Working U-Joints

Modeling Subjects Scratchbuilding
1

While I was working on my 105mm LeFH18(sf) auf Geschutzwagen 39(H) from Trumpeter, I came across a real ugly looking part that was suppose to be a drive shaft. The alignment of the kit’s component was also bothering me.

So I decided to make tiny working U-Joints. [:D] It will fix the alignment problem and looks better at the same time.

I first tried with styrene, but it was too flimsy. I wanted then to use PE… too hard to drill… I used aluminum foil (the same as a pizza plate) and cut a long 1/8 strip, and then made several little cuts of 5/16 long, rounded off the corners, and curved it while keeping the end straight.
I then drilled a hole on both sides. I used a piece of wire, inserted it in, then roughed the end to make a mushroom head to avoid to glue the pin in the aluminum brace. When 2 were completed, I just glued the 2 wires together at 90 degres. ET VOILA!! A working miniature U-Joint. [:D]

2

that is awsome dude!-- there is gonna be alot of cool things to learn from this thread[:D]–tread

3

That is a great idea! Gonna have to remember that one.

4

Very nicely done!

5

This is insane Jean-Michel. You are very talented.

6

can you put your camera on a microscope? Those parts are too small to see!

7

Is there no Macro mode on your camera ? I can see something, but I’m affraid it’s too small to say something usefull about them.

However, if you’re talking about that allignment problem, are you absolutely sure that is is a mistake ? The reason I ask is that I’ve read something similar on another thread, but it turned out to be ment this way.

8

Thanks a bunch guys! [:D]

Yes there is Dan, and I was using it. These 2 shots were the best of a serie of about 20. I think I might need more practice with it however.

Not sure at all. But the pictures I found from the vehicle in Saumur shows that the shaft is almost parallel with the hull side.

I looked at comparision between both the Bronco and Trumpeter’s offering on http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/ , and they show a missalignement indeed. However, mine looked a tad more off than shown in their review and just painfull to look at.

I guess I could had fixed it by sanding the left side of the rear panel and then fill in the resulting gap on right side, a pain in the neck IMO, but I wanted something better looking than that kit part.

Keeping in mind that this one is a opened top SPG with a lot of the interior that will be seen, it seemed the best course of action for me.

9

That is way too small and your insane.

And brilliant!!!

10

Amazing, I love it!

11

Finally installed the drive shaft and the joints.

12

Awesome Gun Tech, could you make a little diagram on how you did that?

I’m not quite getting it but it looks like an amazing peice of scratchbuilding that I would like to try.

Mike

13

Great to see it installed, but please don’t tell me you are now going to cover that up so that it can no longer been seen!

14

Thanks. Don’t worry though, so far it looks like a lot will be seen.[;)] I would say at least 3/4 of it in plain view.

15

Thanks Mike, I will try, may take a little while though. [:D]

16

Here we go Mike. Drawing is not one of my talents. Hope it still looks a bit clearer this way.

Front view of one of the assembly:

Side view of the same one:

Important! Do not glue the wire in the aluminum strip. I roughed each end with a jeweller’s file.

When you have 2 completed, you can glue the wires to each other, at 90 degrees.

Hope it helps [:)]

17

Ahh, that clears up a few things.

Thanks Gun. I appreciate it.