Anti-funk project; Heng Long/Andy's HHQ Achilles RC

[Rob1970]

Will do.

I'm looking forward to it. Any excuse not to spend more money

Spent last night getting the kit's exhaust build and drilled for actual use with the smoker. The plastic is very thin and a blew through it with my dremel a few times, but not in any place that will show up. CA glue and baking soda plugged the holes and I got it into place.



I added some tubing which I will shorten to the correct length as soon as I have figured out how to plumb it into the smoker. Might have to move it a little, I still have some space.



...and yes, that was just what it looked like, lurking in the back of the first picture. Another project I am working on, currently waiting for the electronics and battery to arrive.



"Don't worry Officer, it's a scale model..." (1to1 is a scale, right?)

TTFN,
Rob

[Ecam]

Superb work, can't wait to see how this comes out, I may just have to do another!

Yes 1:1 is a scale, that BMG looks awesome!

Link to the servo thread: viewtopic.php?t=36319

[tankme]

"You can run servos (by-passing the servo's board - running the two wires from the MFU directly to the servo motor's tabs) or even the airsoft motors (two wires) off the standard lift and turn ports on the HL MFU 7.0, 6.0 and earlier versions."

Gday Mr Ecam, can you dive deeper into the exact method of that please.
Am I to understand you cut the plug off the servo cable and replace it with the plug for one of the MFU functions and it runs ?

No. A servo has a signal wire that tells the MFU the position of the "wiper" which is why when a tank with servos starts up the servo centers itself. You remove the signal wire and the little board that reads the PWM signal and you have to make sure the positive and negative wires are soldered to the servo motor. You are then just using the positive and negative wires that are now bypassing the servo PWM board to connect to a motor output on the Heng Long board. The servo now operates like a DC motor because that's what you have converted it into during this process. It will no longer self-center as it no longer has the PWM signal wire. It is no longer a servo, it is a geared DC motor.

[Ecam]

Correct as I explain in the servo thread.

[Rob1970]

Last night was a good night. A dram of the good stuff, a nice audiobook on the background (Terry Pratchett's "Night Watch" for those who were wondering) and about a gazillion little brass handles to bend and glue in place instead of the otherwise lovely kit's tiny brittle and easily breakable styrene ones...



At least these ones won't be ripped off by the first sturdy blade of grass they run in to...



...I hope...

TTFN,
Rob

[Rob1970]

I've spent some quality time (Listening to "Monstrous Regiment") build the gun. I replaced some of the more fragile parts with 0.8mm stainless steel welding wire and brass wire so the contruction can withstand RC-use.



Also filled in the holes for the pivot points with solid 6mm ABS rod and drilled and taped some M4 holes. Also added a hook for a spring to help with the elevation.



The orginal pivot points on the turret were removed and replaced with a brass tube with an inner diameter of 4mm. Now I can screw the cannon to the turret with a couple of long grub screws. The holes on the outside are a small concession to the whole "making-it-RC"-bit...



The inside of the turret got a hook too... which I will have to replace with a slightly bigger/deeper one...



...because getting the o-rings on is a fiddly nightmare. But it works!



As for the elevation... I have a cunning plan...



Alright, alright...

A string attached to the breach block will go through a hole in the center of the floor. There's a little doodad right there, making it an ideal spot...



...for it to come out of the bottom of the floor...



...and go to the original Sherman elevation motor which I will cleverly attach to a still to be constructed bulkhead. Might have to enlarge the little wheel to get a bigger stroke, but I -think- it will work.



TTFN,
Rob

[Kaczor]

How about recoil

[Ecam]

As long as that hole is in the dead center of the turret ring it the barrel won't elevate/depress when spinning the turret. I did something similar on my TDs but I attached to the upper hull to make things simple when pulling the hull apart.

Fantastic and inventive work!

[Rob1970]

A bulkhead got build, the lifting motor from the Sherman got attached, and clever things were done with ABS sheet and screws to make a new wheel. A small bend bit of brass tubing was fitted to pass the wire through...



...while in the turret more clever things were done with a selfmade hook and a bit of brass tubing...



...and it made things move!!!

phpBB [video]

A quick trip to a very helpful tackle shop got me some better materials.



A better wheel got constructed...



...and a new non-standard handle appeared on the breach of the 17pdr...



...to facilitate easier dismantling. I'm sure it won't look too much out of place once painted. The little swivel under the breach should stop the wire from twisting as the turret turns.



TTFN,
Rob

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Rob, I am certainly intrigued by your ingenuity as you hide all the mechanisms in the hull and keep the open turret quite open for figures and details. I will continue to watch and cheer, albeit mostly silently. Go, Rob, go!