R/C Tank Combat

Armored Car #AC006

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Type: Staghound T17E1 Armament: 37mm
Built: 2006-2009 Armor: 41mm
Builder: Steve Butzen Rating: 20/3
Status: Operational Battles: 0
Owner: Steve Butzen Points Earned: 0
Call Sign: Katie Points Given: 0
Notes:
 
  • 24 volt wheelchair motor
  • Independent front suspension
  • Wiper-motor for steering
  • Metal frame
  • Fiberglass turret


  • Click Photo For Enlargement (91 Kb)
     
    The mighty Staghound T17 Mark 1! An interesting feature of this vehicle is the side saddle mounted gas tanks. These external tanks supplemented an internal gas tank for additional range. If the vehicle came under fire the fuel tanks could be released from inside and would roll off. As a side note: In almost every picture I found showing actual combat vehicles these tanks are long gone and area has been converted to storage.

    The frame is made from 1/2 square tube welded up on a cheap one hundred twenty nine dollar harbor freight gas-less welder. The front suspension parts are 1/4 rod and 1/2 tube.
     

    Click Photo For Enlargement (32 Kb)


    Click Photo For Enlargement (43 Kb)
     
    This picture shows more of the frame, the 5k pot for the trottle and the steering motor. Note the servo in the middle of the picture with the arm connected to the steering. This servo does not turn the steering but provides feedback to the receiver/tecel board.

    This picture shows the 20 round paintball magazine on top. The large servo that provides tilt for the gun is on the far left. Underneath the tilt servo is the door lock solenoid that pulls the trigger. Under that is the receiver battery. To the right of the receiver battery is a servo/microswitch. This was the original trigger mechanism before I purchased the battle switch. http://www.dimensionengineering.com/BattleSwitch.htm This switch works great. (gratuitous product endorsement)
     

    Click Photo For Enlargement (46 Kb)


    Click Photo For Enlargement (35 Kb)
     
    This picture shows on the left the battery for the trigger solenoid. To the lower left of the battery is the turret reciever. The turret has it's own receiver to operate gun tilt and trigger functions. To the right of the reciver is the "battleswitch to pull the trigger. Above the battleswitch is the co2 tank removed from it's fitting to show the anti-siphon tube.

    The turret was made by gluing up pink foam insulation and carving out a rough shape. The foam block can then be easily sanded to any shape. Do yourself a favor and do this job outside as "pink snow" generated by this process is a mess to clean up. I then wrapped the foam mold in saran wrap to keep the epoxy from sticking. The epoxy and fiberglass cloth was left over from a boat project.
     

    Click Photo For Enlargement (21 Kb)


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    Due to the complex shape of the turret the foam could not be removed as one piece. After foam removal the fiberglass can be surfaced filled, sanded and primed to corvette perfection. I left mine a little rough to simulate the casting of the original turret.

    The fenders are 20 gauge sheetmetal. The wheels are from Ebay. The storage boxes under the external gas tanks provide a perfect place to house the main batteries. The main batteries can be changed out in less than a minute.
     

    Click Photo For Enlargement (39 Kb)


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    The Turret rotate mechanism is seen above. The turret rotate battery also powers the two fans seen above. These fans sit on top of the electronics box that houses the reciver, amplifier board for the steering and the scooter speed control.

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