Panzer II “Luchs” - Weeks 28-48

So we are going to do a little different thing with updates, we will focus on the specific system in these next few updates on the Panzer II " Luchs" builds.

This will take us from week 28 through week 48, May 6th through Sept 12th. The first installment is Front Drive Sprockets and Rear Idlers.. There are more pictures of the drive sprockets in previous updates, so if you look back you can also see some of the beginning pics, we didn't want to add them here, since they have already been shown.

Drive/Front Sprocket on Original Luchs

Original Drive/Front Sprocket

The Luchs builds use German Marder AFV drive sprockets, they need to be modified to be the correct width for the Luchs track. Here the rear portion is cut off to make room for the new ring to hold the sprocket teeth. More pics of this process are in previous updates.

Making sure it is level before tack welding it into place.

Grinding, cutting and welding to make sure all is the correct width and size.

Drilling bolt holes into the new sprockets to mount onto the sprocket rims.

Omega with the newly modified front sprockets awaiting final assembly.

Luchs 1.0 had the front sprocket taken off to verify bolt patterns and fitment of the front drive sprocket.

Luchs 1.0 front drive sprocket next to the newly modified ones for Alpha and Omega.

Placing the bolts into the newly drill sprockets.

Drive sprocket.

Drive sprocket with the track.

Original Rear idler

Original Rear Idler

On Luchs 1.0 a Hotchkiss rear idler was used, it looks good, but the original had bolt on pieces and we wanted to replicate that as much as possible on the new builds, so what to do, after tons of brainstorming we looked at a FV432 drive sprocket, it was measured and the features appeared that they could be modified to become the rear idlers of the Luchs builds.

First bits had to be cut off.

The outer support ribs were cut and ground down to a smooth surface

work, work, work, work, work..

Bits removed

New strengthening ribs cut.

Welding bracket.

Grinding the excess weld off.

Support ribs welded onto the wheel.

Instead of trying to attach 6 separate pieces it was determined to machine one outer wheel to attach it to the modified 432 wheel.

You can see the beginning of the new top.

With the bolts added, which on the original held them onto the wheel.

Making the groove cuts to appear like multiple pieces.

Small idler teeth added, we think this was from casting to improve strength of the piece.

Inner wheel added.

Almost done, we are looking at possibly adding one more thing to the wheels to make them look just like the original Luchs rear idlers, can you spot what is missing?

Pressing on the hub to attach to the chassis.

It fits..

Rear idler in position.

Front and Rear added, now to add the swing arms and wheels when they are back from getting the rubber put on..

Original versus new builds. In this picture the new idlers look bigger than the original, this is only due to the lack of wheels and gravity pulled down the idler, it is not in the correct position to tension the track.