now. Thanks for the tip.

[Finnmodeler]

Originally posted by Larry Bates@Oct 19 2005, 10:22 AM
Thanks Niko, for the link. I'll try it. As you notice though, I found something to let me resize by pixels, although I don't like the quality of the photos. It'll work for now. Thanks for the tip.
Hi,
yes as soon as you compress files to less than 100k, it will show :( But helps is that you crop all useless data from original and resize that. Then there will be only the essential pixels :)

Niko

[Larry Bates]

Thanks Niko,
Got it downloaded now works good.

Larry

[Larry Bates]

Well, did some work on the chasis last two nights. This is just a dry set up, not all components together yet.

[Larry Bates]

Here's a shot length wise on the chasis. Tow position.

[Larry Bates]

This notch is where the cannon slide(?) end will sit in the tow position. I left it loose until I got the legs assembled on the rest of the gun support platform, and together at the ends where they attach for towing.

[Larry Bates]

The lower part of the hinges on the ends of the legs when in the towed position, have a little arm that locks in with part A32 and A33. There are different parts for the firing and the towed position.

[Larry Bates]

A lot of stuff folding and interlocking here......

[Larry Bates]

I left this bar until after I had the legs together so I could place it correctly . It would be even better to place after the cannon is on as the butt end of the slide sits here.

[Larry Bates]

this could have been straighter.... :( make sure parts that make up the little latch assemblies that go into the hexagonal holes are perpendicular as they will through the alignment off......... :angry: I'll post more shots of the direction drawings to make my point clearer, tomorrow.

[Larry Bates]

Heres a little better shot of the assembly I'm talking about, sorry they're a little blurry as I was hand holding it for the shot. Still have a few glue joints to clean up .

[Larry Bates]

Shots of the last bits soldered onto the shield. The red circle at the bottom is a rivet that I lost and had to use a plastic one. :(

[Larry Bates]

And the last bits on the inside...I think I got one of the storage tubes wrong...don't ask :lol: I'll check it out later.

more later........

[Andrew Hall]

This is good stuff Larry :) Thanks for sharing this one.

I found some shots I took a couple of years ago of one.


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y274/Andrewausfa/PAK4388L71-20.jpg

[Larry Bates]

Thanks alot Andrew, I have yet to see actual photos, close up anyway of this version! :)

Thanks for sharing.

Larry

[James Tainton]

Looking good- keep on postin' progress shots ;)

[Larry Bates]

Thanks James, maybe I might need some tips tho on posting multiple photos on one reply, cant seem to make it work. Do I have to put multiple photos together like a montage? or..........?

I just checked out your blogs on track link today, nice.

I'm liking your PIV post also here on this site.

Thanks.

Larry

[Andrew Hall]

Not seen any shots?!! We'll have to resolve that Larry :)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y274/Andrewausfa/PakLarry4.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y274/Andrewausfa/PakLarry3.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y274/Andrewausfa/PakLarry2.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y274/Andrewausfa/PakLarry1.jpg

[Larry Bates]

Wow, Thanks Andrew! :) :) These are great photos!

Larry

[James Tainton]

Originally posted by Larry Bates@Oct 29 2005, 12:20 AM
Thanks James, maybe I might need some tips tho on posting multiple photos on one reply, cant seem to make it work. Do I have to put multiple photos together like a montage? or..........?

I just checked out your blogs on track link today, nice.

I'm liking your PIV post also here on this site.

Thanks.

Larry
Thanks Larry, glad you like them. ;)
as for the multiple image posting- it's really easy - here are two examples.
a simpler way that Andrew does here
http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=19078&img=img1.jpg

and mine- I like to have a space between the images.
http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=19079&img=img2.jpg

[Larry Bates]

Thanks, uh....yeah thanks. :o I need to study.....guess I need to get a host that allows direct linking eh?

Thanks for the lesson James.

Larry

[shivadog]

Hi,

i have this model as a next one, do You have any archive photos of this? I heard about 88 used by Monte Cassino i wonder if it could be Pak 43/41...

regards

Jerzy

[Larry Bates]

Hello Jerzy,

There are very few shots of this gun in action. Most of the ones I've seen are either captured or by the side of the road. There were not many of these built as they were quite unweildly, as the name given by the crews, and on the box, shunter, or something to that affect, meaning Barn door.

Larry

[Larry Bates]

Well, back on this for a bit,

I made some resin copies of the wheels, came out ok except for the loss of the bolt detail..... will have to try again......

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=33629&img=7283100_0002_(Mediu.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=33628&img=6318100_0004_(Mediu.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=33627&img=6626100_0003_(Mediu.jpg

later.....

[tamigawa]

looks good but damn it Larry, FINISH THE PANTHER!!! :D