RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Hi,

Here is a new project, trying to make the Classy Hobby M5A1 Stuart RC capable.

The WW2 US Army Stuart light tank does not need much introduction, its a classic.
The Classy Hobby is a static model with a partial interior.
For such a small tank, the number of parts is surprisingly important and complex, it includes engines details, bulkheads and full turret interior. It also comes with a Culin hedgerow cutter.
The suspension will obviously be the weakest point and some efforts will be required to reinforce it, especially the idler. As worst, this will be a table top RC tank. But at least, it will be "alive" instead of being a shelf queen. All components are present to make this an RC tank.
Turret rotation and gun elevation should not be an issue.
Strong road wheels.
Separate track links are made of 7 parts each. Lack of metal pins could be an issue.
First task is to see if i can fit a gearbox inside. The plan is to install a set of Mato Panzer III slow gearbox.
The hull is a one piece part, which helps for solidity.
Continuing on following post

The frontal area is grinded a bit to make some rooms for the last gear to rotate.
First, a base for the right gear is created.
Right gear installed.
The left gearbox needs to be installed at an angle.
Rear view of the elevated base that was created for the left gearbox.
Dry fitting is required to make sure it fits totally inside the hull.
This is the best i could do, one gear is sticking out a bit.
No problem, the inside of the glacis is thick and can be grinded a bit for the gear to clear it.
The glacis is then able to rest correctly on the side armor. At this time, there is no gluing, this is just dry fitting. The glacis should be held in place with small magnets.
Here we are, a Stuart tank with Mato gearbox. Now, the shafts will need to be cut to the right length once the suspension has been build. The plan is to create RC Stuart sprockets by applying the kit dented sprocket wheel on Heng Long Sherman core body for connection to the Mato shaft.
Next step, the suspension.

Regards, Louis

Louis!
Good engineering there! As I am rebuilding one of these in 1/6th, I will follow along for detail ideas. ;o)
regards,
Painless

Nice project. I like this light tank.

Great start Louis!

I’m glad someone is doing this as I have the notion of doing the same ever since my local model shop got these kits in

Great! On my to-do list also Nice to know that standard gearboxes will fit with some work. Only thing this project need is metal tracks and wheels.

Great start Louis following along with this build, I have one in the stash which i pre ordered from axles. As you say it is not short on the parts count I was hoping that some manufacturer may come along with a metal track set for it making them more robust and thus saving me putting together the hundreds of pieces Anyway I look forward to it's progress and the way that you build and photograph everything in a methodical manner will surely be a massive help to anyone thinking of building one of these like myself

Cheers, Lee.

Who'd have thunk it !, a Mato PzIII gear set fits into a static Stuart ................
Oh yeah, Mr Mcq11 did
Call me anything you like, but is there any way a set of Sherman tracks that look the same, could be narrowed, and made to work ?
The set on Mr Hugills Firefly loom the same visually, but are wider. Could they be re-engineered to work ?
Ive not considered pitch etc, but the Stuart ones look the same but narrower.

Mr bix I believe that would be possible my dad did it to some panther tracks to fit his hetzer but it did take about a week and several dremel discs to do it