M551 Sheridan Airborne light tank - Vietnam - build

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lmcq11
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M551 Sheridan Airborne light tank - Vietnam - build

Post by lmcq11 »

Hi,

Here is the start of my new build. As I am waiting for parts to complete and paint the Tpz-1, I might as well enjoy the nice weather and do some outside model building to enjoy my pandemic confinement.

Before starting a build, It is important to read and review material in order to create a connection between the builder and the model. It makes the build a lot more interesting when you understand its working and history. Many guys were not happy that Tamiya issued the Sheridan. As for me, I was extremely please to see something new and cold war era with lots of opportunity for a build. I find the Sheridan to be a good looking vehicle. Ok, it is not heavy and the gun is short but it is 152mm...

The build will be based on the new 1/16 Tamiya M551 Sheridan light tank in a Vietnam war setting. As usual in Vietnam, the crews adapted, improvised and modified their vehicle to their needs. Below is an example with Acav shield and no search light.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
This is obviously the picture that Tamiya used as inspiration for its latest M551. I have studied most Vietnam photos available on the web and I am only seeing the RPG mesh shield on the 25th infantry division vehicles. Each units had their own customization. I do not think the mesh make the model good looking so I will not use it anyway.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
Capture1a.JPG (51.4 KiB) Viewed 4549 times
The history of the Sheridan is directly linked to its M81E1 Rifled 152 mm Gun/Missile Launcher. Also used on the M60A2, but in a turret that was not as good looking as the Sheridan. There are 2 versions of the gun, early M81 and late M81E1, with a much different look.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
Capture29.JPG (64.66 KiB) Viewed 4549 times
Use of the Sheridan in Vietnam is associated with its 152mm Beehive canister ammo that contained 10,000 metal flechettes per rounds. Whole waves of attacking Viet Cong could be massacred with a couple of rounds.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
Capture30.JPG (54.69 KiB) Viewed 4549 times
Example of the flechettes
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
The effects of the Beehive round could be devastating when used against infantry in close range.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
Capture9.JPG (55.7 KiB) Viewed 4549 times
Many M551 carried a secondary turret machine gun for the gunner, such as this M60 on a M2 Browning mount. Notice the turret rack at the rear.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
Capture10.JPG (49.81 KiB) Viewed 4549 times
Here is an extra M2 .50 cal. Also seen is the turret rack filled with ammo. The interior of the vehicle was small and could not carry much storage inside.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
Capture11.JPG (87.44 KiB) Viewed 4549 times
Good view of the M113 style ACAV shield.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
Capture14.JPG (55.33 KiB) Viewed 4549 times
This is it, let's start the build.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
Capture27.JPG (78.41 KiB) Viewed 4549 times
Continuing on following post
Last edited by lmcq11 on Sat Jun 06, 2020 1:01 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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lmcq11
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Re: M551 Sheridan Airborne light tank - Vietnam - build

Post by lmcq11 »

Instead of spending about $1000 with tax and shipping for the RC version, I purchased the Static version for less than $300 at Axel's. Other than the electronics and gears, it has all the custom metal parts to make it fully RC at a much lower cost. My goal is to build it below $500. As I have lots of RC models, I do not need to purchase a new control board with every tank, it would be madness so I will reuse a Clark TK60 I have.

The model will have the following features
- Clark TK-60 control board
- Mato 5.0 gearbox
- HL turret rotation
- Main gun servo elevation, servo recoil, flash and sound
- Secondary Mg flash and sound
- Head lights
- Tail lights
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
It has pre-assembled, nice quality plastic tracks with rubber pads, a luxury.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
The superb metal barrel is the Late version.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
Now, the first thing to engineer is the motorization. The M551 has a small sprocket with a small shaft. A regular Heng Long shaft cannot be used at all.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
Thankfully, the Tamiya metal shaft that fits the sprocket is provided with the static kit. It must be reused on a gearbox.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
A Mato 5.0 gearbox will be used. These are quite inexpensive for the quality. I paid less than $70 at Matomart during their regular holiday sales, with free shipping. Contrary to HL gears, the Mato gearbox has screws allowing the shaft to be easily disassembled and modified, and supported by flanged ball bearings. The regular Mato shaft needs to be replaced by the Tamiya M551 shown at the bottom.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
A small issue is that the shaft is shorter and does not reach the other ball bearing. The gap is shown here. They both are 5mm shafts for the gearbox, but the Mato shaft section that connects to the sprocket is about 1mm larger in diameter than the Tamiya.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
Unless the builder has access to a metal grinding solution that can produce strait results (which i don't), plan B is an extension of the Tamiya shaft using a 5mm thick brass tube has been created and simply inserted in the ball bearing with some pressure. It is solidly in place.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
It is the gear itself that will link the two shaft components together, it makes a perfect joint at exactly the right location. The screw is connected to the main shaft driving the sprocket, the other shaft is just there to maintain balance.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
New screw anchor holes are created. It is critical to take the right measurement.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
Continuing on following post
Last edited by lmcq11 on Mon May 25, 2020 8:56 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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lmcq11
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Re: M551 Sheridan Airborne light tank - Vietnam - build

Post by lmcq11 »

And here we have a Mato M551 Sheridan gearbox...
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
Construction of the main hull and suspension goes very well, no story here. I am not following instructions and leaving small items for later.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
I think the road wheels need ball bearings to replace the plastic ones provided by Tamiya. Recommended. I will get the size.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
One major disappointed are the molded-in fake dampers provided by Tamiya. I checked the full RC version and it is the same thing. At the price Tamiya is selling this kit, it should have a real dampers.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
Two modified Mato gearbox are made ready to mount on the chassis.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
They only need a 2mm plasticard cushion to be at exactly at the right height for the sprocket holes.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
The gearbox are installed with crews going through the plasticard and anchored on the metal bottom hull. I am lucky that the contour of the Mato gearbox shape and base seem to go around the Tamiya rear suspension point. This is luck...
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
The gearbox are solidly lined up against the plastic part of the fake dampers for a perfect width match of the sprockets with the tracks.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
Lots of space is provided for the upper hull, no height issue here. I could have used the smaller Panzer III Mato gearbox if height had been an issue.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
Here is the lower hull with full suspension, road wheels, tracks and gearbox. Looking very good. The build is going surprisingly well and fast.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
Regards, Louis
Last edited by lmcq11 on Mon May 25, 2020 1:03 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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BarryC
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Re: M551 Sheridan Airborne light tank - Vietnam - build

Post by BarryC »

Hi Louis,

I'll be watching, my build is still pending. :thumbup:

Barry
"Details make perfection, and perfection is not a detail."
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c.rainford73
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Re: M551 Sheridan Airborne light tank - Vietnam - build

Post by c.rainford73 »

Louis love the creativity you have displayed. Very nice job
Tanks alot.... :wave:
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Ad Lav
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Re: M551 Sheridan Airborne light tank - Vietnam - build

Post by Ad Lav »

Great start Louis.

We’re all hankering for a British tank from Tamiya, which I why we groaned at the M551, as nice as it is.
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Max-U52
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Re: M551 Sheridan Airborne light tank - Vietnam - build

Post by Max-U52 »

Great stuff as always, Louis. Couldn't you have milled another flat on the mato shaft and used that? Is there any other difference between the mato and tamiya shafts?
When FDR coined the phrase "The Arsenal of Democracy", he was talking about Detroit. Proud to live in the 2nd most violent city in America!!
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lmcq11
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Re: M551 Sheridan Airborne light tank - Vietnam - build

Post by lmcq11 »

Hi, thank you !
Max-U52 wrote:Couldn't you have milled another flat on the mato shaft and used that? Is there any other difference between the mato and tamiya shafts?
Yeah, that was plan A. But the Mato shaft diameter at the sprocket is about 1mm bigger than the Tamiya as you can see below. It would have been an all around milling job to make it fit the sprocket perfectly centered, and do it twice. Maybe if I had a lathe and knew how to use it, it would have been real simple. But with my 2 metal hand files and some drill bits, the task was daunting. From previous experience, I saw that the slightest imperfection in the shaft/sprocket integration makes the sprocket rotate with a visible wobble. Plan B is what I did but only because the M551 is a light aluminum chassis with plastic tracks. The pressure on the gears is low and the Mato gearbox is really tight and powerful so I think it will work very well. It took me 1 hour to adapt the two gearbox. I would not have done this on a heavy tank chassis with metal tracks.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
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Max-U52
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Re: M551 Sheridan Airborne light tank - Vietnam - build

Post by Max-U52 »

I think your solution is innovative and practical. For future reference, postage for something like this isn't bad if you can use a padded mailer, and i do have a lathe, and a mill, and a multitude of grinders at my disposal and i frequently do stuff for guys at no charge, so if you have a need for machine work in the future just sing out and we'll see if we can get things sorted out. I still don't own a Tamiya tank, but if i ever do build one I can see myself modifying the shafts so i can get better gears in there, no matter what the tank. Gear boxes that will fit Tamiya sprockets just might be a handy thing to have. With most olf the gearboxes from Imex you can easily swap shafts, and they really only come in two different configs, so maybe I'll make up a set or two just as an experiment. Time permitting, of course, and we all know how time seems to be so limited when it comes to important stuff like our tanks! :haha: :haha:

Do you think we'll see metal tracks for the Sheridan? When I was a kid I had a matchbox size Sheridan and it was a favorite, so my first Tammy tank just might be a 551. Well, probably the second tammy kit. I still want to build an E8 for my first Tamiya outing. Someday ...
When FDR coined the phrase "The Arsenal of Democracy", he was talking about Detroit. Proud to live in the 2nd most violent city in America!!
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lmcq11
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Re: M551 Sheridan Airborne light tank - Vietnam - build

Post by lmcq11 »

Max-U52 wrote:Do you think we'll see metal tracks for the Sheridan? When I was a kid I had a matchbox size Sheridan and it was a favorite,
Thank you for the information. I would not recommend metal tracks on the Tamiya Sheridan. I do not find the suspension to be strong enough for it. The suspension springs are also weak and would not support more weight. The model really miss its front and rear dampers that Tamiya did not take the time to properly design. Can't believe they sell this RC tank for 1000$ and provide fake dampers. Even the cheap 50$ RC buggies have functional ones.

Like you, one of my first tank was a Sheridan, the Airfix 1/72 Sheridan back in the 70s. Great little model. Still is.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
Capture0.JPG (41.69 KiB) Viewed 4437 times
Here is the inside of the upper hull.

Tamiya provides a gizmo ball bearing turret rotation. Individual bearings are loosely placed in a socket. I personally found the design to be lacking in solidity. Anyone looking at this picture can imagine what can happen next.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
The ball bearing are then held in place by the rotation dented wheel placed on top, held with 3 screws. I previously removed the small Tamiya dents to make room for a standard Heng Long rotation wheel to be placed on top.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
And what was to happen of course did happen. While pressing against the main wheel to glue the Heng Long rotation on top, the whole thing suddenly snapped out of the upper hull, spreading the ball bearings all over the place. I never found 2 of them, Tamiya providing only one spare. It still works ok but I do not like the concept. It does not feel like the ball bearing are actually turning inside. Rotation is provided by a Heng Long unit installed on a custom base.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
View of the top where the base of the turret will come sit. As you can see, the standard Heng Long rotation wheel is a perfect match to the size of the turret ring.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
A simple $2 RC LED kit can be used for head and tail lights, here the tail lights.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
Tamiya provided the tail light in clear plastic, a questionable decision as it does not really help with the painting at all.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
The headlights are excellent, empty so that it can be provided with LEDs inside. I reused some LEDs from an WPL pick up with the lens flattened and then polished, the resistor will be placed inside the hull later. I wish Tamiya could sell these headlights separately for my other builds. Notice (in red) that Tamiya provides a clear part that can be installed inside the headlights with the LED connected from under. But I preferred to have my LEDs directly illuminating the front of the tank instead of relying on reflection through the clear part. For sure, it is simpler to use the Tamiya clear parts.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
Overview of the interior of the upper hull, about $20 of added material for turret rotation and lights.
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
1/16 RC M551 M-551 Sheridan Vietnam build
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