Hello all I'm working on the RPM TKS Tankette w/20mm gun and I'm having a hard time finding an resin engine set for it. I started to scratch-build an engine from the line drawings, but there are some things missing from them. Can any one out there help me find a resin engine kit for this small tank???

:Thanks Cap-Caveman:

Here's some of my starting engine work. Now I may get this engine rong so If any one knows of a resin set of has any photos of the set or real engine let me know. Here's my work in a mock up of the interior.

Have you tried RPM kit #35030 "TKS Interior"? I believe it has tranny, engine, and interior. As for accuracy, I am not sure - typical RPM/Mirage I assume....

Here's the stock RPM TKS Interior set. ((SUCKS!))

My gawd that's awful!

Now that is terrible.. But you know RPM.. I haven’t seen anything for any of the Tankette’s yet……..

Wolf

The TKS used a Ford 4-cylinder Model A, 40hp air-cooled engine. Hope this helps
WOLF

This engine used TK-3 tankettes, but TKS used Polski Fiat 122B engine, 46hp.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TKS
http://derela.republika.pl/tks20pl.htm
http://derela.republika.pl/tks_galp.html
http://www.weu1918-1939.pl/pancerne/tankietki/tks/dowodztwo_pancerne_tankietki_tks.html

Yes (Graywolfgang) in the beginning the polish used the ford 4 cylinder flat head, then in later years they moved to (Like whiteeagle pointed out)- the Polski Fiat 122B engine witch is a 6 cylinder flat head engine.
Here's that old ford flat head.


Thanks for the links "whiteeagle".

I'm looking for the same solution. I suspect that the RPM interior "engine" is the result of the Poles enclosing the engine.

I plan on using the engine from the Azimut UE update set, since it seems to be the closest I've found to the Ford A engine used in the majority of the Polish TK series. The pulley system will need reworked since the radiator layout is different between the two vehicles. I will also use the RPM differential as it most closely resembles the TK.

The Azimut can be found here:

http://www.phpshopxml.com/azimut.shop/CID/59bc3089abdb5908879592505d244b3e/function/itemPageDisplay/shopItemCode/AZI35373

Walkaround photos of a restored TKS (unfortunately without the engine):

http://derela.republika.pl/tks_gal.htm

Last, a walkaround of the Polish C2P tractor that do show the engine. The C2P is a derivitive of the TK family of tankettes and was used to pull their 40mm AA guns.

http://news.webshots.com/album/131945342kEDfPK

Hope this helps

Sorry guys I didn't get back to this project sooner. An to Dewey Flor sorry I didn't use you photos when I scratchbuilt my version of the engine. I used this image to start with.


Now here's the finished engine and othere parts'.


Here's some close ups'.

You did a great job on the engine.

All the necessary info you get on this forum.
For sure you get professional help:
http://whiteeagle.net.pl/index.php

Look here to:
http://www.1939.pl/uzbrojenie/polskie/pojazdy/tk/index.html
Here:
http://www.weu1918-1939.pl/pancerne/tankietki/tks/dowodztwo_pancerne_tankietki_tks.html
&:
http://img.odkrywca.pl/pokaz_watek.php?id=675677

BTW good job.
congrats.
RJ

Capt.;

That's a pretty nice little mill, there, Sir!

I have one of these RPM TK kits with the "interior"... yeah, just as you noted way above. Pretty sad! Even depressing. LoL!

Your piece is pretty inspiring- seeing your mill suggests to me that I MIGHT be able to put something together too instead of using that lump RPM provides- which argues for buttoning up...

I do have a question/comment... You look to have built a 4-banger, but not that flat-4 Ford from the photo. The diag you put up is of that Polski-FIAT flat-6- it clearly depicts the 6 plugs lined up on top. If I understand right, you've pretty much done this engine. So... Why only 4 plugs & wires? Have I missed something, here?

Cheers!

PS: Hey! I just saw you could be a "homie" - being as you, too, are hailing from down here in the bayou state! Where are you at? I'm down in cajun-country Lafayette, myself!

Bob

Rafal, thanks for those links,
once I figured out how to use the one, it certainly turned into a treasure trove for Polish armor.

Hello all you guys: To "eeRJott" for all the time I was over in the IDF and US Armor section of this forum, and tat the same time working on this little Moto. I only use the diogram nothere other than that. To "panzerbob01" to reson I only went with 4 wires and not 6 is because from what I have built in my automotive passed. most engines that have exhaust header with 4 hole mounting points, meas that there should be 4 cylinder shafts. And you gus are right there are 6 spark plugs shown in the diogram. I always can add two(2). It's not that much to add yall.

An to the (Gorn),"homie" from Lafayette, I'm way up here on the North shore in Hammond. (Gorn Flick):
An "eeRJott" thanks for the grat links man.

Oh and this is the othere diogram I used:

Capt.;

Those links are pretty interesting! Actually, as seen on one Polish link, there are a couple of pics of the 6-cyl engine... wearing what I'm going to guess is some sort of heat-shield intended to at least reduce the damages to the driver leaning on his engine. After staring at them for a bit, I'll bet that the RPM folks were trying to generally represent this arrangement in their "blob"- it would make sense that there should have been some sort of H-S installed... and, if this is the real deal, I can see why it shows up as a rectangular blob with the distributor sticking up. So maybe I'll go this route and fit a metal sheet bit over the blob to get the better feeling of a tin shield and add on various bits which might show around it (some of the stuff you've created)! Be a lot simpler than doing the really nice and complete job you've done, but actually pretty "correct"!

Now, of course, having seen that heat-shield in place... maybe it could add quite a dimension to an interior build to show it pulled off and set aside as if maybe to service that engine!

So, having built it... how are you going to paint up the little beast?

Bob

Well my ((Gorn)) friend, I working on a really small base for it with one german soldier looking down in to the abandoned tank. With the shield laying just over the drivers seat. Both the front and rear panels will be off and laying on the fenders. So the fan pully rig and rear axel can ge seen.
So what do you think of my mini dio/base idea!

Oh and I do see I need to build a battery. You all will see it when I start getting the interior components painted and fitted.
Oh and the color of the polish TKS was med tan or light tan. An the engine or motor block and tranny was Steel in color. the axel was interior body color with heavy oil and dirt stanes'. The exhaust headers were a brass or coper/silver color., the spark plug wires were black but with weathering they looked dark gray with spots of med gray. Only were there was more heat near them. AAHH! It had brown leather seat pads' and the fram of the seat was body color. Oh there was a heay cot of oil all around the botom of the engine and axel, I think I pointed that out.

Well before I go on with all that, I'll point out any thing in my paint and weather stage ok guy and girls if any are looking.

Let me get back to work on it. More photos coming really soon.

Capt.;

Sounds like a deal, to me! I looked at a couple of pix showing one of these TKS things broken down or otherwise abandoned off the side of a road- sort of on a slope above a ditch. Pics catured it in various phases of its dismantlement by passing Germans... tracks on and entire. Opened and gunless. Tracks pulled off. This scenario seems to be sort of what you are thinking of. It could be certes be pretty cool! I like the thought of leaky oil and mess inside- somehow I can easily picture this thing being pretty messy early-on!

Whenever you get it put together and start splashing paint around in this little puppy, please do get some pics up. I'll be watching! I just went into my stash-room this PM and fingered my RPM TKS w/ 2cm gun kit- I have some PE for the exterior, and maybe I'll follow your lead and cobble up some inners.

All I can say, once I looked again into the kit box is... sho ain't no Dragon kit we have in here! But then, the real thing looks kind of basic and ad-hoc, too!

But having looked at those links and the pics therein... I now have some better ideas as to what can be fixed up to make this little booger pop a bit- so again, I'll be watching to see how you go with it!

Cheers!

Bob.

PS: Aside from getting some pics posted... are you planning on putting it into any of the local area shows? I know there's one in Lake Charles in JAN, and one in Baton Rouge and another in Kenner in the Spring- all of which I hit.

I wasn't really thinking of putting it in any shows, I started this build for the online guys. An I will be posting a good bit of my paint and weathering work.