Scratch Build – In Progress 1/5th RC Abrams M1A2 Case Build

Very nice project! Subbed

 

Love the unfriedly Config

Subbd

 

OOh! Missed the unfriendly config!
Just the idea of a model tank with the potential to crush someone had me drooling. Now I have an image of it liquifying the competition at a mock tank battle.
Edit: Any plans for a braking system?

 

I wonder how a braking system would work..

This is by far one of the most epic things ever. Even in the friendly config it's pretty dangerous.

 

Have pressed the stub axels into the trailing arms ready for welding and test fitted the first unit into the hull.

Have a couple of small adjustments to make to the trailing arms to allow easier access to the bolts but otherwise very pleased with how they are sitting

Trailing arm with stub axel ready to be pressed into place


Ready for welding


first unit installed for testing, all looking good


Inside the hull



Hull turned upside down for checking


Should hopefully have all units in on one side so I can lace up the tracks and do a motor run to see how they track

 

The motors have a braking system built into them

 

What is your day job Spudnik? The engineering and fabrication on this is first class so I'm assuming you do something similar in a professional capacity.

 

hehehehe, thanks but no my day job is computer geek Lets just say Battlefield 1942 DC Mod just wasn't doing it for me any more so like all good Kiwis I adapted

 

Suspension test

Hay, little video of the first test unit in the hull, it shows hoe they should all work, there are 7 of these down each side.
Working well so I am very please

 

This thread has blown my mind. Excellent craftsmanship, looking forward to following the progress here

 

Awesome stuff.. Are those springs going to be hefty enough though? I mean if you can push them in yourself that easy will they hold all of that weight?

 

Weight will be spread between 14 springs, would need to be relatively soft to allow adaption to terrain.

 

Each suspension unit has a max load of 15kgs before the spring binds.
That means 15kgs x14 units = 210Kgs max weight for the tank before it is running hard.
It is expected to come in at around the 150-180kg mark max but if its a problem I am still able to put a second spring inside the main spring to ad extra pressure if needed.

The motors, controller and battery's (lead acid) come in at 35kgs, the hull and turret as it is now is 30kgs, only half the tracks are carried by the suspension so maybe an extra 10kgs there, road wheels and trailing arms are not carried so don't add anything.
That's a total of about 75kg's as it sits now.
I am also looking at changing the batteries from 2x 12v 40a/h batteries to 4x 12v 60a/h custom made Lithium Ion battery packs that will take up less space and be about half the weight. it also means I can protect them more with heavy plate so that we don't get any unexpected fires when playing with the unfriendly configuration

 

WOOT!?!?!?
12 gauge semiautomatic shotgun for playing? and what do You guys using for _serious_ job? KPVT? or 45mm antitank cannon?

 

Only thing you could improve on: Make it a Bradley mod instead of an M1 mod . . .fracken tankers . . .

 

By that you obviously mean make it a Challenger 2 and not an M1.

This is so very, very awesome.

 

Got quite a bit done over the last few days
TIG welded all the stub axles into the trailing arms and assembled half the suspension units with lots of Coppercoate to get them moving.
Cut the retaining clips that go on the outside of the hull and hold the stub axle and suspension units to the side of the hull

Installed all the left hand side units and have tested the road wheels on the axles.
Also tried on one of its feet as well, they will have to be shortened but about 4-5 links but will do that last once everything is in.

Once thats done it will be time to hook up the batteries and give the left hand side a run to see if there are any other issues that need to be sorted before starting on the right hand side assembly

Holes drilled in side of Hull


Suspension units, Trailing arms and retaining clips in place



Road wheels sitting in place for testing


One of its feet in place, finally starting to look like a tank







Hoping to have the other side on tomorrow night, then its time to sit it on its suspension and see if it works as designed

 

Usually I don't like mil-themed mods but this one...Such a craftmanship and ingenuity! I'm salivating and getting anxious waiting for the next update and for the kaboom vids! Bravo!

 

Lovely.

 

Have attached all the suspension units on the right hand side and fitted road wheels.

Put on track so its ready to spin over and load test it.

Will lift a pallet up under the tank to take its weight (and that of the jig) with batteries etc in it so I can see how the suspension will ride.

Once that is done I will be able to cut the tracks to the right length and join them, then I will be able to run them up to see were the road wheels will want to track.


You can see here the suspension units running along the inside of the hull