Another Abrams

[ALPHA]

Hi ALPHA,

I am also using the original 8 screws to hold the hull together on both tanks I have had this happen with. Both had long runs last weekend at a tank show. The ground there was pretty gnarly to say the least, meadow grass which was ripping the tracks off pretty much every tank there (except these two oddly enough). plenty of obstacles and bumps too so a reasonably hard test.

I genuinely believe that this is down to H/L making the hull mouldings around the swing arm pivot screws too thin to take the added pressure of the heavier metal running gear. Which wheels and swing arms are you running? metal or plastic?

Same as yours Scalawag...the only difference now are the tracks...and the gearboxes....especially if you are still using the stock body screws...I did notice the plastic is a little thinner than the older HLs though....and that the flex was more noticeable as well...I might have to do my mod...but that would take about 10+ hours to do....and right now...I just want to play with it lol

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

The gearboxes, I don't know it could be. The new tracks I have I would say are actually a little lighter than the all metal ones. not weighed them I must admit but from handling the both thats my impression. They seem to put marginally less strain on the sprockets and gearboxes too as they are of double pin construction as per the real steel, rather than the single pin on the H/L metal tracks. They glide more smoothly on the sprocket due to this.

I guess it may be possible that its a lottery, and that some are good and some not. any way, I am happy with the remedial action I have taken at the moment.

The new speakers I have on order are in enclosures which are 100mm x 75mm so I will be placing these across the Hull in front of the battery box, and between the two forward centre screw points. I can then pack between the enclosures and the hull sides to act as a further brace for the hull.

You're killing me on the secret mod too, come on spill the beans

Don't think the gearboxes will affect the hull much more than the Zinc....the tracks may have...even though they are lighter .. they have more grip on certain surfaces...so will grab instead of slide...it's really hard to say though...you wouldn't really be able to tell unless you had a stress meter to the hull itself to see how much deflection there is inside the hull....it just could boil down to the plastic itself...that it might be too thin and cannot handle the stress ...It's a big tank..and a very long Hull...will keep an eye on mine for sure

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Tracks would not have been a factor last weekend when the cracks occurred as both the M1 and the Lepard where on their original metal tracks then. The new tracks arrived 10 minutes before I left for the event, so I didn't have a chance to fit them until Mon/Tues this week.

I do suspect it is the plastic being too thin.

What's the weather like over there Scalawag? It's been obtusely hot here...maybe the heat has been keeping mine flexible to a certain degree...But yeah...I too think it's the gauge of the plastic ...wonder if HL will improve the thickness for the Challenger...and maybe future hulls of the M1


ALPHA

[atcttge]

Great vid, scalawag! The turbine sound sounds different from the ones I've seen of an HL M1 with TK22 in videos by Thaksin. I just love the roar of the turbine sound and the one in Thaksin's videos are the ones I love to hear. Still, I reckon the sound you got will improve with the new speakers, as Thaksin's tank used a better speaker than the stock one.

Agreed on the turret traverse and gun elevation sounds. They sound too loud. In a PC tank simulator that I used to play, there is this creaking sound that sounds like metal being twisted and bent when the turret stops traversing. I wonder how to incorporate that kind of sound to the IBU2 Pro.... Then again, that sound is more likely to be heard from INSIDE the tank I guess than outside.

Can't wait to hear the sound with the new speakers! BTW, I think I missed it so I'm gonna ask - wot new speakers did you get? And can you take a photo of it? I'll be ordering the IBU2 Pro and TPA within this week.

EDITED to add:

Would be awesome if the sounds from the M1 in this video can be duplicated with the IBU2 Pro -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ttjMSN8Gv4

[jarndice]

The engine sound is exemplary but unfortunately just as you elevated the gun and turned the turret your children started hitting the dustbins under the kitchen window, so I was unable to judge how quiet the ancillaries were. .
It is so easy to criticize when it is someone else's hard work.
In truth as ever Paul a magnificent build.
shaun

[atcttge]

I was watching the scalawag's video again. I just LOVE the main gun lighting up FIRST just a tad weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee bit before the sound of the boom. It is ever so subtle, but it looks so real because light travels faster than sound so the barrel lighting up followed by the boom is just PERFECT.

Excellent work again! I can't wait for the follow up vid with the new speakers installed!

[atcttge]

I do not have any experience with the M1, and I haven't been anywhere near it when it fires its main gun, but just the same the following comment:

The clanging sound after the main gun firing is IIRC the sound of the round's base that is discarded. I reckon that this sound is only heard inside the tank, but not outside. If it is audible, maybe not so loud. Just another data point to consider if you want a more realistic sounding M1. I'll be removing that clanging sound in the audio files I'll be using.

[atcttge]

True true. I was thinking of keeping it too, and even addi g the firing command "ON THE WAY!" but in my tank, that's gonna be difficult as Pikachu crew will likely say "PIKA! PIKA! PIKA! PIKACHOOOOOOOOO!"

[ALPHA]

True true. I was thinking of keeping it too, and even addi g the firing command "ON THE WAY!" but in my tank, that's gonna be difficult as Pikachu crew will likely say "PIKA! PIKA! PIKA! PIKACHOOOOOOOOO!"

Think John F programmed the GUP theme into his Panzer III


ALPHA

[jarndice]

Simon you tease, you say "THEY" make a metal Hull, WHO!!! please give us a website.
No rush I don't want to take you away from your exploits in the depths of Russia.
shaun