R/C Tank Combat

Tank #T024

Index

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Type: T-34-85 Armament: 85mm
Built: January 2004 Armor: 90mm
Builder: Pat McCarthy Rating: 40/4
Status: Under Construction Battles: 0
Owner: Pat McCarthy Points Earned: 0
Call Sign: ??? Points Given: 0
Notes:
 
  • Homemade wooden drive cogs and tracks
  • Drill motor and V-belt drive system
  • Drill motor trigger speed control


  • Click Photo For Enlargement (140 Kb)
     
    These are the drill motors that power the tank are arranged in an over-under configuration. The drill motors are 14.4 Volt Dewalts model 991 and a 1/2" ID pulley fits the shaft that the chuck screws into. The 1/2" pulley also has an allen set screw to help hold it on the chuck shaft. The drive shaft of the tank is 1/2" all thread and the 1/2" pulley fits the drive shaft also. You need to file a flat spot on the drive shaft to keep the pulley from turning on the shaft. The rear axle is in two pieces (although it looks like a single piece) sharing a bearing block in the middle of the tank.


    Click Photo For Enlargement (110 Kb)

    The track system is built using a treadmill belt sandwiched between an inner and outer wooden tread. Although the are only secured with glue, they are quite sturdy. The inner tread has a single center tooth which, when combined with the slotted wheels, keeps the track in line.


    Click Photo For Enlargement (145 Kb)
     
    A closeup of the track shows that a little bit of cleanup work is in order, but everything lines up nicely and seems to work.

    The drive cog (gear) is a 12-pointed star that was made by chance and common horse sense. The points mesh with the gaps between the track treads and it works quite well despite the fact that not all of the treads are installed.
     

    Click Photo For Enlargement (118 Kb)


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    The speed control consists two drill motor triggers that are actuated by two servos. The 1/4 scale servos could be just a tad of overkill but they were fairly cheap. The servos are so strong that they need their own power supply, so the servos are supplying the power for the receiver now. You only need one servo doing this the other one runs off the other ones power.

    A closeup of the motor mount shows a simple clamp made with a piece of flat bar and some bolts. I'm running the Dewalts on the number 2 setting and they seem to have plenty of power. The Dewalt literature says that the 14.4 volt motors can pull higher voltages and should be good for models up to 60 pounds.
     

    Click Photo For Enlargement (92 Kb)


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    Some temporary (hopefully) wiring is installed to get the radio and motors working. Four D-cells run the receiver and speed control servos, while a relatively small gell-cel runs the motors. During it's initial field test, everything held together, although the drive belts needed to be tightened. It ran to the end of my drive way and back without a problem.

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