Cadillac Gage V-150 Commando with 90mm gun turret - Build

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lmcq11
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Cadillac Gage V-150 Commando with 90mm gun turret - Build

Post by lmcq11 »

Hi,

As I was going for a few days to the family farm, I brought along my new project, a V-150 Commando with a Cockerill 90mm gun turret. I like nature, nice views and doing modelling outside during a beautiful autumn weekend is a way to combine everything for a perfect time.

First, some picture of the planned build. The V-150 Commando was sold around the world to Army, Police and Para-military forces. Very few pictures of the model with 90mm gun are available.

Here in Thailand service.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Capture3.JPG (55.12 KiB) Viewed 5143 times
Good view with MG3 machine gun mount.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Capture4.JPG (98.64 KiB) Viewed 5143 times
Saudi Arabia National Guard.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Unknown location
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Capture2.JPG (83.38 KiB) Viewed 5143 times
I did a V-100 Commando in Vietnam markings about two years ago (pic below), the build is somewhere in this section. The Ludwig basic kit was mounted onto a first generation WPL M-35 truck chassis with a scratch built turret.

Two years later, the availability of new metal upgrades prompts me to create a new version, this time with the larger and more impressive 90mm gun, and a totally different type of integration.
RC 1/16 V-100 Commando
RC 1/16 V-100 Commando
To compensate the lack of references on the 90mm gun turret, I will be helped by the Verlinden and Hobby Boss 1/35 kits. I do not know which one is the most accurate but I will be comparing both during the build.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Capture5a.JPG (65.04 KiB) Viewed 5143 times
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Capture5b.JPG (95.23 KiB) Viewed 5143 times
The Chris Ludwig 1/16 V-150 will be used again, this time with the available turret. Partly advertised as an M1117 model, this kit is really a V-150 Commando because the M1117 is larger and has a different body. A 20mm cannon is also advertised with the turret but this turret is for the Cockerill 90mm gun. The V-150 turret with 20mm gun has a different shape.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
The drive train will be the WPL all metal axle upgrade and the Metal Gearbox w/370 Brush Motor Transfer available for a few dollars through eBay from China. I also purchase different drive shafts types, the ones seen below attached to the gearbox and axles were later discarded as being too fragile.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
The build starts on the following post.

Regards, Louis
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lmcq11
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Re: Cadillac Gage V-150 Commando with 90mm gun turret - Buil

Post by lmcq11 »

As mentioned in earlier post, this will be a much different integration of the running gear with the Ludwig hull than what was done with the V100 Commando build.

The lower hull is constructed as per instructions, a task that takes a nice Canadian autumn whole afternoon. Everything needs to be strait and solid.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
The shaft of the gearbox is too long and need to be cut, with the groove recreated with a file. It only takes a few minutes.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Shown here is my installation of the 370/Motor/Gearbox within the lower hull.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Notice the stronger drive shaft that gives me better confidence than the earlier version shown in the previous post. Take note that I have not done test drives at this time so I do not know if this runs well or not yet.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Capture13.JPG (71.47 KiB) Viewed 5139 times
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Capture14.JPG (81.29 KiB) Viewed 5139 times
View from under the hull. The heavy metal axles were installed using the regular WPL leaf spring suspension. But I ordered additional springs in order to reinforce these simple ones. The axles mountings are a bit larger than the bottom of the humm so I had to add a plasticard strip under the leaf spring screw in order to fix it solidly.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Notice that the tip of the leaf spring has not been anchored. I am awaiting the stronger leaf spring (on order) before finalizing the axle installation.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Be aware that the installation of the axles requires a bit of planning. They need to be centered and also at the right height. With this first step completed, the engine tests can start before going further.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Regards, Louis
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lmcq11
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Re: Cadillac Gage V-150 Commando with 90mm gun turret - Buil

Post by lmcq11 »

Hi, continuing with the build

The leaf spring suspension is anchored to the hull using modified and much reduced WPL plastic anchors.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
This model is not a truck, it is a combat vehicle with 90mm gun turret. So, i cannot just put an ESC in it to drive around. I am therefore installing the Clark TK40 control board with S Bus that was initially ordered for the M48A3 build and just received it. The TK40 is advertised with a CN7 port identified as an ultrasonic ESC. I ensured the setting was at the lowest voltage possible. It runs really well and smooth with the Brush motor. I ran the vehicle for 5 minutes in the basement and the motor is not even warm, so it must be compatible. A WPL servo provides directions by assigning it to channel 6 and to the VRA knob on the remote for now. I found that the S Bus version has less cables but offer less options to reassign channels. Attached is a short video of the first engine trials with the TK40.

https://youtu.be/Dm9clrLZx6I

Using the TK40, the V-150 armored car will have the following RC features;
- Forward, Reverse, Left turn, Right turn
- Leopard 1 Diesel engine sound
- Turret rotation and sound
- 90mm gun elevation and sound
- 90mm gun recoil, sound and flash with additional hull recoil effect on wheels
- 7.62mm Coax machine gun flash and sound
- WPL Electric winch
- Head lights
- Tail lights
- Turret search light
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
The lower hull parts are assembled, i went well but there are multiple gaps to fill.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
The largest gaps are filled with plasticard pieces, and putty is applied all around.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
The vehicle is large but the wheel housings leave few efficient locations to install the electronics.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Capture5.JPG (84.48 KiB) Viewed 5045 times
All main joints are sanded. The rounded main hull joint around the vehicle is reproduced.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Getting to a smooth finish requires the putty and sanding steps to be repeated many times, and there is always a little thing to fix here and there.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
The Hobby Boss and Verlinden kits are compared to the Ludwig model. The Hobby Boss kit is a bit longr than the Verlinden resin kit and is a better match to the Ludwig model. Both V150 models show the rear roof hatch to be a rounded hole. The Ludwig square hatch has therefore been permanently plugged and will be replaced by the rounded hatch.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
The Verlinden and Hobby Boss turrets are very similar. Both show a rounded commander cupola and a loader hatch that is not aligned. The Ludwig turret roof part on the right with its 2 side by side imaginary shaped hatches will therefore need to be replaced by a totally new turret top arrangement. The whole part will be replaced.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Next step, the turret core.

Regards,
Louis
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lmcq11
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Re: Cadillac Gage V-150 Commando with 90mm gun turret - Buil

Post by lmcq11 »

Hi

Here is the turret core

The turret images from the Ludwig online instructions are not inspiring. Chris would certainly benefit from the improvement of some parts and their assembly. The frontal parts for the mantlet are also inverted.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Capture.JPG (50.8 KiB) Viewed 4998 times
References and both Verlinden and Hobby Boss 1/35 kits show overlapping armor plates that need to be reproduced for accuracy.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
This is pretty much as far as I went with the kit parts, the rest is scratch built, including all the front parts. An overlayed turret back plate is also installed.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
The design of interlocking joints is also unnecessary as it creates a lot of extra work for the modeller that has to fill in all the gaps they create, with limited solidity benefits. Gaps are filled with plasticard residue strips and dust, and poured with superglue before sanding and polishing. A plasticard 4mm thick additional turret bottom ring is added. Superglue is an excellent filler.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
The new turret frontal armor arrangement. Angles and dimensions were extrapolated from the 1/35 kits.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Capture5.JPG (98.88 KiB) Viewed 4998 times
The right location of the mantlet pivot axle is something the modeller need to figure out once the turret main parts are assembled and the mantlet is created from scratch. Temporary axles are installed as the mantlet need to be easily removable throughout construction. The final axles and the filling of the location holes will be done later.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
The mantlet and the 90mm Cockerill gun are not provided with the kit and must be scratch built from references and material available to the modeller. A 14mm wide brass tube is used in the mantlet.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Overlapping Brass and aluminum tubes of various sizes are used to design and create the gun and recoil mechanism. The smaller recoiling brass tube is 7mm thick. A good reserve of tubes is required, including the somewhat rare 9mm wide tube.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Gun assembly, all scratch.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Continuing on following post
Last edited by lmcq11 on Sat Oct 26, 2019 9:15 pm, edited 5 times in total.
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lmcq11
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Re: Cadillac Gage V-150 Commando with 90mm gun turret - Buil

Post by lmcq11 »

Mantlet and main gun parts are installed on the turret. The complex gun muzzle will be created and added later.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Access to the turret electronics will be done through the turret roof that is removable and kept in place with magnets.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
A new turret roof part is created, overlapping the sides a bit, as per references.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Look and feel of the turret placed on top of the chassis, looking good.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Manually checking gun elevation before installing electronics. I'll see if I can make it go a bit higher.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Manually checking gun depression, looking good. An AFV vehicle often tasked with maintaining civil order needs to show it can shoot low.
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Overall view of the model as it stands today
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Next step is to create the gun recoil mechanism, elevation system and install the turret on the chassis. Overall, this is going well and will results in a rare animal.

Regards, Louis
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Re: Cadillac Gage V-150 Commando with 90mm gun turret - Buil

Post by square4 »

Impressive modelling skills on show and the build is looking good. :clap:
I never finish anyth
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Re: Cadillac Gage V-150 Commando with 90mm gun turret - Buil

Post by HERMAN BIX »

Rare is an understatement!!
I’d love to visit your collection, just to see what can be achieved by one man in his own house !
HL JAGDPANTHER,HL TIGER 1,HL PzIII MUNITIONSCHLEPPER, HL KT OCTOPUS,HL PANTHER ZU-FUSS,HL STuG III,HL T34/85 BEDSPRING,
HL PZIV MALTA,MATORRO JAGDTIGER,HL F05 TIGER,TAMIYA KT,HL PANTHERDOZER,HL EARLY PANTHER G,TAIGEN/RAMINATOR T34/76,
HL AN-BRI-RAM SU-85
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Re: Cadillac Gage V-150 Commando with 90mm gun turret - Buil

Post by 43rdRecceReg »

A brilliant showcase of model making again, Louis! :clap:
The location of the family farm also has much to commend it. :thumbup:
My house has a comparable view. I'm situated on a hillside, above a sea loch, with a range of mountains (Torridon mountains) in the background. Enjoy your escape, and that wonderful light :wave:
"Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please"- Mark Twain.
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lmcq11
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Re: Cadillac Gage V-150 Commando with 90mm gun turret - Buil

Post by lmcq11 »

Hi, thank you very much for your compliments.

Here are the muzzle brake and turret electronics with a video at the end of the post, minus the coax machine gun as I am awaiting a fibre optic order.

This is the V150 90mm muzzle brake seen on the Hobby Boss 1/35 cover. It looks complicated at first but after some study and a review of the material available, it is actually simple to reproduce with basic tools and some tubing.
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
First, the base muzzle part is made with Brass and Plasticard tube.
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
A metal hand file is used to carefully grind 6 grooves, 3 on each sides, the process took about 35 minutes.
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
A connector is made to install on the brass gun.
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
The muzzle brake is installed with a 5mm LED for gun flash with resistor. Fresh from the grinder, it needs some fine tuning and polishing when I will have a cooler head.
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Close up, the LED for gun flash can be seen.
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Capture11.JPG (96.1 KiB) Viewed 4952 times
For turret rotation, a large VEX Robotics gear is used with a standard Heng Long rotation unit. The wheel is made hollow with the Dremel in order for the elevation unit and cables to move freely. Although Ludwigs provide plasticard inward dented rotation halves that can be assembled for a rotation wheel, use of it is definitely not recommended because it is weak and you might not be able to glue it totally round on the turret base, creating major issues and waste of time. It is highly recommended to use a VEX robotics gear and I will always be grateful to Carl for having pointed them to me. These are available for a few dollars at RobotShop.com.
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
The Heng Long rotation using is installed at the back of the vehicle, and glued under the roof support strut and reinforced in place once the optimal location is determined after trials with the turret.
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
The VEX gear is installed on top of two additional layers of plasticard rings, required to get to the proper height with the rotation unit. These are actually the Ludwig rotation halves used as a spacer.
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
View of the rotation arrangement, working very well and smoothly.
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Continuing on following post.
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lmcq11
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Re: Cadillac Gage V-150 Commando with 90mm gun turret - Buil

Post by lmcq11 »

View of the custom made recoil and elevation units.
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Turret field trials, see Youtube video below

https://youtu.be/hFsH4V5WCGo
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
RC 1/16 V-150 V150 Cadillac Gage Commando with 90mm Cockerill gun turret
Regards, Louis
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