VK 31 "Leichttraktor"
Starting...upside
right side...the engine deck had to be sloped
better seen here...opening for engine (think the air intakes) already opened.
Added the aft entrance door...
...and a grill with opening to the front...
...and also the base for the turret
Made the engine deck ready...sorry for detailphotos, but my camera denys to focus ...
From the front. right is the "tower" for the driver, left the hatch for the radio operator.
FroSeen from the side. The round part to the left is the base for the turret.
Total view from above. To the rear right is the entrance door. To the front is the grill added to the bow.
Finally the work on the grill on the front is done...
I also started building up the turret. First cut the baseplate and rasped it round using my Proxxon (centerstick, then a fine rasp and of we go...) Then i made the same for the top plate and added some distance holders between (will be trimmed to fit).
And that´s how it looks from above...distance holders still need trimming.
The vehicle is taking shape...
It already stands on it´s own wheels...
Nearly ready for the tracks...will still take some time.
Inner side of the coverings of the running gear
Outside, right side, left side still in progress
Attached!!
Sideview, right side of vehicle
From above, sticks attached for lining the wheels
Both side-coverings in place, start to look what it should be...
And right side...with starting creating parts on turret
Gun in place, som minor parts added
Exhaust-hose only stuck, not finally in place.
View from up front on turret...
And view from the back...had to make teh hooks myself. Nothing in spareparts that fits...
Finally axes of wheels cut of, started with doors on turret. Some boltheads already attached.
Same from right side...i made some tracklinks already, "rubber"-part on them still missing...so 1 mm it will still rise
Same view, turret to the side. Doors already finished. Exhaust pipe not attached.
Yippie, we have tracks on
Still under construction...
But nearly where we want to be...
Yes, still open on one point for easy removing...
closeer look...
And in total...yes the turret is not fixed....
Just a short update...after being in Bovington for Tankfest...
...i closed the tracks and started adding boltheads.
Sideskirts finished, installing trackguards
using an etched profile of ABER...
and thin Polystyrene...
Glued in position
Building up the mudguards, here for scalemeasurements including an old figure.
And from above
Piece after piece...
Finally it´s done...
...Last Bits and Pieces in Place...
...Last little Gaps and Places filled and sanded...
...Now waiting for some colors...
...I Think Grey, Green and Dark Brown...
...Will do it...
...Classic Colors like those of the...
...Mid-War-Reichswehr...
...or the Black Reichswehr..
...before evolving into Wehrmacht.
Komentarzy
31 March 2018, 06:40
Michael ValentanThx guys, hull is taking shape...but still far from being finished.
Next photos tomorow...
1 April 2018, 17:34
Michael ValentanThe vehicle is taking shape. It already has every running wheel on it´s place. Now i am starting to create the big wheels for driving and in the front. Also two return rollers on each side, then the large sideplat will beattached...still a lot of work to do!!!
4 May 2018, 12:11
Michael ValentanI am building the side coverings of the running wheels now...simply a large plate with a lot of small parts to be attached on the inner side...I also attached 2 small gearboxes behind the drive wheel (hard to see, but also gives some grip.
Right side nearly done, need somme boltheads and some minor fittings.
Left Side in progress...Same procedure as on right side.
Still working on the form for my tracklinks...want to cast them in Tin...i am anxious how this will work!
10 May 2018, 07:46
Michael ValentanBoth sideparts finished (except boltheads), started my work on the turret. A tank without weapon is nearly the most useless item in the world...so i created the main gun and the mantlet, also started woking on some minor parts on the hull and the turret. Added the hooks on the aft. As barrel i use the 3,7cm PAk by RB-Models (No. 35B56), i could vary the lenght and i am nea the original length.
Now i am starting work on the small parts over the whole vehicle...and also the track links...finished my form. First casting tomorrow...
12 May 2018, 14:35
Michael ValentanQuick update: Started to finish the sides with bolts...a lot of them. and made some track links for practice. Still not sure if i won´t cast them. Have still found no right way for casting such a small object. 1st cast was a desaster...tin not where it should be.
Try now to make them out of plastic...let´s look how this will work out. In the first all i built for trial are in the correct size and all identic...the rubber block of the center is still missing...also the guiding horns.Will need nearly 170 of them. Turret is completed. Next step: Finish the bolt heads and build more track links...and start with echaust pipe...this will be tricky...
21 May 2018, 17:33
Michael ValentanTracks are on...92 links on each side, all handmade...casting didn´t work as planned, this parts are really to tiny and thin...have to add some boltheads on one side, i am still working on the tracks because of them, but now everybody can see where the journey is going to...
Surprisingly it was very easy to build up the tracklinks. I took an Evergreen-Profile, cut to correct length, glued strips of Evergreen-Profile of a different thickness and measurements to each side and glued them together to form the tracks. Finally i added the rubberbads (outside of tracklings in center) and 2 boltheads beside it. On the inside i formed the guiding. Now also the large headlight on the hull is added (the black little thing in front of the turret) and also 2 small guiding-rollers on the frontside (built up from Evergreen, various pipes)...hard to see, but between front wheel and first running wheels.
Still not working on exhaust-pipe...but already have an idea how to make it. Next step: Boltheads (a lot of them) and the trackguards above the tracks...
23 June 2018, 12:00
AlexWonderful, way above my skill and patience level! I really wish some company would sell this one in plastic.
23 June 2018, 18:04
Michael ValentanAfter being at Bovington for 5 days and hugging the Tiger-collection and all the other nice steel from over 100 years i was back and started adding the first of hundreds boltheads...and was finished faster as thought. Also installed the tracks finally, so closed them and glued them in place. Right now i can install the trackguards...so i glued L-shaped profiles to each side to hold them in place (not yet on the photos). Still working on the exhaust...4th try!! Nothing comes out to be looking like the original or the thing on photos...but i stay tuned! After the rest of the boltheads i have to add all the bits and small pieces that are not already in place. Thank´s for the nice postings!!!
6 July 2018, 08:13
Michael ValentanInstalling the mudguards...using ABER-profile and Polystrene. And i started my 4th try for the exhaust pipe...this one will do it! Looks like the original, but still not fully satisfying...but just minor things to change.
Also glued this small piece on the left front in place...no idea what this is, think it´s an opening to pump water out or something like that...But i always think it´s those small parts that make a vehicle really interesting...Just saw i forgot to install the hinges on the backdoor...one point more to do! And there´s a long, round part on the backside...have to stu´dy what that is and what it really looks like...Thank you all for your interest!
22 July 2018, 08:13
Wim van der Luijtreally a great project, surprisingly modern vehicle concept with the engine in the front
24 July 2018, 09:16
Album info
I start with some original pictures right out of the net (various sites) and then go on with photos i will make when working...
