Herr Doc's Famo

[Ecam]

To answer your February 10 question "should the thread remain here or be moved to static builds?" I say definitely leave it here. The goal at some point is to have a running FAMO and at some point it may well be when the bugs are worked out. Also this is the right place for others searching for answers to their halftrack questions - and would probably never search in static builds. Even though it is not a currently running FAMO, much information is to be had in this build thread. And soon you'll have that Eureka moment and the thing will be a runner and stun us all.

To comment on the above post. I applaud your scratch built hinges! Piano hinges would look out of place in my opinion.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Thanks, Eric, for your recommending the StillFAMO stay here. I am inclined to the same, but I want to make sure others approve. Piano hinges would be w-a-a-y off. Door hinges would be a bit better, but still wrong. I am hoping that enough of the homemade rig hides behind the decorative hinges that I can get by with the "30-inch rule."

[Herr Dr. Professor]

I have been putzing with the FAMO almost daily, and although it is a static model for now (any maybe forever) I have struggled with the tracks and learned a few points that may help others.

1) The rollers on the drive wheel are attached with small bits of round brass stock slid through drilled holes. My FAMO came from Asiatam partially assembled. (Why? Was it actually a returned item from a frustrated customer?) The sprockets were already assembled, but the pins were not cut to a consistent, proper length, so the pins would catch on the tracks and lift them up from the sprockets. I solved that problem by grinding off the ends of the pins with a Dremel tool. I had to work in very close to the "rubber" pads on the sprocket, so magnifying glasses were an absolute necessity.

rollers forward.jpg (549.1 KiB) Viewed 986 times

2) The tracks have rather large openings for the drive sprockets with rollers. The track openings are supposed to be V-shaped, like a cross section of a funnel. When the FAMO is going forward, the drive sprocket rollers are intended first to contact and pull against the narrow part of the V shape and then release through the wide end as the tracks ride around to the bottom of the sprocket wheel. However, the tracks seem to have been cast in a top and bottom die. The tops of the tracks (as seen from the outside when installed) do have the V-shape. But on the bottom of the tracks (seen from the inside where it counts), the openings are just straight. You may be able to see the bottom (inside) of the tracks in the photo if you look closely where the red arrows point. Hence, the sprocket rollers do not consistently catch and release, but ride back and outward on the track guides. So the tracks ride up off the sprockets and jam. I was unable to fix this problem, for to do so would require machining every opening in the tracks with a tool small enough.

rollers lagging behind.jpg (592.78 KiB) Viewed 986 times

3) I cannot tell for sure, but it seems as if the timing or spacing of the sprockets and the track openings are not precise enough. So this exacerbates the problem of the tracks riding up on the roller sprockets.

catching.jpg (453.99 KiB) Viewed 986 times

1), 2), and 3) explain why one custom builder gave up and installed PzKw. I tracks.

[Model Builder 4]

Hello professor,

Another problem with the tracks is that they look robust but are actually quite fragile, I've managed to snap one or two links between my fingers the surface looks strong but when broke open they are a cast type material which resembles swiss cheese I don't think that they would hold up to any type of machining at all I've yet to make a restart on mine but I'm anticipating the same problems, as I mentioned before, I've played around with the tension on them and they did run ok-ish

Cheers,Lee.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Lee, although the Asiatam FAMO track tension is quite easy to adjust, I had no success with track tension adjustment initially nor after any modifications, including the obvious step of aligning the drive sprockets correctly. Unfortunately, I've been at this problem intermittently for 18 months. I am enjoying other progress toward a static FAMO, and in moments of bemusement I contemplate the question:
How many Tigers does it take to pull a FAMO?

[ColemanCollector]

Whew! That is one complex drivetrain!

Mike.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

After more and more , I managed to get the tracks so they will roll (when pushed by hand) forward as much as five feet without jamming. That's good enough for a static model. I always try built/build static models to be poseable; that is, so one can roll the wheels and tracks a bit, turn turrets, elevate guns, spin propellers, etc.

So here are some photos of noticeable progress. Details and weathering remain: details because almost no part of the original castings fit readily, some were missing altogether: e.g. the mirror, the lights, the wipers, the fairlead, the gear shift lever, and more. I am slowly scratch-building (I feel unworthy to even use the word) and seeking parts (esp. the lights, as the ones provided with the kit were hilariously undersized.)

Left.jpg (232.65 KiB) Viewed 866 times

Right.jpg (193.06 KiB) Viewed 866 times

Overhead.jpg (247.98 KiB) Viewed 866 times

Rear.jpg (233.59 KiB) Viewed 866 times

Winch & Hitch.jpg (173.87 KiB) Viewed 866 times

[Ecam]

That is looking really sharp!

[MrChef]

Oh WoW HDP that's lookin great!!!

I need 3 or 4

[Ad Lav]

What a smart looking Famo!

Does MK Modellbau do bits for it? Lights etc?