Armortek 1/6th Scale Metal Kits

Adding the Electronics to the Stug 111

admin — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 13:48:54 +0000

The new Stug 111 assembly is now complete. We have left the tracks off the model and have it resting on wooden blocks while we install and test the latest Armortek options.

The electronic modules and batteries are a good fit in the Stug, and there is not much wasted space. In the photographs the main drive motors and speed controller is at the front. The two speakers for the sound system are under the fighting compartment, with the batteries just to the rear. Auxiliary module and Amplifier module are positioned on the left hand wall of the hull. The smoke unit is tucked underneath at the rear and the power supply module with the main on/off control sits above with access through the rear hatch. The recoil module is yet to be installed.

Here a couple of detail views of the exterior of the new model

The Stug 111 is now at the final packing stage and deliveries will commence shortly. A few kits are still available to purchase, for more details follow this link

http://www.armortek.co.uk/html/vehicles/Stug/Stug.html

Stug 111 Assembly Continues

admin — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:31:49 +0000

Assembly of the new Stug 111 is now well progressed. As can be seen in the photographs below, the lower and upper hull sections and the fighting compartment are complete. These three major sub assemblies have been built up as separate units and dry fitted for the photographs. Individual details of note are the applique armour and cone head bolts on the front plates, smoke dischargers, cupola and machine gun shield on the fighting compartment and the detail armour covers and spare wheel carriers on the rear upper hull. The mudguards have been added, but no details have been fitted as yet.

Stug 111 Hull Assembly

admin — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:11:11 +0000

Here is the lower hull of the new Stug 111. The frame plates are assembled and the top edge angles are fixed. The entire drive case and internal gearing have been fitted, and are ready to mount the drive sprockets. The rear idler brackets and the mechanism for adjusting track tension can be seen. Torsion bars, suspension arms and axles are fitted. The return roller housings arefixed to the hull sides. All the suspension bump stops are fitted and the front and rear shock absorbers are in place.

StuG 111 Part 4 Engine Vents

admin — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 14:28:20 +0000

Continuing with our theme of talking about parts that are common to the Panzer 111, here is the engine vent. This part is fixed to the rear upper hull sides and is extremely visible on the finished model. There are several improvements to the detail. Wall thicknesses have been reduced and the height of the central web has been lowered from the top surface. The part also has an improved external profile and is easier to fit to the finished model. The overall affect is further improved on the finished model by the provision of a mesh cover in etched brass.

Here is an image lifted from the Solidworks assembly file for the finished Stug 111. The bright colours are just for visualisation and the fasteners are not shown in this image.

StuG 111 Part 3, Wheels

admin — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 16:02:39 +0000

For the first batch of Panzer 111 models produced by Armortek, the wheels were plain faced machined aluminium. This was improved on the second batch, to include the profiled face detail depicting the original’s pressed steel contstruction. For the new StuG 111 we have further improved the detail of the wheels. The profile is more accurate to the original wheel shape, and the rim detail has been improved. The original wheels were fitted back to back in pairs, and six tubes were welded in place between them. The new models adds this detail by means ofshort steel tube inserts in each wheel. Here is a sectioned drawing of the the wheel profile and photo of one of the finished wheels complete with its tubular inserts.

StuG 111 Build Blog Part 2

admin — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:06:09 +0000

The StuG 111 uses the same basic design of torsion bar suspension as the Panzer 111 model, released a couple of years ago. However the detail of these parts has been considerably improved, and they now feature fully adjustable torsion bars that can be set both while building and adjusted after a period of running. All these tough outdoor models will settle a little on their suspension after a period of running. This results in a lowering of the ride height making the tank look like it has sunk into the mud. The torsion bars can now be adjusted either individually or as a set to correct the ride height.

Here is a shot of the axle, radius arm and suspension shaft for the new model release.

StuG Ausf G Build Blog

admin — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:38:02 +0000

Part 1 Introduction

Following on from our very popular blog following the production of parts and the assembly of a prototype, for the Centurion project. We are pleased to follow up with our new Stug G project with photos and updates on a regular basis.

The new Stug III is based on our existing Panzer 111, but represents a big step up in detail and accuracy. The entire model has been re-designed, not just the parts required for the StuG top section. We have reviewed the available data and photographs of the original vehicles and tried to incorporate many of the improvements and details described by the skilled model makers building the Armortek Panzer 111, and shown in the Armortek owners forum. These changes includes improvements to existing parts and extra new detail parts for the new model. We have also incorporated some design changes to improve the running performance of the model. The adjustable torsion bar suspension, first seen on the 2012 issue of the ever popular Tiger 1, is included in the design. Drive will be via the Armortek high efficiency system, and both the high pressure smoke system and the recoil system will be available.

Here is a taster of the type of improvements being offered;

The new gear case, with improved overall profile, partial counterbores for the retaining bolts and “wings” for the additional two fixings.

For more information on the Armortek StuG III go to:

http://www.armortek.co.uk/html/vehicles/Stug/Stug.html

24 Hour "Sturmtiger" Build part 2.

admin — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:04:01 +0000

Well hello again.

Here we go on the second section of the blog for which I have jumped right back to the start, with the delivery. . . yes I know this is boring stuff to most, but I thought if I tried to highlight in some way the kick we all get from those boxes arriving with the U.P.S. man then that in turn may help a new buyer / builder to take the plunge and join us all on the forum and that will be a good thing for all of us . . . agreed?

So here is the story as I remember it, before I got terribly addicted to the hobby.

First of all you see the tanks advertised and the first impression is wow! got to have one of them, then whether its a leaflet you have, or you found the info on the web you put it to one side, to look at “a bit later on” over the next few days you may find as I did that “a bit later on” becomes a shorter and shorter time spell, until you find yourself mulling over the details more and more until finally you speak to Gill and place your first order.

Then the difficult bit starts . . .counting down the time until the delivery day . . . possibly marking off the days on the calendar . . .then the day arrives and the delivery man pulls up outside with a set of boxes that are quite a lot bigger than you first anticipated!

No I don’t have carpet in the shed this model was built in the house due to lack of room in the tank sheds! any way back to the plot, now as a first time customer is when the first of your possible worries are dismissed what if the boxes get ripped and the parts fall out, what if this what if that. You will find the everything is very well packed indeed, in good quality boxes . . .with ample packing inside . . .or “Angel pooh”

First thing you find in the boxes is a comprehensive parts list with all the relevant bits listed and quite often where to find them if they are packed within another box or bag inside the main box.

All the large pieces of each kit are well packed with copious amounts of bubble wrap to ensure your pride and joy arrives safe and sound.

Many of the smaller pieces are wrapped and put into bags along with your fastener pack, see its not all chatting on the phone and cups of coffee after all for Gill

Once you have sorted through all the packing stuff and got your parts checked you can get your model moved to your bench and get ready to build.

99 % of the time the guideline that tells

you that you only need basic tools is right, you can build the kit straight from the box with a set of hex drivers and a small socket set and thread lock, a couple of files will come in handy but if you do need to use them don’t be disheartened its part of the hobby, and you will find plenty of help on the forum if you should get stuck.

Next time . . . we start the build.

Cheers Paul

admin — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 17:06:01 +0000

Armortek “Sturmtiger” flies together in 24 hours!

Hi fellas.

Here I am again and I would like to say a big thank you to Gill and Mark for asking me to have a go at another blog for them, and once again, in my opinion for pushing the boundaries of 1/6 scale model tank kits even higher

and further away from any real competition.

I have kept a note of the hours worked on the Sturm just for interest really and when they were totted up at around 18 hours over the week! I decided to push it and got the tracks put together and fitted to complete the build in under 24 hours! what’s more the model as you see it in these photo’s has been assembled following the instructions of course, but I have not used a file or drill of any kind during the build just hex drivers a socket set and tin snips for the photo etch fret.

For the first time I have built this model without using any paint whatsoever, to be honest just for a change as I normally paint them as I go along as you know, you will notice that the front mudguards are not fitted as yet, there are one or two other minor parts left off as well but basically the model is done, and as it is my intention now to strip the tank back down and re build and paint as normal adding any little bits along the way.

I intend to add a few bits to the crane and have some shells made up to complement the model, please see the craftsman’s market in the near future for this, as I have asked for some help from a very nice man who I hope will be doing some casting for me once I have done the masters, cheers Dave.

There are one or two great additions to this kit top of the list for me is the new type suspension this really is great, and now very very simple to achieve perfect results first time, gone is the home made jig for grinding the torsion bars to get the correct angle, and in comes a much faster simpler set up that allows full adjustment months or years down the line! more of that a little later on.

The next one for me is the final hub cap that simply screws in place with a socket that makes any maintenance so much easier on the interleaved wheels of the Tiger family.

There are other bits too but I will keep quiet about them here, so that builders lucky enough to have purchased one of these great kits can have the pleasure of finding out for themselves as they build their own model.

I have no option packs for this model yet but I can assure you all she rolls very nicely, and smoothly as we have all come to expect from Armortek as the kits have constantly improved, once the motion pack is here I will be adding all that to the build blog as well.

I hope you enjoy the blog such as it is, in the next section I will be starting back with the arrival of the boxes and packaging for any newcomers to the forum to see just what you get, and how well packed it is, unwrapping Christmas presents from Gill has to include scissors I can see no other option.

More to follow cheers Paul

Centurion Production

admin — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 12:19:56 +0000

In the weeks

since our last blog posting, we have been busy manufacturing the batch of Centurion kits. Manufacturing is now well advanced and here are a couple of photos to show progress:

We are about 65% of the way through this batch and are on target for our delivery date.