Coolbank M5A1 Stuart & M8 Howitzer

[Kaczor]

Yes, there are four screws under the fenders, I managed to unscrew them with a thin screwdriver without removing the tracks, but the latter is the best way.

[yan33]

this vidéo can help you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWSV6X05zig&t=2107s

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Thank you, Kaczor and yan33. Now that I know what I'm after, I can employ minimal skills and maximum vocabulary. Of course, all the trouble is just because I am curious about what's inside.

[RKRC]

all the trouble is just because I am curious about what's inside.

https://youtube.com/shorts/6SSnPA2gaLI? ... N4bkrP0u29

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Thanks for the reminder, RKRC. I had watched that YouTube short before, but completely forgot (age has its disadvantages ). I found it easy to remove the track pins from plastic tracks, much easier than from metal ones, so getting at the screws was relatively easy. I could have installed magnets, but I found it easier just to remove and store the screws obstructed by the tracks and use only the two exposed screws at the rear.

I checked and tested the smoke unit when I got at it, because it seemed not to produce any smoke. It seems just too weak: what smoke it produces is barely visible. I decided then to remove and keep it (motor, smoker, and little board).

I tried a different, but small speaker (4 OHM), but there was no improvement in volume. I don't need my tanks to be loud, but this little one is really quiet. Maybe that's good for reconnaissance duty.

The boards inside and the transmitter suggest that Coolbank has access to rather flexible electronics. There is a separate sound board, so other sounds could be reproduced. I had to repair one of the connectors for the gun servo, something I had simply replaced before in other tanks. Now I know that repairs are possible and I know how that kind of connector goes together. Woo Hoo!

[ColemanCollector]

These things are still going down in price. I bought mine when they first came out for $199CAD taxes all in and now I can get one for $152 taxes in!

It's tempting, but one is enough. Too bad it's not better out of the box. Yo Coolbank--better speed control, less speed, less electronics whine, adjustable and louder sound, better elevation control, and you'd have yourself a real winner.

Mike.

[RKRC]

I ended up ordering one more...
Got a good discount on BG and then it came down to 92 USD.
Then I have something to cut and rebuild for winter.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

I did a bit of diddling with my M5A1 Stuart--nothing fancy, but simple changes for fun.

From Pat O'Day's Battleground Models (https://www.battlegroundmodels.com/),
*3D printed periscope guards (fragile, but I baby my AFVs anyway)
*a spotlight turned down (thus, no need to make a lens),
*a correct M48 Antenna

*stock HengLong U.S. WWII tools where the Stuart seemed to need a complement of them
*some painting, but actually left the stock O.D. as the base coat, some weathering, and some muddy-fying

Here are some photos.

M5A1 Front Qtr.jpg (169.03 KiB) Viewed 825 times

M5A1 Front.jpg (185.5 KiB) Viewed 825 times

M5A1 Left.jpg (166.62 KiB) Viewed 825 times

M5A1 Right.jpg (159.13 KiB) Viewed 825 times

M5A1 Tools.jpg (196.94 KiB) Viewed 825 times

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Then I found a few figures from among my stock of "pre-painted" ones from Torro, Licmas, etc. (I like painting figures, but I keep others, too.)

M5A1 Injury.jpg (157.4 KiB) Viewed 824 times

[RKRC]

Damm looks good