QUESTION ?

["Richard Davis" <its2farout-at-earthlink.net>]

 Being a new wanna - be tank builder and battler, I have questions (1
million to be exact) so I can formulate a game plan and start to collect
parts. My first question is, why have I read that some tanks are are in
excess of 125lbs. but have read some speak of building light weight tanks?
Do they need to be light or heavy? I would think light for speed and less
energy consumpton. What situation might a tank encounter that would warrant
the upperbody and turret to be built of heavy material ? I know the battery
is heavy and a lower body/drivetrain chassis should be strong but,
I am not yet familiar with the RC combat tankers thinking as now exist and
am trying to pick some brains for good info before I start a tank project.
So whats the ideal situation, lightweight or heavy, excluding battery
weight factor?
                                                                            
                                                                            
                  Thanks for the help,
                                                                            
                                                                            
                   RDavis


> [Original Message]
> From: WJ <WJ-at-vdtogt.nl>
> To: <tanks-at-rctankcombat.com>
> Date: 4/8/04 9:52:27 PM
> Subject: Re: Requesting information on a great hobby!
>
> WOW, thank you for replying this quickly and completely. I was working on
> my website and decided to add a page for RC Tanks (www.vdtogt.nl under RC
> Tanks, duh)
>
> Anyways, since the main quarters of Intralox is located in Amsterdam I
> will give them a call.  Much obliged for your feedback!!
>
>
> > Willem-Jan,
> >
> > Welcome to one of the most exciting hobbies
> > that I have ever known.
> >
> > At 11:46 AM 4/8/2004 -0400, you wrote:
> >>>One of the tanks featured on your site is a Hetzer (#T010) built by Joe
> >>>Sommer.  It's tracks are built from Intralox series 900 conveyor belt.
> >>> I
> >>>was wondering why the builder used this series instead of the 4000
> >>> series
> >>>(Which looks more like real tracks.)  I would love to hear his feedback
> >>> so
> >>>I can decide which to choose. (I am also wondering about the pricing)
> >
> > I agree that Intralox 4009 flush grid looks much
> > more like actual track.  However, I did not try it
> > for two reasons.
> >
> > 1) Series 4000 is side-flexing conveyor chain
> > that can turn corners.  Series 900 is straight
> > running belt.  I thought that straight chain would
> > have less possibility of throwing track during skid
> > turns.
> >
> > 2)  Hetzers had one row of road wheels that ran
> > between two guide horns on each track link similar
> > to Series 900.  Series 4000 has a center tab
> > that would work better for tanks with paired road
> > wheels (e.g. PzKw IV, Panther V, Tiger VI, T-34,
> > M1 Abrams).  I have photos of actual links for
> > PzKw II, III, IV, V, and VI as well as Hetzer and
> > Abrams if you would like to see them.
> >
> > I just called Intralox for pricing.
> >
> > Series 900 3.25 inch MTW flush grid grey polypropylene WITH TABS
> > $71.06 / box (10 feet)
> > weight 0.31 lb/ft
> > 0.313 inch tall tracking tabs
> >
> > Series 900 3.25 inch MTW flush grid grey acetal WITH TABS
> > $102.42 / box (10 feet)
> > weight 0.42 lb/ft
> > 0.313 inch tall tracking tabs
> >
> > Series 900 4.1 inch 12T acetal sprocket with 1.5 inch square bore
> > $18.04 each
> >
> > Series 4009 85 mm sideflexing flush grid grey acetal
> > $112.45 / box (10 feet)
> > weight 1.11 lb/ft
> > 0.500 inch tall center tabs
> >
> > Series 4000 3.9 inch 12T acetal sprocket with 1.5 inch square bore
> > $12.88 each
> >
> > Hetzer #T010, PzKw IV #T012 and PzKw IV #T015
> > all use Series 900 3.25 inch MTW flush grid grey
> > polypropylene with tabs.  I think that Tiger #T021
> > uses Series 900 4.5 inch MTW flat top with tabs.
> >
> > Unfortunately, you must buy conveyor from Intralox
> > by the box (10 feet) and most of our tanks require 12 to
> > 14 feet of track.
> >
> > Series 4000 is only available in acetal material.
> > Because Series 4000 uses stainless steel pins
> > it weighs about 3 times as much as Series 900
> > (6.66 lb per 6 ft track versus 1.86 lb per 6 ft track).
> >
> > The center tab for Series 4000 is much taller than
> > Series 900 (0.500 inches versus 0.313 inches) which
> > could help prevent throwing track.  Also you will
> > only need one sprocket per track for Series 4000
> > whereas I use two sprockets per track for Series
> > 900.
> >
> > Bottom line - I think that Series 4000 could work
> > well.  Give it a try.
> >
> > I would be pleased to answer more questions
> > by private Email <anvilus9-at-adelphia.net> or
> > through the general forum at
> > <tanks-at-rctankcombat.com> .
> >
> > Best wishes,
> > Joe
> >
> >
> > **********************************************
> > Joe Sommer
> > 2378 Nantucket Circle, State College, PA 16803
> > 814.234.4773     anvilus9-at-adelphia.net
> > http://www.anvilus.com
> >
> >