1/35 scale M5A1 conversion to RRC with MTM gearboxes

[modler]

In my rush to build the chassis up on the Stuart, I was not thinking of alignment of the road wheels VS the tracks and from the first picture posted you can see some unwanted road wheel lift. The result is the lifted road wheels don't spin when the tracks are in motion. This spoils the view of the tank when moving in either direction. This is a problem with most tanks with fixed suspension and can not be resolved 100% because of the light track loading of these small models but can be improved. The picture below shows an improved road wheel\ idler stance.

edit, that front bogie is still off a bit. Still working on it. BOTH SIDES

I had to raise the idler wheel a bit on both sides, that took a good deal of time to get right but its a hobby right

[Mithras]

The series was called "The Haunted Tank."

[Ecam]

Hey it was about 45 years ago, and I was kinda close!

[Ecam]

Hey it was about 45 years ago, and I was kinda close!

[modler]

Final road wheel alignment done

the pictures below show L/R side shots with road wheels alined as good as I can get them.

Here is a video of the M4A1 running in "ghost mode"
https://youtu.be/ywr_5V8yKJE

[modler]

I'm currently building a version of the M32 in the Group builds section.

When I was younger my brother had a bunch of comics titled "Ghost Tank" (as I recall). About the Stuart and crew with the ghost of General Stuart along for the adventures. They had a Stuart in Garden City Kansas when I was younger and the hatches were not welded closed. One of the few tanks I was actually in. Tank has been long since removed from the city park...

Oh, now I get it, There was a comic titled "Ghost Tank". My "M5A1 Ghost run" video prompted that memory, very cool. I bet that was a very interesting comic book story

The hatches on the Tanks I posted are not welded. I think one is open as well. When I was a young man of 12-13, My Dad , my Dad, a SSFC, in the Army was Stationed at Aberdeen proving grounds in Maryland back in 1971 or so and they have a Tank museum with displays of captured WW2 Tanks and other AFV's both indoor and outdoor displays. My Dad was in charge of all the Tanks there. We went to work with him on the weekends and got to hang around the workshop area, For every Tank on display, they had working versions in the "shop area" that were kept in working order and periodically run on the "proving ground" track.

[Ecam]

WOW! Awesome! That would have been a treat for any or us!