RC Tanks Australia Forum

Hello everybody,
I'd like to share with you a little project I started a few (hmm.. six including R&D phase ) months ago - scratchbuilt radio controlled Leopard 2A4 in 1:16 scale.
The assumptions for my build are as follows:

2mm thick aluminium body with resin details,
polish markings
elmod control module with Turnigy 9x
stabilised gun
fully regulated suspension,
relatively high water resistance
very high mud resistance
camera

I guess I won't be able to meet all these targets, but even 80% will be good enough for a RC rookie.
This is my first RC model (before I was building paper tanks...) so I had to start with basics - learn how this all electronic stuff work. Second step was a CAD project which allowed me to cut most of aluminium parts on waterjet machine. This way I created the set of parts which was glued together with epoxy glue.

On the photos below you can see the current status of my Leo. Feel free to any questions.

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Scratchbiult T-34 - http://rctank.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=818
Upgraded HL Leopard 2A5 - http://rctank.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=83&t=1076

If this is the basic work of a Rookie I would love to see the work of an Expert.
It looks better than the Tamiya Kit, Well done. Looking forward to more photo's and video's
Cheers
Graham

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Tamiya Leopard 2A6, Tiger 1 X 2, Sherman X 2, King Tiger X 3, Gepard
HL Tiger 1 X 3, ZTZ 99 MBT, KV1, Sturm III
HE LEOPARD, M1A2
Taigen Tiger 1, Panzer III
Torro T35/85.* WSM T35/85
Hooban Elefant
Mattarro Jagdtiger
HL 1/30 M4 & M26
VS King Tiger, Leo

Hi,
A little update - I made a test and checked the suspension setup. It doesn't look bad. Some fine-tuning should fix the level after final assembly.
In the meanwhile I also flashed Turnigy 9x. Thank you

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Scratchbiult T-34 - http://rctank.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=818
Upgraded HL Leopard 2A5 - http://rctank.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=83&t=1076

great stuff vanhasen

you should be able to market those hulls


cheers
gra

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Gra's Heavy Tank Regiment
HL Tiger 1 - El Mod, Tiger 1, K T Porsche turret, Panzer III & IV, Stug G & E, Panther D,
Matorro KT, Jagdtiger and Sturmtiger, HL Sherman and T - 34, A7V (WIP)
Panzergruppe South Member

Hi,
This week I was able to run the first fileld tests. Below a short (and poor quality...sory) clip showing the performance of the chasis:





I also wanted to check the strenght of the motors, but since I had no proper hill for this kind of test I had to borrow one of my wife's tools



My model's weight at this point is about 6kg.

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Scratchbiult T-34 - http://rctank.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=818
Upgraded HL Leopard 2A5 - http://rctank.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=83&t=1076

Hello everybody,
After a long pause I'm back - in fact I got back from a 3-month business trip before the Christmas, but well - there was nothing to report after such a long absence
Now I can show you what I was able do build despite the multidude of other task waiting for me at home.
I added some details to the turret and painted (primed) it to check if everything goes fine. Of course it doesn't - so I'll have to fix a few fake welds

















My travel was for me also an opportunity to "upgreade" this project a little. There are several items in my drawer which will for sure make it more interesting - FPV equipment and automatic pilot (Ardupilot)
If I'm lucky (and smart) enough I'll have a real HUD...

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Scratchbiult T-34 - http://rctank.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=818
Upgraded HL Leopard 2A5 - http://rctank.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=83&t=1076

Small test of turret rotation mechanism:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZjta-_pIaE
It seems like my little trick works - barrel do not hit the rear deck

I also managed to install FPV with some extras, here is the result:


And this is how the turret interior looks like at the moment:

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Scratchbiult T-34 - http://rctank.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=818
Upgraded HL Leopard 2A5 - http://rctank.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=83&t=1076

Though I'm into the old WWII tanks myself, & I actually don't care for modern tanks much at all, I can't help but admire your extremely fine craftsmanship on this tank ... the results of all your hard work & talent has created a real beauty, something to make one proud indeed!!! Thanks for sharing.

~ Craig ~

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(¯`·._.·´¯`·._ ★ B.A.D.A.S.S. F⊙rce Club F☮under ★ _.·´¯`·._.·´¯)

Hi,
It has been long time since I last did any progress here The project is frozen - generally due to insufficient power of motors which I used and inadequate workshop to replace them with a proper brushless pair (and resulting motivation crysis, which I had to overcome).

Brushed motors with the gear ratio I used are capable to easly achieve correct ahead/reverse speed, but one is unable to make the 8kg model turn Turning radius in rough terrain is like 2 meters

Meanwhile I decided to fix the core probem so instead of struggling to "revive" this model I was working to improve my workshop - I found some free space, learned a lot, built my own cnc mill, bouht lathe and some other "hardware junk".

I also tested it all building another, easier tank - T-34 - http://rctank.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=818

But Leopard still has "frozen" status. I intend to continue the idea, just with a different approach Now I have easly available Heng Long Plastic parts. I want to use the plastic hull and metal upgrade parts (wheels etc.), but scratchbuild the whole interior - replace the gears, create the watertight compartment for electronics etc. The rest of assumptions (FPV, stabilisation) remain the same

Recently I made a set of inserts strenghtening the plastic hull for one of colleagues. Next step - should not be so difficult

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Scratchbiult T-34 - http://rctank.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=818
Upgraded HL Leopard 2A5 - http://rctank.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=83&t=1076

Hi, great idea vanbasten!