| From: | Grant Mahalek <gmahalek-at-shaw.ca> |
| Subject: | Re: Hows your tank comming along ? [TANKS] |
| Date: | Mon, 26 Sep 2005 22:39:09 -0600 |
| Reply-To: | tanks-at-rctankcombat.com |
|
Hi Norm,
My Hetzer tank is coming along
well.
I took it out for the first test drive on
Sunday. What an absolute blast!!!!
My friend Mark came over Saturday and wired in a
4011 NAND Gate into the throttle and steering servo leads from the motor
controller. Voila! A constant green radio signal light and
appropriate proportional speed control. I'am still having problems with
the 75 mhz Hitec Spectra Module for my Eclipse radio, so I just used my #12 72
mhz air frequency module.
I ran the tank around the yard, sidewalks, road,
garage and driveway for about three quarters of an hour. Towards the end
of the test run, the controls were getting a little wonkie...it was obvious the
spring tensioners on the TTS were not going to work...the front drive wheels
were slipping in the track....especially going forward....so I drove around in
reverse. I installed reddirod tensioners and tightened up the track as
much as I could....Front drive wheels were still slipping, however, not quite as
bad. I plan on cuttting some holes in the back of the hull to allow
another 1/2 inch of tension on the tracks.
Due to my novice driving skills, having to drive in
reverse and the wonkie controls toward the end, I was running the tank into
the house, fence, garage, etc..(basically anything that was in my way).
Spectators were watching from a safe vantage point well above ground level....
thank goodness!
The post mortem indicated:
1.)much more tension is needed on the TTS,
hopefully to stop the front drive wheels slipping on the inside of the
track
2.)all nuts and bolts must have Locktite(quite a
few nuts & bolts came loose)
3.)gearbox needs adjustment to provide better chain
tension
4.)the SSR's get very hot; cooling fins or
fans are needed
5.)some of the electrical connections on the motor
controller and SSR's came loose(perhaps this is what caused the wonkie control);
I'll be using ringed connectors and
locktite on the screw
connections to prevent this
Overall, I consider this project success with only
the above refinements needed. Next, onto the paintball marker
installation and final finishing.
Norm, the ground clearance of the Hetzer is
about 3 1/8 inches.
Norm, how is your planning coming.....armoured
car.....tank......armoured car.....tank....build both!
Grant
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