Re: elevate and traverse

[Frank Pittelli <frank-at-rctankcombat.com>]

paul needham wrote:

> Hi all
> 
> Body underway so looking towards elevate and traverse for main gun.
> As this is a Hetzer following questions arise.
> 
> 1:- Is traverse a necessity ?  especially as I currently don't have 
> proportional speed/steering

Depends on how you plan to battle with it.  Long-range, stationary 
shelling would be easier with a traverse, whereas shooting on the move 
doesn't really need one.

> 
> 2:- I have the left stick set up for fwd/rev and steering and have a 
> throttle ratchet on the right stick for fore and aft movement [elevate] 
> do I also need a ratchet for the traverse ?

Yes, if you are using a servo for the traverse.  Otherwise it will 
return to the middle when you let go.  If you are using a motor to 
traverse, then you do *not* want a ratchet, because in that case you 
want the joystick to return to center when you let go (thereby stopping 
the motor wherever it is positioned).

> 
> 3:- I don't have any special servos [ 1/4 scale/heavy duty ] will I need 
> them ?

Probably not if the platform being rotated is rolling smoothly on a 
bearing of some sort.  Also, for the elevate, make sure the gun is 
perfectly balanced (add weight to one end or the other) so that the 
servo doesn't have to work hard to move it.  I'm just finishing up a new 
gun mount for the Tiger (Mark IV, I think) so I'll post some pictures in 
the next week or so.
> 
> 4:- Do I need servo savers to prevent damage ie stabbing another tank or 
> part of the scenery with the gun whilst the tank is moving ?
>  lots of questions but getting exciting , gun is in post whoa !!!!!!

I haven't used any servo savers, but they can't hurt.  Instead, you can 
attach springs to the elevate/rotate mechanism to absorb the shock. 
That helps not only in a collision, but also for the dynamic loads seen 
when swinging the gun side to side or up and down.  The new Tiger mount 
uses two pneumatic shocks (used to hold up a hatch-back window/door) 
which appear to work quite well in that regard.  I plan on using the 
same arrangement for the "Navaronne Guns" to be built this fall.

        Frank P.