STALINGRAD Bolt Action Mega Battle!

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Project Entry by intelligentmistertoad

Magnetising Tank Turrets.

June 15, 2021

Tutoring 31

Skill 31

Idea 30

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This has to be the first time that I have photographed a model, suspended upside down my two tin cans!

With Resin and Resin/Metal vehicles with a turret (like Warlord’s Panzer IV Ausf D above) it is a sensible strategy to us magnets to secure the turret with just enough strength so that it can rotate left to right, and to keep it from falling of when held upside down. This will secure it during travel and prevent accidental dropping of a fragile turret by gamers who aren’t familiar with the model, my often over excited 6 year old nephew, and sausage fingered gaming mates (Cousin Olly!).

I recommend Neodymium circular magnets, which I but of eBay. Always try them out for strength before gluing in place. I often use a deeper and stronger magnet in the main body of the tank, with another magnet of identical diameter, but less depth in the turret.

It is important that the pull of the magnets is not too strong, as this will produce too tight a grip which will grind the paint off when the turret is turned. I wish someone had told me this before I first tried using magnets.

To start of the drilling I would recommend using a pin vice (hand held mini drill) to drill a minute pilot hole in the turret and tank chassis (see below). Then use an electric drill to add a larger sized hole, and then an even larger hole with a large drill bit. This will allow for accuracy. Trust me, it is really worth doing. I then secured the magnets in place with super glue.