Re: DeSimone tank "kits" [TANKS]

[Joe Sommer <anvilus9-at-adelphia.net>]

Michael,

At 10:21 AM 12/10/2005 -0500, you wrote:
>I'd like to know if any of the group here has experience with the James 
>DeSimone kits?

Leif Goodson graciously donated one of James DeSimone's plastic Hetzers
to me.  It participated in the Invasion of Smallville as a static prop.
http://www.rctankcombat.com/battle-reports/Smallville/photos/

The hull is very thick ABS similar to a heavy plastic garbage can
and withstood point blank fire from our 0.68 markers.  The hull
is one big hollow piece.  You will need to cut the upper hull from the
lower hull with a sabre saw (manual or electric) or a sharp carpet
knife (carefully).

The track is junk.  You might be able to re-use the road wheels and
idler.

I bought DeWalt DW960 right-angle 18V drills to drive plastic track
from eBay seller "majormidnite" item #6019818590
I have not yet tested the plastic track on a working hull.

The upper hull is great.  The lower hull may or may not be strong
enough to hold motors, batteries and road wheel axles.

My approach is to try using the lower and upper plastic hulls.
If the lower plastic hull fails, I will build a wooden or aluminum
lower hull and still use the plastic upper hull.

His Hetzer is actually 1/6 scale.  I have not seen his T-34 or
Sherman in person but they look pretty close to scale.
http://kanowarrior.tripod.com/actionfiguresatwar/id54.html

You may have some problems with strong axle mounts for the
front idler and the rear sprocket in the plastic T-34 lower hull
based on photos at
http://kanowarrior.tripod.com/actionfiguresatwar/id60.html

Joe


**********************************************
Joe Sommer, Anvilus Machine Works
2378 Nantucket Circle, State College, PA 16803
814.234.4773     anvilus9-at-adelphia.net
http://www.anvilus.com