Renault FT - French Army WW1 tank- Build

lmcq11 · Post by **lmcq11** » Sun Mar 29, 2020 11:55 pm

Hi,

After a series of complex builds, I am looking for something simple for my next project. I also want to keep things clean around the workbench and limit dust, so I am going to build a plastic kit.

My new project is a Renault FT tank, definitely the best tank of WW1 and still in service at the start of WW2 in limited tasks.

: Renault FT 1/16 RC build; Capture1.JPG (46.3 KiB) Viewed 5672 times

It served with the French army and all around the world with friendly and not so friendly forces, and then with the Germans when they captured hundreds of them in WW2.

: Renault FT 1/16 RC build; Capture1a.JPG (98.02 KiB) Viewed 5672 times

They were mostly used for Police work in occupied countries.

: Renault FT 1/16 RC build; Capture2.JPG (71.82 KiB) Viewed 5672 times

They were sent by the Germans as far away as Norway. Although it is tempting to build a German Beutepanzer, I have not decided yet on the markings.

: Renault FT 1/16 RC build

Although it has been available in 1/16 scale static kit for many years, I kept mines on the shelf for years, never getting the right electronics for the build, until now. I have two versions of the Takom 1/16 kit, the one armed with the 37mm canon and the one with the 8mm machine gun. They come with a nicely made interior but conversion to RC is difficult due to the small size of the model.

: Renault FT 1/16 RC build

: Renault FT 1/16 RC build

The first task was to find the motorization. I selected the gearbox from a Do-it-Yourself kit sold for a few dollars from China. The gearbox units have a 130 size motor and seems strong.

: Renault FT 1/16 RC build; Capture8.JPG (95.7 KiB) Viewed 5672 times

: Renault FT 1/16 RC build

The electronics has to be real small to fit. I purchased the MCT-2 and ACU units from 35rctank, designed for 1/35 and small 1/16 RC tanks. Although i have no experience with these, the FT seems to be a perfect match to experiment with. The ACU has all the features of a regular RC tank, including turret rotation, gun elevation, recoil and sound. It will be fun trying to go as far as i can considering the small hull and turret.

: Renault FT 1/16 RC build

Another important factor are the tracks. The ones provided with the kit are in articulated plastic. They seems strong enough but it will surely be a bumpy ride.

: Renault FT 1/16 RC build

Continuing on following post

lmcq11 · Post by **lmcq11** » Mon Mar 30, 2020 12:04 am

It is sad to waste all the nice interior parts coming with the kit. I will need to build another one as a static one day.

: Renault FT 1/16 RC build

The gearbox units are prepared

: Renault FT 1/16 RC build

New cables fitting the 35rctank control unit are installed.

: Renault FT 1/16 RC build

Some drilling are required to install the gearbox.

: Renault FT 1/16 RC build

The biggest challenge is to find the right arrangement to fit the sprocket that are totally not designed for RC. Sets of brass overlapping tubes with epoxy are used to create a shaft that will get everything connected with the very custom suspension and sprocket of the FT tank. I have experimented with this type of shaft in other builds. The light weight of the FT tank will not require anything too complicated.

: Renault FT 1/16 RC build

Next step is to install the suspension and sprocket.

: Renault FT 1/16 RC build

Regards, Louis

c.rainford73 · Post by **c.rainford73** » Mon Mar 30, 2020 1:02 am

Very exciting build Louis

Want to see how you design this one

PershingLover · Post by **PershingLover** » Mon Mar 30, 2020 3:22 am

I wouldn't call this simple!

Xiaoshan_Sailor · Post by **Xiaoshan_Sailor** » Mon Mar 30, 2020 3:59 am

PershingLover wrote:I wouldn't call this simple!

I'll second that. Mine is sitting half-assembled in its box. Need to get back on it.

Panzerjaeger66 · Post by **Panzerjaeger66** » Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:36 am

Hi Louis, an interesting build!
It might be easier than your IDF Sho't or the M48 but not that easy...but I think you'll love these challenges

About the track from the chassis you have ordered - I guess they are completely made of rubber (no single links with pins)?
I'm still searching for small tracks usable for scratch builds.

Cheers,
Freddy

c.rainford73 · Post by **c.rainford73** » Mon Mar 30, 2020 4:51 pm

Louis I've utilized those gearboxes for my RSO ost build and they are quite and reliable.

P.S.

Freddy, I've purchased that lower hull from banggood. I've ditched the wheels and rubber tracks.

Since then I've supplemented them with the tamiya tracked vehicle kit rubber tracks and sprockets. ( per Lee on the forum) Much better quality.

Panzerjaeger66 · Post by **Panzerjaeger66** » Mon Mar 30, 2020 9:47 pm

Thanks Carl, do you have a link? I'm not sure which one you mean (example).

lmcq11 · Post by **lmcq11** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 1:28 am

My goal is to make this a low cost, low risk, low dust, simple, fast and fun build. The 35RCtank electronics, hopefully good, will surely be reused for other planned small rc models in the future. These are interior RC models for action on the kitchen table...

Panzerjaeger66 wrote: guess they are completely made of rubber (no single links with pins)?

Yeah, rubber, there is not much that can be done with these tracks.

: Renault FT 1/16 RC build

lmcq11 · Post by **lmcq11** » Thu Apr 02, 2020 2:11 am

Hi,
Here is the suspension.

Because the sprockets need to be made functional with the motor shafts, i have changed the building sequence compared to the instructions, installing parts in a telescopic fashion instead.

: Renault FT 1/16 RC build

The sprocket is simply glued to the shaft arrangement. The structure of the side suspension units and limited spacing between the main parts does not allow for much engineering. The tank will be very light so i saw no point in trying to make the complex suspension functional with a swinging pivot at the back and heavy realistic spring at the front. It would have complicated things tremendously and would not have been solid. It is fragile enough as it is. As i said, it's a simple build.