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Tamiya 1/35 Universal Carrier - weird suspension problem?


StephenMG

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Hi all,


Anyone here built the 1/35 Tamiya Universal Carrier? I'm in the process of assembling one now and have come across a strange problem with mounting the suspension units. The double-wheeled units have a peg on the back which mounts into a hole in the side of the hull. That peg has a section that is half-round to ensure it's orientated correctly when fixed to the hull...or so I thought. However, the hole it goes into has the corresponding half-round section at completely the wrong angle! That means the if I stick it in so that the half-round section lines up, the suspension unit will be virtually upside down!


I really can't get my head around this and trying to figure out if I've done something wrong. However there are no parts that could have been assembled wrongly to cause it - the hole and peg are moulded into the side of the hull and suspension arms respectively. The rest of the kit goes together pretty well considering its age, just as you'd expect a from a Tamiya kit. Looking at photos of the same part on the web they are definitely different to mine and have the peg orientated at a different angle.


All I can do is cut off the half-round section and hope there's enough 'peg' left to hold the suspension unit on properly.


I'm completely stumped as to what's going on. Anyone else had this problem?


Mark :confused:

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Hi Mark.

You may have got the mounting of one of the road wheels mixed up with the track return wheel. I did it myself on a recent carrier build. Thats why the pegs dont match the holes on the hull side. I'll post up a pic later of a completed suspension unit for you to have a look at. Dont cut the pegs off!

Regards

Steve

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I have made a couple of these, they do go together rather well. I think I may have had problems with the double wheel, I think I suck them ok the wrong side, don't know if that's helped So I took some photos of the front

2e81f853d172e72f784a40194c6f8bdf_zpsaaef

And the back

fc19cfc50f0ce5e42afc73c37d2bbbad_zps186a

Regards

Ozzy

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Hi Mark.

You may have got the mounting of one of the road wheels mixed up with the track return wheel. I did it myself on a recent carrier build. Thats why the pegs dont match the holes on the hull side. I'll post up a pic later of a completed suspension unit for you to have a look at. Dont cut the pegs off!

Regards

Steve

Bugger! I see what you mean.

I'm not at home at the moment but I'll check as soon as I get in. That would be really stupid if that's what I've done. It would certainly explain things.

I have made a couple of these, they do go together rather well. I think I may have had problems with the double wheel, I think I suck them ok the wrong side, don't know if that's helped So I took some photos of the front

Regards

Ozzy

Thanks Ozzy. That's what it should look like. I'll go home and compare mine....! (nice model BTW)

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Hi Mark,

Pic of the suspension unit....

DSC_0009_zpse1e324f1.jpg

You can see the orientation of the wheels in relation to the track return roller and spring. I've done two carriers and made the same mistake on both!

If you can't separate the parts to put them right, give us a shout as I have a spare set in the loft from an aborted build from years ago.

Regards,,

Steve

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Steve, thank you! You are spot on and transposing two of the wheels is exactly what I've done! What an idiot!

I'm not sure what's annoyed me more,

a. getting it wrong in the first place, or

b. looking at the resulting cock-up a hundred times trying to figure out what's wrong and STILL not noticing what I'd done!!!

Luckily I hadn't attempted to cement the ends of the axles together as I wanted the wheels to run free to aid painting and in getting the tracks on. I've managed to cut through the central 'bit' with a very fine razor saw to get them apart. I've now put the wheels in the right places and stuck them back together. Funnily enough the suspension units now fit perfectly! :blush:

Thank you also for the very kind offer of the replacement parts. It looks like I'm sorted now though.

Thank you again for your help. :thumbsup2:

Mark

Edited by StephenMG
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Hi Mark

Your welcome and i'm glad you managed to sort it without too much trouble. Are you going to do a WIP on this?

Regards

Steve

A WIP? Hmm, not sure I've got much to offer really. It's just a straightforward OOB build. I'll certainly put up some Ready For Inspection pics though, especially as I've now got all the bits and pieces glued on the right way round (thanks to you!) :)

Edited by StephenMG
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