1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

[lmcq11]

Hi,

Here is my latest build. After completion of the complex scratch built Hummel SPH, i wanted something easy. So, this will be a simple table top RC conversion of the 1/16 static Takom Wiesel 1A1 Armored Weapons Carrrier (AWC) with TOW missile launcher.

The Wiesel was designed to provide mobility to airborne units once on the ground. It can be transported by heavy helicopter, but not air dropped. It was made in various configurations.

Seen below in TOW launcher configuration during the Bundeswehr deployment to northern Afghanistan. Makes you wonder what the Germans were planning to shoot at with the exposed TOW anti-tank missile launcher over there... You can't just shoot at any pickup truck a kilometer away. I am guessing they used the powerful sight mostly for observation.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

Seen below in 20mm automatic gun configuration in northern Afghanistan. I am pretty sure the Talibans were not really impressed by the power projection of the recent Bundeswehr, giving some ammo to Donald Trump to complain, the Bundeswehr being a shadow of its former self during the cold war. Good thing the Germans were in the quieter northern area. The WIesel would not provide much protection to the crew against RPGs, ambushes and IEDs. At least the Canadians brought their German made Leopards C2 and 2A6M to the Kandahar region...

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

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This is a build of a Wiesel 1. Not to confuse with the Wiesel 2 which is an extended model with additional roadwheels.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

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The kit used is the Takom static kit, available for about $50. Not sure what is Takom's attraction in developing tankette models. Some other subjects that were produced in greater numbers, or serve in more armies and in battle would certainly be more attractive to many buyers around the world. A 1/16 M-113 and derivatives would be a good idea to develop. But the Wiesel is available now and cheap so let's see what its made of. It won't take much room on the shelf...

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

Motorization will be provided by an inexpensive DIY Tamiya twin gearbox with 130 motors, good enough for the size of this vehicle and a nice little kit to assemble. The MTC-2 control board and ACU units from 35RCTANK will be used with the Tamiya gearbox.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

In order to work correctly, the motors need to be equipped with ceramic capacitors. Not knowing the right configuration to use, I purchased this set on Amazon for a few dollars. Without capacitors installed, the motors do not operate with speed control and would likely be damaged.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

After evaluation of a few categories, i determined that the optimal setup is to equip each motor with three 0.1uF(104) capacitors.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

One capacitor is installed between the + and - connectors, and then between each connector and the metal casing of the motors.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

With this setup, the motors are extremely responsive to the speed control stick of the control unit, and the annoying noise is totally gone. Test everything...

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

The Takom kit provides a good tub to install the gearbox. Looks like the Tamiya gearbox was designed for this chassis, perfect match. Not even a need to adjust the length of the shafts.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

Continuing on following post

[lmcq11]

The level of details provided on the Takom kit is exceptional

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

Check out the markings on these roadwheels, extremely small and refined. Needs maximum zoom to read it.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

The kit provide plastic torsion bars for the suspension, a great bonus. As the model is very light, this will do.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

The plastic axles for the roadwheel are simply replaced by M2 hex bolts with a brass rim inserted into the inner roadwheel after drilling the required central hole.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

The M2 bolts and nuts are adjusted so that the roadwheels turns freely on their new axle. The same is done for all roadwheels.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

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After the first prototype is proven successful, a small assembly chain creates the running train in no time.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

The gearbox is installed on a plasticard plate glued to the bottom of the hull between the two torsion bars, and the gearbox is held in place with two M3 hex bolts.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

The sprocket shaft is coming out of the sprocket gear housing at the right length.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

Continuing on following post

[lmcq11]

After drilling a smaller hole than the shaft on the sprocket, the sprocket is simply pressed against the shaft for a tight fit, and then glued. This is no King Tiger and resistance is very light. I saw no point in developing something more complicated.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

The outer sprocket wheel is placed on top of the inner wheel. Here we go, Wiesel RC motorization for a few dollars...

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

Idler is installed.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

Bottom up view.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

I was happy to see the tracks, similar in concept to the ones on the Stuart. The separate track links allow for RC use as is, 50 links on each tracks.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

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The jig for the assembly is discarded. As it is critical that each link is properly assembled, articulated and free of glue on the connectors, i recommend that each link be assembled individually. Only apply glue to the two central location pins of the shoes, and then press with plyers. When building the tracks, consistently go back to the previous 8 links to make sure that they are still loose and articulate freely. I had a couple of occasion where glue trickle to the connectors and locked them. Takom only provides about 8 spare links in total so there is not much room for building mistakes.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

It takes about 3 hours to assemble the tracks.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

The teeth for the tracks and sprocket is a separate part.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

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But the jig process to install them can be used here and saves a lot of time.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

Continuing on following post

[lmcq11]

No need for track adjusters, the tracks are tight and at perfect length.

/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

The model is ready for motorization testing, the electronics are simply thrown on board for the testing.

/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

And here are two short videos of the initial testing of the motorization at low speed. Seems i have only two small problems to correct with one of the roadwheel which gets stuck sometimes and the return rollers need to be more sensitive, these tracks are so light...

phpBB [video]

phpBB [video]

Regards, Louis

[Jimster]

That thing is running great! I thought it was going to back right off the table there for a second.

[Xiaoshan_Sailor]

A very clean and efficient build thread as ever!

[Kaczor]

Great build

[Herr Dr. Professor]

It does look like a relatively easy build, or, at least as Senior Wenceslaus used to say on the moldy oldie Ed Sullivan Show: "for you easy; for me deeficult." It sure does run well and will make a great little short-weave carpet warrior or table-top demonstration. I am impressed by your knowing 1) to install capacitors and 2) how to correctly install the capacitors. Well done and fun!

[Will01Capri]

AWESOME

[lmcq11]

It does look like a relatively easy build, or, at least as Senior Wenceslaus used to say on the moldy oldie Ed Sullivan Show: "for you easy; for me deeficult." It sure does run well and will make a great little short-weave carpet warrior or table-top demonstration. I am impressed by your knowing 1) to install capacitors and 2) how to correctly install the capacitors. Well done and fun!

Hi, thank you everyone for your encouragements ! Yeah, it is an easy build. Other than the mods planned, the rest is as simple as following the instructions.

For its size, there is a lot of parts in this kit. What takes the most time is to cut the parts from the sprues and clean them. I recommend taking the opportunity to buy a new fine Xuron clipper for this build, it will be needed. As you can see below, even small parts have between 2 and 5 attachments to the sprues. It is sometimes difficult to determine what is part and what is sprue.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

The level of details is amazing, such as this working hinge used on the back upper hull section.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

This will provide easy access to the electronics, battery and main switch.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

One of the highlight of this kit is the TOW anti-tank missile launcher (short barrel version) and sight with thermal imager. Some will purchase this kit only for this element. Hopefully, Takom will be smart enough to offer it separately on a tripod.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

Its construction takes time and is tricky due to the number of parts involved. The sight and its mount alone has 39 parts I think the designer went overboard and could have simplified the construction of the sight without reduction in the level of details. Building this sight will test your patience, the fit is good but not perfect, dry fit everything.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

The two halves of the launcher and other parts could have a better fit and needed a lot of sanding to get rid of the seams. It created a lot of fine dust, the model will need a good wash.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

On top of the day sight is the AN/TAS-4A thermal imaging night sight. It is called a long-wavelength infrared sensing system. The night sight detects thermal energy and converts it into electrical signals that are converted into a visible light image, therefore allowing the TOW Weapon System to be used day or night in all weather and all terrain conditions.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

The AN/TAS-4A night sight is a new element in 1/16 scale modelling world and is quite welcomed. Verlinden did not include it in its resin kit. In comparison to the resin Verlinden TOW launcher that i mounted on one of my M-113A1 and which had its long barrel version reduced to represent the short barrel version, same as on the Wiesel, the Takom launcher is about 2mm shorter.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build

Dry fitting the main parts, the fit is pretty good and the model will look good.

1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build