British FV432/30 Bull dog

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Sub
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Location: UK

Re: British FV432/30 Bull dog

Post by Sub »

Hi.
Thought i would describe the running gear i used for this build.
I decided to raid my spare parts stock as to keep the build as a more of can i do it with the spare parts i have and scratch build the rest, excercise.
I located 2 old Heng Long scrap Walker Bulldog (appropriately ) lower hulls as i wanted to use a suspension system that was light compact and easy to adapt , i am very much a Keep it simple kind of person, less to go wrong etc.
I found that all the wheel and suspension and damping assembly was all located together and with the removal of 2 studs per wheel it should all come apart in tact so off i went trying to remove them.
After much deliberation and failed attempts i managed to remove 1 wheel assembly in tact, this was measured and angles worked out for the suspension and tried on a scrap piece and all looked good so i worked out the spacing of the idler wheel and rd wheels etc in relation to the drive.
The other 9 wheel assemblies were removed this is what you get.
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Sub
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Re: British FV432/30 Bull dog

Post by Sub »

3mm machine screws were located for the top suspension mount and 5mm round head bolts for the lower suspension point all with nyloc nuts were added.
All the holes were marked out and drilled them all 5 wheels on one side were test fitted to the lower hull side.
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Sub
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Re: British FV432/30 Bull dog

Post by Sub »

All lined up and looked right so the mounting points were reinforced with correct sized spaces and all the wheels lined up.
With the reinforcement spaces added it was all checked that the track guide was central to where the center of the sprocket would be and it was fine.
I has a pair of old Pershing sprockets that fitted the Matorro Tiger gearbox drive axle so i fitted these and again the centers lined up.
For the tracks i had 2 spare sets of HL Pershing tracks so put them together to make a pair of tracks as the FV430 is at a bigger scale of 1/13 and fitted them and they worked with the Walker bulldog wheels.
The lower sides were fitted the wheels and tracks added connected up and power applied, after a few minor adjustment both tracks were smooth and worked as if they were all off 1 vehicle most happy total cost zero.
Still got to fit the 2 upper return rollers but it worked.
The first and last road wheel on each side has stronger suspension springs to stop the track pulling up when in use.
Sub.
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Last edited by Sub on Mon Jun 08, 2020 3:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sub
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Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:45 am
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Re: British FV432/30 Bull dog

Post by Sub »

View of inside the hull of internal suspension mounting points with minimal incursion into the hull.
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Exhibitedbrute
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Re: British FV432/30 Bull dog

Post by Exhibitedbrute »

I wonder. Do you think this suspension system would work in a Ludwig Cromwell?
It’s your tank it’s what you make it
Sub
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Re: British FV432/30 Bull dog

Post by Sub »

Hi.
Upper track return rollers added.

In answer to you question Mr Brute It's a no, from what i have seen of the Cromwell kit is that the sprocket and idler are virtually inline with the road wheels thus the top part of the track is on top of the road wheels, whereas on my FV430 the track is way above the wheels and top suspension mounting as the below pic shows which allows the track to pass above the suspension.
This means that on the Cromwell the track will collide with the suspension shock absorbers as there is no room for it to pass the suspension. This is probably why the suspension is mounted inside the wall of the hull on the real one due to clearance issues.
My build was all designed around the suspension and motor gearbox width and I measured everythig up so everything would align before i even started on the hull.
Hope that helps.
Sub.
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Exhibitedbrute
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Re: British FV432/30 Bull dog

Post by Exhibitedbrute »

I just wondered because looking at the Cromwell parts and my crusader the suspension isn’t very good but does sit between the inner hull side and the outer amoured skin so wondered if I could perhaps build a better suspension system similar to a bulldog as it’s hidden but using smaller coils and shocks from a truck maybe and as you seem to be the only guy building a full British scratch build at the moment I thought I would ask
It’s your tank it’s what you make it
Sub
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Re: British FV432/30 Bull dog

Post by Sub »

Hi.
I am with you now....then yes it would work, if you build your own....you could even put all the suspension on the INSIDE of the hull...
I have done this on a long term project i have for a 1/8 scale leopard..that i am scratch building...only the wheel axle pokes through the hull everything else is on the inside.
Sub.
Sub
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Re: British FV432/30 Bull dog

Post by Sub »

Rarden 30mm night vision optics box and opening door.
Still got to add perspex screen and wiper arm and opening mechanism.
Sub
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Sub
Sergeant
Posts: 687
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:45 am
Location: UK

Re: British FV432/30 Bull dog

Post by Sub »

Hi.
GEC- Marconi Spav L2A1 dual magnified passive night vision lense added and wiper arm.
Outer door bolt on armour plate added.
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