Panzer III Heng long Asiatam rebuild:

[xrad]

there was one issue with the asitam metal kit. I  bought the wheels and hull at different times. I recommend buying it all together at once. My wheel kit was missing one axle .

I bought ball bearing metal idlers, but they did not come with axles that fit the asitam tensioner. So i tapped the nearest metric bolt size, but this soon stripped out. I eventually had to tap the next size up which was a standard thread. had to put a small brass tube over the bolt to fit the bearings. worked fine since this was done. Can't tell you what size bolt because I don;t remember...

[wibblywobbly]

Love the detail and the paint, you have talent!

[xrad]

Thanks. will post more pics as jobs are done....

[xrad]

I bought the proportional smoker (actually two for the price of one)

Put one in the PIII connected to the metal and resin rusty exhaust. Looks good but no smoke. Unhooked the plumbing and the smoker worked fine. Apparently, the smoke droplets were condensing in the exhaust because the distance from the smoker through the hull, out the brass pipes, into the metal exhaust, in a cool basement, caused condensation. So, I moved the smoker unit to the rear and shortened the lines. Works fine. REAL QUIET, too.

Another note: I had both motors hooked up to the smoker. This made the little control board VERY hot. so I unhooked on motor. Board still works fine. does not run all the time when tank is at a standstill, but starts up strongly when moving.

[Wight]

HI xrad.
Are you running with any extra links in the tracks are or thay as they came?
Reason I ask is that I have found on mine that if I run tracks as they came,the rear road wheel on the left will sometime make cantact with the rear idler.However if I add a link to the track it will stop this as the idler is set further back,but I can't get enough adjustment to get them tight enough so the tracks don't get pulled off in grass.

Cheers.
Steve.

[xrad]

I did have a problem with the heng long tracks touching the idler adjuster bolt when first installed. But once the tracks broke in,after tightening,  they were far enough rearward to not touch the idler adjuster.

I put 1 extra link in each side, then took it out as the tracks broke in.

Also, i had to make the idler axles. i used some threaded bolts with brass tube. This allowed about 1-2mm lateral movement of the idler wheel, probably also helping keep the track off the idler adjust bolt.

Here is pic of nearly finished tank. I have left off the insignias at this time. have not found some I really like.

Tracks might look tight in side view, but they are really just snug. If you raise a wheel, they sag. Look closely and you can see the on/off switch under rear deck(near exhaust)

I just leave the new proportional smoker running (so switch has been relocated to interior). It makes almost no noise.

Those are the real metal/rubber spares on the hull.... Just in case I lose one off the suspension!

TIP: when putting on a close fitting track on the PIII, remove the drive wheel , put the track on starting at the idler(loosen it first a little), then the drive and carrier wheels. Then put the drive wheel in place and gently compress the suspension until the drive wheel and shaft line up.

[xrad]

I am SO pleased with the Asiatam PIII hull upgrade, I am thinking of building the Stug!

[xrad]

Is it worth it/????

YES. asiatam excellent. HL upper hull excellent. HL electronics very functional (rx18)

If you are thinking of this build, recommend:
RCCOMMAND, TANKZONE, JASONS STORE, TANKWORKSHOP. Still waiting on stuff from Singapore (Impact)...

Total cost: ~600$

Also recommend that:

you buy the full asiatam hull WITH wheels
buy the HL WITH metal tracks (cheaper than buying them later)
Try to get the HL with rx18
proportional smoker not really worth it (but the metal/resin exhaust is great)
get the heavy duty RCCOMMAND HL gearbox, PERFECT fit and function
use tamiya paints

[Wight]

Yes I believe it's worth it too.
I find I'm driving it more than my Tamiya Sherman,although when I do it feels really smooth on the controls.

I have my hull fitted to the stug and have had to move the speaker to the back of the tank as it was stopping the gun from elevating fully.

Yours is looking great,I like the late exhaust system but am not sure if it fitted to the Stug or not.

Steve.

[xrad]

I think my tracks are on backwards....

Can't understand the German design...why have dirt impact into track hinge?