Even the best of plans gets shot down the drain!
I had hoped that this week I would finish and do a final assembly of all the mantlet components but it wasn't to be. All that remained to be done was to fit the six countersunk lock screws to the barrel sleeve. The countersunk screws I had planned to use started to look too large. So everything on hold and ordered some smaller screws from Germany and a very small carbide countersink tool from China. Still, I did a temporary assembly to see how it looks and also to see if there are any problems.
So instead, whilst waiting for the things to come, I started prepping the turret for paint and zimmeritt. Today I fitted the turret spare track links to mark their position and leave the lower bracket in place.
The modification I did to the upper track link holders worked like a charm and I do not need to screw the track links to the turret. I am now wondering if on the real thing zimmeritt was actually applied behind the spare track links? Trying to look for a period photo of a late Tiger with missing spare track links from the turret.
Fitted also the lower brackets of the turret bin.
Next was the escape hatch. Good thing I tried this because I found that with the parts painted, it did not fit anymore to the turret. I always fall for it. A little fettling and a touch up of the paint solved it.
As I was at it, I thought it would be best to check again if the turret roof still fitted.
It fitted nicely although there is a spot at the back where a little light sanding would not go amiss.
Vince