1/16th scale sFH 18 Howitzer

[Sharkmouth]

The travel locks were more a case of "can I actually do this and make it work" than anything else.

Some famous last words before one of my projects end up on my shelf (more like a room) of doom. Yes, I like the sound of that...

The ROOM of DOOM!

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Time for another small update as I have been working on this beastie on the weekends. This time the photos are telling the story.

For now I am now in adding the rivets mode, which actually isn't all that hard. I use a small piece of brass placed across a couple of rivets and then place the "new" rivet between them and add solvent. My mark 1C eyeball works well enough to center it that you probably couldn't tell even if you had a ruler. Thus easy peasy. I used a very sharp chisel blade to cut dozens of rivets from my little molded flats and put then in a nice small plastic container. So, new spot pick up rivet with tweezers. Place it along side bras "ruler" and add solvent while making sure it is centered.

I discovered in the process that I will have to make a mold for some larger rivets for the reinforced mounting ends. More fun.

 

[Sharkmouth]

Wow!

 

[Brokeneagle]

 

[Tim A.]

Looking excellent!

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Have one trail almost done. Made a second "mold" for larger rivets that were used at the ends of the trail plus had to do more modification on the ends per the photos. Some was carving some was doing some creative work to get a circle opening in the right place so the rivets would place around it correctly. Once I get the one fully finished, I will take some photos and post some reference, before, after photos showing the crap I did. None of it has been all that hard, but has been a bit of a challenge to get right and looking right.
The fun part will be that I can set it up for transport, or FULLY lay it out for firing. Some of the mods I did end up being only to set it up for firing.
Is it perfect, oh hell no it isn't. Is it a lot closer, Yes it is. Out of the box it is probably only about 65% right. When I am done it should be closer to 96%.
The comparison photos will show the proofs. Still working on it.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Here is one trail basically done. I am sure there will be some piddley stuff that I have not addressed yet, plus the rods that are not yet placed on the sides.

With the rivet pattern I found that if I take and heat up a fair amount of sprue till it is REAL SOFT, then I place the pattern on my small arbor press and quickly place the melty sprue on the pattern and press it hard I end up with really good impressions. I made a flat square piece to put in the head of the press and mash it pretty hard. The thin areas around the rivets are about .020" thick.

Now to work on the other side. As this one is done and all figured out, the other side should go a lot quicker and easier.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Oh, are you wondering why the red brown primer is all wiped off and such? I was doing so much removing and gluing of new stuff, especially all the extra rivets, that it was easier to just clean off the primer in order to glue the parts. It also allows everyone to see the new stuff for the most part.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Time for another little update before I go and do more butchery, I mean "corrective modification"!
The trails are done. They have all the bells and whistles that I intended for them and will properly set up for either travel mode or deployed mode. I did discover that there is something that is done with these weapons when transporting them. The Barrel is disconnected from the shock absorber/ return cylinder, and moved to the back end of the slide. I found this photos that shows several in transport mode with the barrel moved to the back.

Anyway, that is not why you are looking in, here are the items I worked on recently.

With the lucky happenstance of forgetting to glue the brake and wheel backings to the axle, I can fairly easily remove and replace all these tiny rivets with the larger ones I made. I also found some references for the hose connections for the pneumatics so those will be added as well.

 

[Jeeves]

Impressive work Paul- the rivets really look great and well worth your effort.

 

[Brokeneagle]

Very nice work Paul and very precise. A mountain of scratch work mate -

 

[Sharkmouth]

One RARELY reads that rivets are too small! Shaving them for later or simply grinding/filing/sanding away?

 

[Heavens Eagle]

One RARELY reads that rivets are too small! Shaving them for later or simply grinding/filing/sanding away?

I have a scary sharp ancient Xacto chisel blade that I use a lot. It peels the little rivets off like butter. I have to work a bit to shave the larger ones off my molded piece, but it works better than anything else I could even think to use. I have to be "REALLY" careful with using it as it is almost dangerously sharp, but that is what makes it work so well.

And, no it isn't the original edge. I have to re-sharpen it periodically.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Just a quickie update. I have all the rivets on the center of the carriage done. Still have a couple of pneumatic couplers I have to make (didn't make enough the first time). Then there is the hand brake lever assembly and mounting that has been giving me fits. Turns out Trumpeter had the basic lever and ratchet in there but the lever wasn't long enough (one small part) and it was supposed to be about 1/4 inch further back and set lower. So I am still working on that part and it will be a little while longer as getting the long mounts for the ratchet somewhat right are a pain.

Here are the rivet parts. You can compare them to the before photos.

 

[centaur567]

This is why I don't do anything larger than 48th scale. Too much detail to worry about. Well done! Gary S.