GPM Dragon Wagon

[RAFleischman]

This is the description from the Lion Office Products website:

"NT craft circle cutters for scrapbooking and other light-duty craft projects. Circles range from Dia. 11/16" ~ 6-11/16", and with extension beam, range up to Dia. 15-3/4". Compact compass circle cutter also available to cut circle in Dia. 13/16" ~ 5-7/8"."

russ...

[Papercut]

Originally Posted by KCStephens

Well my Christmas gift to myself came from the Fed Ex man today.
I think I'll even wrap it up and put it under tree for Christmas morning...
Anyway It's sure going to make cutting out all those tire and wheel parts a whole lot easier.

This will be one of the best tools you have bought for paper modeling........hope it works as good as mine has.
Rick...........Merry Christmas.

[hirondelle]

Found a nice pic to inspire a diorama



This is July 1944 & members of the 66th Ordnance Battalion have a captured Panther

[KCStephens]

Thanks for attaching the period photo, Hirondelle, you're right, that would make quite an impressive diorama.

Now that the holidays are behind us I hope to be able to spend more time on this build. I'm presently working on the front suspension.

So stay tuned for further updates.

[KCStephens]

As I said when I started this build -This is going to take a long time. Here's a quick update that shows I'm slowly making some progress. I've been working on the components that make up the front suspension and I'm just about ready to mount the leaf springs and front axle onto the frame. Next I'll start working on the rear drive train. Stay tuned.

[willygoat]

Looks like fun. Not! You're doing some very nice detail work Kevin. I bet cutting all of the leaf springs was enjoyable.

[Don Boose]

Great progress, Kevin!

I enjoyed seeing the chassis when we were at the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center event earlier this month.

Don

[KCStephens]

Originally Posted by willygoat

I bet cutting all of the leaf springs was enjoyable.

Thanks guys.

Cutting the springs was not too difficult, however trying to figure out how thick to make them was antother story. In order for the front wheels to be set at the correct height, the individual springs had to be laminated to another piece of paper. The problem is that nowhere in the instructions does it mention what thickness of paper to use for the lamination. After many calculations and a quick test build I ended up laminating the spring parts sheet onto a piece of 67# card stock. The final result is just the right height when held up agenst the drawing. Next I have to finish up a few things on the front axle before it's mounted onto the springs.

Kevin

[legoman]

This kit looks monstrously redoubtable, you literally are taking on a dragon! The courage alone is commendable, and it looks like you are off to a good start. I will be following with a lot of interest with the aspiration that I will one day be able to do the same.

[KCStephens]

Over the Easter weekend I was able to finish up the front suspension on the Dragon Wagon. The wheels will be able to "steer" and the tie bar actually works!
That's all for now...

Enjoy!