My first tank build.

ALPHA · Post by **ALPHA** » Thu Jul 24, 2014 3:15 am

jackalope wrote:Quick update. My hull and transmissions are on the way, yesterday I picked up a Badger airbrush and some paint. Stay tuned for pics when ever the parts all get here.

GOOD LUCK Jack... we will be awaiting the arrival and continuation of your build

ALPHA

jackalope · Post by **jackalope** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 9:53 pm

Ok so my Taigen hull and 4.1 transmissions got here, I got my new airbrush and a bunch of paints (weathering will be a surprise and to come later

) to add to my metal early road wheels, metal idler wheels, and metal tracks from the tank.

I chose Tamiya paints to work with, first was to paint the whole thing with part # XF-52 Flat Earth so the Taigen hull would match the Heng Long upper.

On to some pics! The Mato road wheels came painted an aluminum color, why I couldn't tell you but a dunk in some aircraft aluminum paint stripper and it all came off. A quick wash with surface prep cleaner spray and a warm soapy bath and they were ready to paint!

Heres the turret and upper painted in the Flat Earth....

No the headlights were tapped off prior to painting not just painted over. Regardless new headlights are on the way as are new mud flaps and machine gun. I'm considering getting the machine gun mount and machine gun for the commander as well.

And heres the 4.1 transmissions test fitted into the hull.... Also note the difference between the Tamiya color and the stock Taigen color, I left this for a comparison only it has since been painted.

I'm having to mod the Mato mounting screws for the road wheels but no biggie. Also test fitting of everything for the lower has begun.

jarndice · Post by **jarndice** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 10:29 pm

It is coming along very nicely, If you are planning to fit a working mg ball mount the way to do it is described in Tanks For The Memories Tiger 1 build, he uses a childs bead! I have found through trial and error that the best size bead is 13mm, drill a 4mm hole through the bead then drill halfway through using a 6mm bit, this will allow the use of a LED fitted mg 34, do take care removing the simulated ball, it is easy to remove with a dremel but do not go to far.When finished it really does look good, the alternative is a properly built mg ball mount which costs a fortune and requires extensive modification to take the LED fitted mg34. Have fun. shaun

ALPHA · Post by **ALPHA** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 12:11 am

very nice Jack.... Hope your problems with the derailing is worked out...that hull looks great...

ALPHA

jackalope · Post by **jackalope** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 12:27 am

Ok so it turns out ALL the mounting screws for the road wheels, idler wheels, and the sprockets are different. The road wheels and idler wheels screws are all too long and the sprocket bolt is MUCH larger diameter for the Taigen transmissions. So its off to the hardware store to get new cut off wheels for my Dremmel tool as well as a new drill bit to enlarge the hole in the sprockets.

I have all the electronics fitted into the new hull (directions would have been AWESOME Taigen!) and all the detail parts done on the hull.

jackalope · Post by **jackalope** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 12:30 am

jarndice wrote:It is coming along very nicely, If you are planning to fit a working mg ball mount the way to do it is described in Tanks For The Memories Tiger 1 build, he uses a childs bead! I have found through trial and error that the best size bead is 13mm, drill a 4mm hole through the bead then drill halfway through using a 6mm bit, this will allow the use of a LED fitted mg 34, do take care removing the simulated ball, it is easy to remove with a dremel but do not go to far.When finished it really does look good, the alternative is a properly built mg ball mount which costs a fortune and requires extensive modification to take the LED fitted mg34. Have fun. shaun

Cool Jarndice thanks! Not sure what I'm gonna do with it I was thinking of getting just a new gun and fitting it to the ball thats already in the hull. I'll check out Tanks thread and see if its something I'd like to do.

ALPHA · Post by **ALPHA** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 12:42 am

jackalope wrote:Ok so it turns out ALL the mounting screws for the road wheels, idler wheels, and the sprockets are different. The road wheels and idler wheels screws are all too long and the sprocket bolt is MUCH larger diameter for the Taigen transmissions. So its off to the hardware store to get new cut off wheels for my Dremmel tool as well as a new drill bit to enlarge the hole in the sprockets.

I have all the electronics fitted into the new hull (directions would have been AWESOME Taigen!) and all the detail parts done on the hull.

Always Happens Jack...but hey that's part of the Adventure

...Yes it can be frustrating when things don't progress smoothly...a fun way of thinking of it is you are a crewman in the field... refitting the Tiger...

....think yourself fortunate that a trip to the Hardware store is all you have to do... on a full sized conversion there might be days of machining before she was road worthy

ALPHA

jackalope · Post by **jackalope** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 1:47 am

Yeah I'm not mad about it, just gives me something to do tomorrow.

Ok so the sprockets are re-drilled and fitted, the left side runs perfectly true however the right side (the side I'd been having problems with) wobbles ever so slightly. Not sure if this will be a problem or not considering how little the wobble is, guess I'll find out tomorrow when I finally get the other wheels and tracks fitted.

But those transmissions, WOW they are like works of art! The axles are HUGE compared to the Heng Long ones and the bushings look to be almost twice the size! The gears ALL are silky smooth with NO play or wobble at all! Best upgrade yet I think, mind you I'm not done with the hull yet but if the hull is half as good as these transmissions this should be just what the DR. ordered to fix my Tiger.

Once I'm SURE she runs good it'll be on the the camo paint job! I do plan to do more detailing work as time goes by but first and foremost I wanted a RUNNING tank! I may go with the Taigen upper and then detail the heck out of it or I may just do this Heng Long upper and make it my own, only time will tell.

On another note the local hobby shop just got in a whole BUNCH of Taigen tanks and one just happens to be an all metal King Tiger. I may be making the wife mad again!

jarndice · Post by **jarndice** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 1:56 am

Hi Jack does your hobby store have one of the new T34s with the 360 degree turret?, I don't think we have them in the UK yet but I would be interested if they were. I remember my first Panzer 4 , I ended up shimming every road wheel and packing the rollers with washers to get every thing running true and then using long self tapping screws to hold the lot together, I think it is called learning???? shaun

ALPHA · Post by **ALPHA** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 2:02 am

Been debating about the Taigen upper as well... thing that bothers me about Taigen...they kind of sit on their laurels s to say...they've made new tanks sure... but basically with their old systems.... the Taigen upper for the tiger is probably good for detailing...as it does have smoke launchers on the deck...but they have that same molded in shovel that Heng Long has

But hey...it's just part of the decision making in the adventure

...

Good luck in the progression of yours Jack

ALPHA

RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

My first tank build.

Re: My first tank build.

Re: My first tank build.

Re: My first tank build.

Re: My first tank build.

Re: My first tank build.

Re: My first tank build.

Re: My first tank build.

Re: My first tank build.

Re: My first tank build.

Re: My first tank build.