Panzer II “ Luchs” Feb 24 - May 5, 2025

Panzer II build progress from Feb 24 to May 5th, then we had to get away from the Panzerfabrik and take a trip to the Netherlands.... Militracks 2025. Three tigers in one spot. WOW

Long time with no post. BUT!!! We have been working on the Alpha and the Omega all the while. Only the facebook poster person is a slacker.

Since there is progress in many areas I cant update it all in one post. So... The plan is, to make a blast of posts over the next week.

Trial fit the nose on both Alpha and Omega.

A big decision on Omega was to split the transmission and clutch away from the engine and move it up into the place where it belongs. Definitely brings challenges but Right is Right.... This is where it belongs.... so be it.

Reworked the Engine mount and dumped the old firewall.

By moving the clutch up so goes the flywheel and bellhousing with it. We'll make a substitute flywheel only to drive a prop shaft and then we can make the correct firewall without compromise.

An update on Dave's journey to weld using only his mind. I'm pleased to report that he's done it. After a lot of work he has it pretty well mastered. Here he is showing off making a bead on the tail of Alpha. Congratulations Dave.

Back to Omega and the trans. To move it up where it needs to be it doesn't allow for a driveline with u-joints. So we borrowed from the boating world and put in this flexible coupler. Torque rating will handle the max twist (after reduction) that the IH RD 450 will make.

This puts the gearbox exactly where it needs to be.

The new firewall

This will let all of the rear wall accoutrements sit exactly where they are supposed to be.

Another view how this will all mount up. Steering Diff, Coupler, Gearbox, Clutch, Bellhousing. But what about the flywheel you ask. Thats a big project. I've designed a carrier to simulate a crankshaft and hold the flywheel. We successfully did this in the Panzer IV so surely we can do it again... surely, right?

This is the arrangement in an existing Luchs... Gearbox is covered by an aluminum cover. Note the steering tillers and the linkage that runs up the side wall to activate the steering brakes.

So you can see our brakes barely beginning to take shape.

Lots of detail in the tillers. X4. The spring loaded button will activate the parking brakes.

The Master Tiller Maker

Michael had the idea to extend off of the Steering Differential to put the lever and rod over by the side wall. This simple idea solves a lot of crap. and and.... it matches up to the way the Panzer II Luchs control rod was. NICE

Other side

OOOHHHH YEAHHHHH. Objects of beauty. Great geometry so a little pull adds a lot of braking pressure. We need to find just the right rubber grips to slide over the handles.

Cruisin' for chicks on a Saturday night.

Starting to fill up. Next I'll cover Shifter and Wheels. Lots of progress... lots