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| Type: |
KV-1 |
Armament: |
76mm |
| Built: |
May 2003 |
Armor: |
90mm |
| Builder: |
Paul Pittelli |
Rating: |
40/4 |
| Status: |
Operational |
Battles: |
35 |
| Owner: |
Paul Pittelli |
Points Earned: |
69,297 |
| Call Sign: |
Crazy Ivan |
Points Given: |
73,000 |
| Notes: |
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Modular "drive-box" assembly using EV Warriors Roller Chain Track System
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In 1939, the Red Army Command put in a request for a heavy break-through
tank armed with a 76.2mm gun and armor protection capable of resisting
anti-tank weapons up to the same caliber. The SMK heavy tank prototype
was selected as the basis for the design, which was equipped with two
turrets, one carrying the 76.2mm low-velocity gun and the other carrying
a 45mm anti-tank gun. After a radical re-design in September 1939,
resulting in only a single turret, the new design was designated as the
KV-1 (from Klimenti Voroscilov, the Soviet Commisaire of Defence). The
KV-1 was armed with the higher velocity 76.2mm L30.5 gun and more armor
protection while maintaining its weight around the 43 tons.
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Upon consultation with Master Yoda (Frank), the design of the KV-1 is
attempting to reap the benefits of several of the Tri-Pact tank designs.
First is the motor box. The basic design of the box is a simple
dovetailed drawer out of 1/2" oak plywood. A new enhancement to
previous designs is the use of the powerwheel driver hub. After a
little gentle persuasion, the pulley, driver hub and motor fit like a
glove. A pair of standard 1/4" turn-buckles are used to tension
the stationary drive axle.
The motor box will be completed with the addition of the
rear axle assembly
(pulleys and base-mount bearings) mounted on the rear of the box.
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Click Photo For Enlargement (181 Kb)
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Click Photo For Enlargement (56 Kb)
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This is an exploded view of the basic drive components including
(right to left):
a motor with it's splined output cog,
a plastic drive hub that fits onto the splined output cog,
a 3" diameter V-belt pulley bolted onto the drive hub, and
a 1/4" turn-buckle for tensioning the drive axle.
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The drive hub makes it relatively easy to adapt the kiddie car motor to
drive a V-belt pulley. As shown here, one side of the drive hub (the
round black component on the bottom) has 10 molded splines that fit
nicely into the 10 slots in the motor cog (the white component extending
out from the motor). The other side of the drive hub has a different
assembly that is intended to mate with a standard kiddie car wheel. After
a little work with a hacksaw and some sand paper, that side was reduced to
a flat surface, allowing the V-belt pulley to be bolted to the drive hub.
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Click Photo For Enlargement (110 Kb)
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Click Photo For Enlargement (170 Kb)
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With some careful measurements, some careful drilling and a little bit of
luck, 5 bolts are installed to keep the V-belt pulley attached to the drive
hub. This photo shows the inside of the drive hub.
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The kiddie car motors shown here are used in the Powerwheels Silverado
vehicle, which can carry 150lbs at approximately 5mph. The motors can
be purchased from Mending Shed
using part number #00968-2910 for $40 (US) a pair.
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The drive hub modified for use in the KV-1 can be purchased
from Mending Shed
using part number #74460-2249 for $3.95 (US) each.
(Editor's Note:
An older style driver hub is also available for the same price which
may not need any modifications at all, but nobody has purchased one yet
so we don't know for sure.)
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The track system implemented on the KV-1 will be the Montgomery Track
System (MTS). After seeing several of the track designs, the MTS
was chosen simply because it's massive! Given the two six foot
sections of track needed for the KV-1, an assembly line for tread
production is underway. Over 100 treads have been cut to size and are
being coated with epoxy for durability.
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After the first set of 100+ treads were cut, drilled, and epoxied, I
find out that someone (we suspect a driver of a German tank) sabotaged
the epoxy resin container by switching out the pump and replacing it
with a pump from what should be used with the hardener. Simple
chemistry took over and I had over 100+ pieces of goo that would harden
in the year 2050! Therefore, I departed from the ways of Master Yoda
(Frank) and made the next 100+ treads out of 1/8" masonite. After
cutting, drilling, epoxying (this time with the right formula), and
painting, the treads could not handle a simple stress test. Thus the
final set of 100+ treads were cut, drilled, expoxied and painted out of
1/4" masonite (following, once again, the ways of Master Yoda). Since I
was becoming an expert in tread manufacturing, I counter-sunk the top of
the rivets so that the treads would have a smooth surface. Rivets used
are 3/16" pop rivets with a grip range of .250-.375 inch.
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