Elmod WSN T34/85 Build

[wibblywobbly]

This thread will be a build of my WSN T34/85. There is little difference between doing this one and converting everything to run off an RX14, after all the tank functions are the same.

I am modelling this one on a particular real one, so there are a few other mods that I will be making to the hull etc as I go along. We will see who is the first to spot which one it is.

I have taken plenty of photo's so hopefully you will be able to see what is involved. I just wish I had the modelling skills of some forum members, though it has to be said that I am now attempting all sorts of things that I would never have dreamed of before I joined.

Rob G

[wibblywobbly]

The tank as it was when delivered. It was a full function WSN T34, with IR and recoil.

I stuck some batteries in the tank and the tx, and it ran ok, the recoil worked, and all tank functions were ok. That was a good sign, no blown motors or dodgy wiring.

Faults:

The final drive gear on the left axle was slipping.
The barrel was broken and had been repaired..but was still bent.

[wibblywobbly]

First job was to look at the wiring and see what I needed to keep and what needed to go, and what I could salvage to sell on Ebay in order to recoup some of what the tank cost me.

[wibblywobbly]

I then stripped everything out of the hull and turret that I didn't need, remembering to leave enough length of wire on the components that I was keeping so that I could see where new wires had to be attached. The lower hull was then totally stripped of everything.

Each suspension arm was removed and filled with Milliput to strengthen them up a bit.

[wibblywobbly]

I then washed the hull off and scrubbed it with various concoctions in an effort to remove as much of the old paint as possible. The tracks were given the same treatment.

The hull was then hand brushed in acrylic dark olive green.
The tracks were given three coats of very dilute black, and when that was dry I painted dark earth onto each link to cover up the bright green that the previous owner had put on them (this doesn't appear until further down).

The commanders hatch was cut open, and the inside built up with styrene to give it the thickness of the inner hatch.

The barrel was repaired, but had to be a bit of a botch job. To get the old muzzle flash out entailed chopping off part of the tip, and then inserting hollow tube in the break so that I could thread the wires for a new muzzle flash down through the barrel. Although shortening the barrel allowed me to get a filed down 5mm led in there, I will see about getting another barrel (one is on its way from a generous forum member - nwexplorer) and fitting a 3mm led instead.

[grim_marmazet]

Looking good so far Rob. Those things really do have a lot of wires in them! lol  I cant wait to see it come along.
Cheers,
Rik

[wibblywobbly]

Cheers Rik...more below...

[wibblywobbly]

Next up was the cast turret. Cheap and cheerful route was copious amounts of Milliput smeared all around it. This was then rubbed down with fine emery to achieve that rough cast look that T34's are reknowned for. A coat of dark olive green was then applied to see whether it looked ok.

[wibblywobbly]

The IR tower was next. I was intended putting it in the open hatch, and spent a long time cutting and drilling so that it would plug all nice and neatly. There was a flaw in my plan, when I plugged the IR tower in and then tried the newly opened hatch...the hatch wouldn't fit!

I decided to fabricate an old wooden crate around the IR tower, modify the turret, and sink the whole tower down inside. This was not the easiest job in the world!

The IR emitter was fabricated from an old biro tube, and moulded into the mantlet, not exactly true to scale, but there have to be compromises for these things, there is not enough room to fit it inside as when the barrel is elevated it would disappear under the plate above the barrel (I tried!).

[wibblywobbly]

My attention turned to sorting out the new wiring. I just needed to make sure that I had enough to connect the muzzle flash, led emitter, elevation motor, traverse motor, motors, and speaker.

Battery box and all unwanted stand offs were removed. All holes filled.