Panzer II “Luchs” - Weeks 28-52

But how will our steering be built? What will it look like. Will it look like the original Panzer II "Luchs"? Well, Let's take a dive and find out.

Original Luchs steering. One of two original examples. This is the Luchs in The Musée des Blindés located in Saumur France.

Original Luchs steering. The second of two original examples. This one is located at The Tank Museum in Bovington England. Note the aluminum cover that covers the drivetrain. We will add this feature to our two babies... Alpha and Omega.

Original Luchs steering (Saumur). Right seat view of brakes. Wouldn't it seem unsettling to ride around all day with your legs stuck in that space.

Original Luchs steering (Saumur) Overall config with all the guts laid bare.

We are cursed by the fact that Luchs parts don't exist Anywhere... at any price. So we have to improvise.

Our Challenge - Making the steering like the original Luchs and tying it into the Fv432 steering differential. It has to function and where not covered by floor or drivetrain cover, look the part.

So by creatively altering the parts we can control we can conform to the overall arrangement where seen. And hide the rest.

The drivetrain is the one place where we have to do our best to simulate and hide. The rest we spare no expense, time or effort to copy the original.... EXACTLY... or die trying. Does that seem rational? hmmmm not sure.

Copy of the Panzer II "Luchs" steering levers, tillers, sticks. or by whatever name you prefer.

Fashioning the thumb button system which will lock the sticks back acting as a parking brake.

Its as if he is thinking.... "see, I told you it would be easy".

Ahhhhh. Objects of beauty.

Test fit

Placement of the gear shifter in Alpha. Omega" is going to have a 5 speed Eaton manual transmission. Alpha is getting an Allison TX-100 Automatic from the M113 world.

Gear shift, like the original, has a push button to move it to reverse.

Alpha. This is the ugliness that we will hide with the proper aluminum tunnel/cover.

Drive shaft protection in place. They would have to scrape us out with a spoon if a u-joint let go without these armored shaft covers.

Now the floor to hold the seat. This seat connection method is ingenious. The original seat plugs into the front pair of holes at the desired location. The back two pins are tapered so that when placed in the corresponding holes in the rear it slides the seat back about 1/4 inch which locks the seat in place. Simplicity at its finest.

Reconditioned original seats, pop onto the floor. Later you will see the perfect reproduction buckle in seat covers.

Another human chop-o-matic. This time crossing the drivers shins.

But here again... Armored so as to contain a broken u-joint. Seats in place, with steering and gear shifter.

Gas pedal made and installed.

Grrrr, easy to reach everything and ready to go... Death Dealer on the move.