I've been wanting to build a Hetzer tank in about 1:4th scale (and would love to add a Tiger and Panther to it).
I have been given a persons name for chain links this past year, but things haven't been that good $$$.
To that person, sorry for not getting back to you.
I haven't given up on the dream of building it and running it through the fields at full speed.
I have been working and reworking the suspension on it in the mean time (when time permits and that's rare anymore).
The real tank has 4 wheels, pair off in sets using leaf springs. Well, I can't make them in 1:4th scale (in any scale for that). I tried to make the suspension look kinda like the leaf spring set up using the leaf springs mounting point to the tank body and running out 2 support arms (for the road wheels) and make the arms look like leaf springs with a little added detail. the only problem i had with that is, there would have only been one center pivot point and I would have hat to have used heavy R/C truck shocks mounted so they where pushing down onto the (leaf spring looking) supports arms. I liked this idea as it would make sealing the tank for running though water and mud easy (except for the sprocket and idle wheel [or tension wheel).
I didn't like that idea too much after a while of the shocks (their cost and possible shortened life span), so I began to think of another way, I thought about maybe about using a Torsion bar set up. This idea is a bit more ideal as I could change out the springs (or add to them) as needed for the weight (hell, the tanks big enough that i can let one of the kids just ride on it). the only problems I see with this is sealing the shafts entering the tank body wile letting them move freely, but I also have to change the leaf spring looking support arms. there would need to be 2 points that enter the tank body rather than just one. As I looked at the pictures some more, I took note that there was some more linkage towards the bottom of the tank, directly below the leaf springs mounting point
on the tank hull. I thought maybe I could use that, but any support arms would be just too small (not heavy enough to support the tank or stress).
So as you can see, I have been toying around with this suspension problem just a bit. I could just mount the wheels directly in place, but I don't want a hard ride and either brake the tank or it's inners any.
If anyone has any idea's on the matter, I'm open to suggestions.
Now the road wheels themselves, I'm planing on using Lawn mower wheels from Sears. The ones I'm looking at are 7" dia. I have found some cheesy looking casting of the tank treads and plan to use them for just a basic idea for a tank tread design. as for the treads, I am planing to use resin cast treads. Now I know this subject has been talked about several times in the past on boards, but I still believe it'll work. I'll also be casting the sprocket and idle wheels as well.
The treads I believe will be big enough I can cast in brass sleeves this will cut the wear down when the pinning is concerned. The problem I do have is how to pin the treads. Now I am also considering adding brass strips to the casting so the treads will only make contact via the brass surface. the brass strips would be drilled so when the resin is poured, the holes will act as an anchor and not let them just fall out.
Now I know I'll have to beef up the treads and sprocket and idler wheels just a little bit because of them being resin, so they won't be 100% accurate, but I don't care at that point. But then I don't think the tank body will be 100% accurate either since there are no large scale drawings of it around, just them little 6" long (or so) drawings found on the net.
I do have a question? Can I attach or insert pictures into emails? I have a picture of the first support arm set up and half a cross section drawing of the tank body (both with a 12" ruler in them to give an idea of size).