Panzer II Turret

[johann mor]

Thanks Robert and Steve, I never realised how hard it could be caring for someone but staying cheerful helps no end.

The last update for 2019.

I have been concentrating on the wiring, a bit odd you may think as there are more pressing jobs with the drive etc but I needed something that wasn't complicated and that I could dip in and out of. I am glad that I did, as there were a lot of holes to drill, clips to make and trunking to run and head scratching to do.

There is a section of flexible trunking that runs in front of the driver, around the peddle area. I had thought that it was part of the wiring but I am now not so sure, as I have identified the wiring route and it doesn't use that section of trunking. However I have used it to run the gearbox kickdown switch wiring in, as it runs in the adjacent area.

The wiring is now complete and tested but I have made use of a lot more flexible trunking than the original. All the wires in the original appear to be black, I have used colour coded wires but where they can be seen I have jointed onto black extensions. I have left the wires long enough so that they can be pulled out of the end of the trunking so that the various colours can be identified as they join the black ends.

The interior of the hull contains light sockets for the magnetic work light as well as adjustable station lights. So far, I have been able to identify the location of two sockets, one by the driver and one in the turret and two station lights, one in the turret and one by the radio operators position. I would have expected to find three of each so I will keep on looking.

[johann mor]

The station lights, as identified by a most helpful member previously. I had to make the work lights.

[johann mor]

The sockets are standard DIN sockets pressed into the housing but the spade connections had to be altered. In situ with the work light plugged in.

[johann mor]

More pictures.

[johann mor]

A member of another forum asked if he could visit to see the tank for himself, so I thought as the next job is to modify and fix the gear shift lever in place which would require the installation of the drivers controls to ensure there are no problems, I may as well assemble the drivers area as far as I can.

The rear light bolted in place.

And to end, a Christmas style picture of the magnetic work light, plugged in and working.

[Hellraiser]

[johann mor]

Evening All,

The gear shift lever is now attached to the chassis and connected to the gearbox, it all seems to operate smoothly

[johann mor]

The next question was what to do with the shift lever knob either the original Jaguar sports look, a furry bunnies head or something more Germanic, obviously the bunnies head won, not really.

Two images from surviving tanks , the knob on the right hand image is not, as far as I can ascertain, original.

[johann mor]

I think the knob would have been Bakelite but I haven't got one so I decided to make from steel.

Under the knob there is a thing ( I don't know what to call it) that you lift in order to release the shift lever, enabling you to change gear. I forgot to take any pictures of it as I made it.

Jon

[timg]

Johan,

Its is literally a gear shift lock latch. Not uncommon on some gearboxes that they can jump out. Had a crash gearbox on a type of older grader that used to do that with regular monotony especially when going up hill and under strain operating and cutting.

NOT a pleasant experience to be in neutral suddenly on a slope and starting to roll back with crappy brakes............very unpleasant. (usually with a bloody big drop on one side)

Regards

[johann mor]

Johan,

Its is literally a gear shift lock latch. Not uncommon on some gearboxes that they can jump out. Had a crash gearbox on a type of older grader that used to do that with regular monotony especially when going up hill and under strain operating and cutting.

NOT a pleasant experience to be in neutral suddenly on a slope and starting to roll back with crappy brakes............very unpleasant. (usually with a bloody big drop on one side)

Regards

Thanks for the description, obviously you have experience of such nasty happenings.

I knew what it did, I just couldn't think of a word to describe it. I am going to use the same type of system to locate the shift lever in the upper gate, not so that I can't jump out of gear, being an auto box but to assist the lower jaguar mechanism. I am afraid that being a longer lever, excess leverage will be applied and damage the jaguar mechanism. Of course, making the upper gate is all in the future, when I have proved everything works.

Jon

[Lenny W]

I think the knob would have been Bakelite but I haven't got one so I decided to make from steel.

Under the knob there is a thing ( I don't know what to call it) that you lift in order to release the shift lever, enabling you to change gear. I forgot to take any pictures of it as I made it.

Jon

Great work Jon

[airborne_steve]

John, you are doing a incredible job on your tank...... question, considering you had to use a modern AFV steering/gear box, are you thinking of building a cover to make the steering box look more like the trans axle of the original panzer? Keep posting! I love this build!

[johann mor]

Hello Steve,

Good to hear from you, yes the idea is to cover the whole area with a cover that replicates the transmission as near as possible. It will also cover the transmission shift lever base. My intention is to leave that until I have the drive train completed and tested, so a long way in the future.

Jon

[johann mor]

Evening All,

I have been trying to move swiftly on but life keeps getting in the way. I have managed to make adapter plate from the steering box to the drive shaft and the drive shaft. The drive shaft has been made using two old shafts that I had in store spliced together to make one good one.