My new project. Scale M1A2 Abrams Tank
 

Wow. I'd like to go off saying that its been a while guys. Not that any of you give a ---- but I thought I'd try :6

So other than being busy with life in the Air Force, Here is what I've been up to.

This is my All Steel 1/5 Scale M1A2 Abrams. It is going to be fully functional via Radio Control. Original design was made in Google Sketch up Pro.

Here is a couple of Sample Pics. I thought it would be cool to use a turbo to make a gas turbine engine for it like the real thing. But not wanting to make this project any more over complicated than it is I will stick to a pocket bike engine.

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...3/DSC01075.jpg

Homemade Transmission.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...3/DSC01071.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...3/DSC01072.jpg

Paneling welded on. Finally its taking shape.
After this step is done all the welds will be ground down and a layer of fiberglass cloth will be layed on the entire structure.
This will weatherproof the tank.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...3/DSC01194.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...3/DSC01196.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...3/DSC01198.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...3/DSC01204.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...3/DSC01207.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...3/DSC01216.jpg

I will keep updating as I go. ETA is next spring for this project. And that's if I get another break from work.

Re: My new project. No its not turboed...Yet.
 

hmmm... in the for the updates. seems pretty tough, but interesting

Re: My new project. No its not turboed...Yet.
 

Not too tough. All of the Dimensions are taken from drawings I made in Google Sketch Up Pro. Basically took full scale Abrams dimensions and scaled them down to get this 1/5 scale model. Then blew the whole thing up in to different sections. ie. Turret, Hull, Wheels and such. then printed it all. You can see a black binder in one of the pics. That is all the plans for the build.
Then its just a matter of fabbing the whole thing out of scraps and taking in to account the thicknesses of the metal.

Re: My new project. No its not turboed...Yet.
 

i dont mean the body of the tanl, i mean making it work. using electric motors would be easy, but what are you plans for movement and steering with one gas engine? maybe clutches controlled by servos? only problem with that is no reverse and the turns wouldnt be as tight

Re: My new project. No its not turboed...Yet.
 

Did you not see the pic of the transmission? The two main final drive gears can move side to side on the key'd shaft. They mesh with a series of gears that are counter rotating. So depending on what side the servos move them to they either mesh with the top row or the bottom row hence giving them the direction.
I just picked up a 6.5hp engine for this thing. Going to be a tight fit.

Re: My new project. No its not turboed...Yet.
 

i saw the tranny, but i didnt know the gears moved.

Re: My new project. No its not turboed...Yet.
 

Yeah pretty much I have the Key in place but the gears arent bolted down to it. The keyway is greased up and the gears can move. The slider on the top that you see is not done. This will be the part attached to the servos with a fork for each gear to allow them to slide.

Re: My new project. No its not turboed...Yet.
 

Stickie? Hmm.....

Re: My new project. No its not turboed...Yet.
 

i love the pedastal you have your bench grinder on martin.

Re: My new project. No its not turboed...Yet.
 

if you're putting that kind of labor into the project, dont settle for a measly 49cc.

8+ lb/ft would rock on that thing

awesome project btw

Re: My new project. No its not turboed...Yet.
 

What is it?......Go kart?

Re: My new project. No its not turboed...Yet.
 

NO read!!!!!!!!!!

He is making a 1/5 scale A-1 Abrams tank sweet!!!!!
Is the cannon/ gun Turrent going to work and what gun are you going to use?
Can not wait to see how this project turns out.

May have to run over some big toy Barbie or Tonka trucks or if you feel really aggressive maybe a lowered Geo Metro or the like.

Re: My new project. No its not turboed...Yet.
 

Asome.... :y

Re: My new project. No its not turboed...Yet.
 

you are by far the most annoying member on this forum; you make widebody seem tolerable.

Re: My new project. No its not turboed...Yet.
 

connect a hand gun to the barrel and use some servos to aim/pull the trigger. Or, just a ignition thing from model rockets attached to some sort of firework.

Looks pretty cool though. Go to war with it.

Re: My new project. No its not turboed...Yet.
 

Yah..! Go to war with it.... ;D

Re: My new project. No its not turboed...Yet.
 

pneumatic potato gun valve (will plug www.launchpotatoes.com for the valve here) + 2" sch80 pvc = golf ball barrel, it's easy to make a spring loaded clip and semi auto firing. 300psi co2 + golf ball = :6 :6

Re: My new project. No its not turboed...Yet.
 

To answer most of the question. No it will no longer be a 49cc engine. I upgraded to this last night :6

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?doc...79714&hl=en-CA
(crap quality I know. I will try to get a much better one once the whole gear box is assembled. This way I can show how each individual drive gear can switch from forward to reverse.

Also here is my site you can go on to keep track of the project this way I dont have to post pics everywhere, I'll just come back and say I updated it. Please keep all BS out of the guest book or I'll delete it anyway so you're only wasting your time.

www.freewebs.com/m1a2abrams

max power is 6.5hp@3600 rpm. this allowed me to take the back half of the gear box out because I no longer need the extra gearing anymore. I think it puts out 12ft/lbs of torque as well. According to the gear/rpm calculator It will have a top speed of 11-12mph which is very close to scale.

Barely made it fit with millimeters to spare. I will be taking some up to date pictures of it as I'll be working on it most of this week. Hoping to get the suspension done and maybe some temporary wheels put on it. This thing is getting really heavy really fast hence the huge 4 stroke engine I had to fit in there. The total estimated weight will be between 150-200lbs.

And YES! the turret will be fully functional as will be the cannon. Turret will get its rotation from a Honda wiper motor. I have two on hand, one is going to rotate the turret and the other will be for the gun elevate. Power will come from a 6v gel backup battery which will be hooked up to an alternator. This motor will be strong enough to charge this kind of battery.

The main cannon will shoot paint balls. I have several paintball markers, one which I'll modify to sit in the turret. It will be running off an HPA tank sitting in the back of the turret. All this will be controlled with a Spectrum DX6 6 channel radio with a ground frequency crystal installed since I live a small drive away from an RC airfield.

I thought of making this thing shoot live ammunition but then I would have to register it as a restricted firearm and it just takes the fun away from the hobby. Paint balls are great because they're cheap, legal and hurt like a bitch.

Re: My new project. No its not turboed...Yet.
 

nice project, not to change the subject tho but i have been watching a similar build on youtube but it's no a tank it's a 1/4th scale grave digger with a real 1/4 scale 4 stroke v8 engine
here is a link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9aBCpx_XfU
and here is a completely different truck with the same engine in it (tho in the beginning it's na then it's supercharged)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxX8y...eature=related
also in the first link if you look at the users other vids there is more up to date stuff like building the body and stuff
but the tank is deffinately cool