LAV-25 - Watercannon rebuild

[Jarlath]

Using 3D printing as a easily modifiable medium for design concepts/alterations. (Aka cutting out for servos and driveline axles, etc...) Just a quick simple exacto knife application and BAM, 30 seconds for alterations to the concept. A 2mm thick print is easier to sculpt than 2mm styrene sheet!

[Will01Capri]

Looking good
Are you still using plastic driveshafts? If you are hauling weight then you will get those plastic things popping off all the time, go for the cheap metal looking ones which are quite blocky. There is a cv type which look nice, but they are not as long lasting, although they do allow larger drive angles, but you don't have that issue in your setup.
Steering setup is all cool, looks nicely sorted. Those metal 370 setups are great, i have a few in smaller models, are you going to connect them together or have them seperate so there is more of a differential setup between them?
That's going to weigh quite a bit if filled with water

[43rdRecceReg]

Very impressive for a first attempt, especially considering the complexity of the engineering and, consequently, the number of potential trouble spots.
Following along, with a measure of admiration.

[Jarlath]

Looking good
Are you still using plastic driveshafts? If you are hauling weight then you will get those plastic things popping off all the time, go for the cheap metal looking ones which are quite blocky. There is a cv type which look nice, but they are not as long lasting, although they do allow larger drive angles, but you don't have that issue in your setup.
Steering setup is all cool, looks nicely sorted. Those metal 370 setups are great, i have a few in smaller models, are you going to connect them together or have them seperate so there is more of a differential setup between them?
That's going to weigh quite a bit if filled with water

The first driveshafts right from the motor/gearboxes are metal already. (Thanks Chris!) I don't think I'll need one for the front driveline.
As the middle axles are the main axles that see input torque I had to ensure that I was beefing them up already. We'll have to see if the trailing rear axle will need the metal upgrade since it is slightly delayed in torque transmission (gear and driveline slop).

I actually was looking at 3d printed steering track rods at first due to the lack of driveline clearance and home made z-bend/loop rods for the steering linkage. I then found a set of rod ends from a micro Helicopter which were perfect for the linkages and the offset allowed me to re-used the WPL track rods.

I'm going to connect the 370's together. Debating on the need for the heatsinks (I'll be putting cooling fans in this anyways). If a single 30A ESC will work then great, otherwise I'll have to look at separate harnesses/channels for them. I'll also be beefing up the wire to a heavier gauge incase of higher current draws (maybe 20 AWG).

[Jarlath]

Very impressive for a first attempt, especially considering the complexity of the engineering and, consequently, the number of potential trouble spots.
Following along, with a measure of admiration.

This is why I love RC vehicles. The mechanics. Like I said, I love design and tinkering. I leave the detail work/painting to those that are good at it. (I haven't painted a model in 15+ years...)
I'm still debating if I'm going to give this a magnetically attached upper hull like in my tanks...
IF the existing water tank becomes a space claim issue, then I'll make custom tanks that fit into the upper hull and distribute the water mass across a greater area to lessen the driveline stresses in the rear of the tank.

[Jarlath]

It has been a bit, but I have re-started the LAV-25 as I take a short break from re-engineering DGSSelkirk's 1/10th Hooben PoS Hetzer into something decent...(LOL)

Found the base RC tank on a whim...
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1-16-Scale- ... 4625342467
But GD! That's nearly 125 Euro/150 US for the TOY grade base tank!!!

[Estnische]

Looking good. Should turn out to be a neat conversion with some added detail.

[Jarlath]

Looking good. Should turn out to be a neat conversion with some added detail.

Hope so. Converting the upper hull to be the water tank itself and needing a new water pump due to size constraints.
Go figure the toy grade version has a ton of space inside, but add in a full driveline... and twin drive motors... Sigh.. Shoehorn time!