RE: Question

["John Guy" <john-at-tankcommand.org>]

Hey Brian,
Thanks for asking, biz is currently very good, what can I say, I get
paid to play with big model tanks!!!!!!
Heading towards it becoming a full time job soon too.
I have some samples from intralox, the track system Joe Sumner is using,
its very good, I have both the 3.5 width and 4 inch width, which I
prefer. I have an all steel folded and welded chassis that a fabricator
I used to work with made, all I need is to start on motors (12 battery
drills al-la Mr Sumner!!), I also intend having suspension, I just hope
the track locates positively enough to handle it.
But that's about all I have, work, and Tank Command keep me too busy,
but maybe I can buy a Vantec speedo through the business! (sounds of
villainous laughter!)
Anyway, that's where I'm at with a 1/6th scale beastie, long way to go
yet, but enjoying it, will get some pickies of what I have posted to you
guys soon.
Cheers
John


-----Original Message-----
From: tanks-admin-at-rctankcombat.com [mailto:tanks-admin-at-rctankcombat.com]
On Behalf Of Brian Kraack
Sent: 09 December 2003 23:06
To: tanks-at-rctankcombat.com
Subject: Re: Question

how's business?
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Guy" <john-at-tankcommand.org>
To: <tanks-at-rctankcombat.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 5:46 PM
Subject: RE: Question


> Hello folks,
> Just a quick entry from a guy who mostly sits on the side lines
wishing
> he had time to build one of these fantastic models!!!
> 
> With regards to the front / rear sprocket debate, rear sprockets have
a
> couple of major advantages.
> 
> Firstly, rather than bringing the gearbox to the driver, meaning
> obtrusive drive shafts running the length of the tank, engineers
> discovered easier ways of taking the control inputs TO the gearbox,
this
> put all of the drive train in one area of the tank, the design of ever
> smaller engines making this easier during WW2. the panzer 4 had the
rear
> idler were it was (protruding from the rear of the chassis) because of
> the front sprocket, not vice versa.
> 
> Also, and this is just an educated (badly!!!) guess on my part, when
you
> consider how the track behaves when the vehicle is moving forwards, ie
> oscillating up and down as it returns forward over the return rollers,
> on a front sprocket tank the track is very unstable when it gets to
the
> sprocket.
> 
> Compare this to the rear sprocket tank, and on all but the roughest
> terrain, the track is "presented" to the sprocket at a much more
> consistent angle, and a much more consistent tension, meaning more
> efficient engagement with the sprocket.
> 
> Also, a tank track is a "pulling" drive train, not a pusher, so for
> maximum efficiency, the "pull" needs to be as close to the surface it
is
> trying to move over as possible, and again the rear sprocket, when
used
> for forward motion, achieves this much more directly.
> 
> For any of you guys still awake after my mini - novel, keep up the
> fantastic work, I really will get around to building something
someday,
> but www.tankcommand.org keeps me busy.
> 
> Theres a thought, does having 15 1/16th scale tanks equal 1 1/6th
scale
> beast???
> Cheers
> John
> (England, Rugby World Champions 2003)
> (DAMN proud!!!!!)
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: tanks-admin-at-rctankcombat.com
[mailto:tanks-admin-at-rctankcombat.com]
> On Behalf Of Frank Pittelli
> Sent: 09 December 2003 14:58
> To: tanks-at-rctankcombat.com
> Subject: Re: Question
> 
> Jaakko Kukkohovi wrote:
> > 
> > I thought of making the tank rear drive. Is there any advantages or 
> > disadvantages for having rear or front drive?
> > 
> 
> Having built front-drive myself and seen the rear-drive used in the 
> Russian tanks, I would give the advantage to rear-drive.  In the
Russian
> 
> tanks, for example, it is easier to fit the drive assembly into the
rear
> 
> section, and I think that is true for most tanks.  On some tanks, 
> however, like the Panzer IV, the rear axle doesn't actually go through

> the hull, so it would be difficult to drive that axle.  The Tiger 
> doesn't have that problem, so you can drive it from the rear if you
want
> 
> without too much trouble.
> 
> As far as actual battlefield performance, there doesn't seem to be any

> difference one way or the other.
> 
> Frank P.
> 
>