Yes, Here I am
again. I have found a partial solution to the elevation problem in my
turret. I may be able to pull off 8 degrees positive and 10 degrees
negative elevation. I'll be able to tell for sure in the next few
weeks. If I run a CO2 line thru the middle of my slip ring assembly, I
would be able to locate my CO2 bottle in my hull, rather than my turret.
This means that I will have to add innovation on top of innovation, but what the
hell, right? I'm still not sure how many paint balls I can fit into a
magazine, my vertical space is very limited. I have the Turret shell
completed as well as the supporting structure. I'll post pictures as soon
as I get the gun mount and elevating mechanism finished. As for the
drive.... This poses the biggest problem of all. At 1/6th scale, I
have 8" of space width wise inside my inner hull. No room for two motors
of any power side by side. I've been thinking that a single motor
setup might just do the trick. A single speed controlled motor, driving
two shafts, one forward, one reverse, coupled to four clutches, one for each
direction of motion on each side of the vehicle.... Joe Sommer (I hope) is
working on a solution for coupling throttle control to forward/reverse on the
C6C controller. If we can get this to work, along with using the Anvilus
"mini" relay controller to run the clutches.... Well, we'll see.
I've decided to use gas springs instead of coil springs in my Christie
suspension. This alleviates many engineering problems while
introducing a couple of new ones. Gas springs don't act quite like coil
springs. I'll see how this plays out over the next few weeks as
well. Yes Frank, I'm well on my way to the looney bin. My wife is
convinced that I'm a nut case. The folks at work give me that "far away"
look when I mention "the tank" especially because it is taking so long.
There is still a LOT of engineering left to do. The front
suspension/steering for example.
I'll be working on it
though provided I can avoid both straight jacket and rubber
room!!!
Paul
Hilton.