Scratch Build – In Progress C&C tiberium wars Advanced flame tank

Hello ppl, this is my first mod I post on bit-tech.

My previous case mod (C&C tiberium sun Temple of NOD) was posted on gathering.tweakers.net (dutch forum)
I won some really cool prizes with this mod on the dutch TBCL 2007.

After some time doing other things I started a new case mod: C&C Tiberium wars Advanced flame tank.
As I was posting my progress again on tweakers, Ediejo notified me you'd probably like this case mod too and so I started translating my posts for this forum.

I am crazy about the old Command and Conquer genre and especially NOD.
I wanted to build a flame tank case mod which was able to drive and off-course throw some nice flames. (to test your insurance policy )

Previously I created another flame throwing robot from the older C&C tiberium sun genre, Both tanks will be using the same custom made electronics.
But now I wanted to make a mod from the new C&C genre (C&C tiberium wars)

I chose the new Advanced flame tank because I really like its design.
The design is kind of retro to the tiberium dawn flame tank.

The old Tiberium dawn flame tank:


The newer tiberium wars (advanced) flame tank:



The Design

I wrote down some cirterea I (at least) wanted to implement n the tank:

• An (older) FAT PS3 running Ubuntu linux server distro in dual boot with XMB (when not using the tank function but playing GTA or so
• Tank has to be able to play blue ray.
• Tank has to be able to drive autonomously(using camera's and advanced object detection techniques.
• It has to be completely wireless, no power cables or so.
• A docking station is needed to recharge the batteries(like the ROOMBA) and to automatically connect to the HDMI cable and the beamer
• 2 real working self igniting flame throwers.
• The body of the tank at least has to have 180 degrees rotation freedom.
• I want to shape everything out of aluminium and Stainless steel.
• All electronics and software is designed by me.

These are rather high demands and it probably will take some time in creating and fabricating all components of the tank.
But that is half the fun

I started by drawing the tank in inventor, before this project I never worked with this program before, but along the way I learned how to use it.
I designed the tank from very few designs (couln't find any real good high quality images).
This has some pro- and cons:
A con is, I wouldn't get exactly like what the designer at the time had in mind.
A pro is that it leaves more open to my own creative input...

These are a few screenshots of the in-game tank and a art disign of the tank I found on the internet.



This Time I wanted to make my own tracks and I tried to recreate it as much as possible by looking at the design.
I immediately disigned the matching gear for the tracks along the way.


The tracks will be casted out of aluminium, and in This drawing you can see 12 track connected to each other with special channels.


After this I started on the tracks themselves, I wanted shock absorbers and a chain tightener just like a real tank has.
In total the tank will get 4 of these tracks.

With both plates on:

And te covering plate:


These are my own design shock absorberd which will be used in the tank, most parts will be created on the lathe.
Each track will get 8 of these.


The bottom part of the tank will look like this, the tracks are connected to each other with this frame.
Each track has at least 1 degree of freedom to rotate to allow for maximal terrain accesibility.


An naturally the body itself...
I mainly created these designs to measure from .


And this is how It will get to look.
My own driving PS3 flame tank (who else can say that ? )

In total the tank will be about 70 cm long, 50 wide and 26 high.

I hope you like this thread as I am going to use some nice and advanced techniques to get this monster on the road



Update 1 - laser cutting
Update 2 - aluminium casting tools
Update 3 - refining aluminium and first sandcast pour
Update 4
Update 5 - flamethrowers
Update 6 - welding, bending, grinding...
Update 7 - start of frame and finishes

 

Welcome to Bit-tech!

Thats some amazing design work i look foward to seeing how you start this one its certainly going to be unique!!

 

You are insane!!

I will watch closely for i am a closet pyromaniac and i like robots

 

Are you an engineer or something like that?! I think you are insane too! ^^

 

I hear that often

Yes I have a degree in electrical engineering, but I am a programmer for my daytime job.
And when I am free I like do spent time behind my lathe/mill... machining ....

I am a complicated man

 

A great idea, I await updates with eager anticipation

 

You really are insane. I still can't believe it is even possible. I wish you the bet of luck to finiish this mod.

 

About tracks:

http://www.rctankcombat.com/tanks/

good ideas there.

 

Welcome m8 on bit-tech. I think that the love your work here! I have seen your first mod and that was great.
So you follow my second advice to post it on bit tech. Great job!

His other mod was so nice look.









I hope that you are not angry that i post some photo's from your mod.

 

That is ... that is... insane?!?!? This is madness! (No this is Patrick! ) ;p
I cant find any words, this is something out of science fiction movie! Subbed thats for sure, my curiosity is at dangerous levels now!

 

Thank you very much, nope I don't mind it at all

For the people who don't know the game...
This is from Command and Conquer tiberian sun, this is the temple of NOD (which houses the main PC)
And I created an obelisk of light to house the watercooling system.
(naturally WITH working laser!)
Temple of NOD artwork:

 

update 1- laser cutting

Update 1 - lasercutting

Because I designed the tank in CAD I now can just simply export various parts.
I know a guy who has access to a really neat laser cutting device and he agreed to do some work for me.
The results are really crisp clear.

In total These parts need to be cut:

• 8 track sides, 3 mm rvs
• 4 track middle plates (motor gets mounted on these) ,3mm rvs
• 8 gears, 3mm rvs
• 4 motor motor supports, 3 mm rvs
• 1 bottom plate 2 mm rvs

I had to export everything in 2d first after which everything gets designed as efficient as possible onto a plate to minimize the losses.

The parts have been made on this machine


This is the bottomplate, the left part is from someone else


This is how it lays in the machine , the head above is the laser.


A little movie of the cutting itself


This is the result, the parts kan easely be pressed out by hand.


Closeup of one gear


One sideplate


And the bottom plate


Thats all folks.

 

No this is SPARTA!

 

Welcome to Bit-Tech!
Let me say I love anything with tank treads, and I'll be watching this without blinking.

@Delta-FX - Nice one! I found THIS thanks to you. - and they have cad files!*Bwa! Ha! Ha!*

 

sweet project I'll be watching this one. Love your other build too.

 

Now that iI have seen your previous mod. I am convinced it is possible and I wait for this one.

 

Yes, can't wait, still one of my favourite C&C tanks ever, that and the mammoth tanks!!!

 

Update 2 - aluminium casting tools

I plan on making a few aluminium tank components myself.
Among them are a number of difficult shapes like:

• A ball bearing mount
• The tracks
• Cover plates

The idea is to make molds out of wood and then make aluminium casts of their shapes.

I have done some research, what is nessecairy to melt aluminium and how to cast it.

Aluminium melts at a temperature of 660 degrees celcius.
And with a normal gasflame it is difficult to obtain temperatures like that (or higher).
That is why a furnace is needed.

I shopped for some special materials like insulation cloth which withstands temperatures up to 1400 degrees.
Special fire resistant cement.
A crucible to melt the aluminium in.
Aluminium cleaning material.

At a local hardware store I bought a steel bucket to build an furnace.

In the top of the bucket I drilled a hole to let the gasses pass through.
The bolts will be used to hang the bucket in a frame.

The frame is made out of some old scrap metal.


The completed frame...


A note to myself, this is why you wear protection glasses.


I made some sort of suspension bridge construction to lift the bucket from the crucible.


This is how the bucket goed up, it can be attached to the frame so you have your hands free while casting.


This is the special insulation which withstands high temperatures.


I've drawn the inside of the bucket on the the insulation.


After cutting it out, some cement on the cloth and the inside of the bucket.


Then I stuck it to the wall of the bucket and had it cure for a day.


Meanwhile I had begun to make the tools to handle the extremely hot crucible.
I bent some rebar and welded some plates to it to make an axle.


Welded it..


A special bracket is made to attach to the plier, this will prevent the crucible from falling out when casting.


This is how the plier will sit on the crucible.


Thats all for this update.
Next update is of the refining of the aluminium.
I am really curious about the results

Meanwhile I asked a friend if he could mill the tracks out of wood, to use as a positive mold in the future...

 

That's the first time I see somebody making his case by melting metal. Can't wait to see that.

 

Sand casting too? This is too fun!