Tamiya 1/35 Panzer III M/N build
Tamiya 1/35 Panzer III M/N build
This is a 1971 release motorized version (single motor) of the Panzer III M\N. I built my first military tank model kit 58 years ago in Heilbronn Germany. A static M60 with spring suspension! Anyway, the Panzer I,II,III,IV are the most interesting tanks to me at this time
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- Drive sprockets are removable and are the same as the ones in the motorized remote control versions.
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- these motorized kits come with steel idler wheel axle and ready to use tracks sprockets for remote control. This saves alot of time when setting one up R\C.
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- Comes with a single motor (130) with metal gearbox and a on\off switch. This was hi-tech in 1971! It's all we had at that time. I remember building these motorized kits and then running them outside in the dirt having a blast. Never dreamed that some day 58 years later would still be playing with them lol
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Last edited by modler on Wed Apr 30, 2025 4:05 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Martin2556
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Re: Tamiya 1/35 Panzer III build
My first motorised tank was the Tamiya Mokei 1/21 scale Panzer III, I loved that tank, had lots of fun with it…..
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Herr Dr. Professor
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Re: Tamiya 1/35 Panzer III build
Modler: wenn Sie vor 58 Jahren in Heilbronn war, können Sie vielleicht Deutsch?
Martin2556: I have never heard of Tamiya Mokei, but, then, I was away from modeling from about 1971 to 2008. It's too bad I missed all those motorized AFVs of which the Japanese were so delightfully fond.
Martin2556: I have never heard of Tamiya Mokei, but, then, I was away from modeling from about 1971 to 2008. It's too bad I missed all those motorized AFVs of which the Japanese were so delightfully fond.
Re: Tamiya 1/35 Panzer III build
Very interesting Martin, 1.21 scale? Very nice, I will be on the lookout for one of theseMartin2556 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 29, 2025 5:48 pm My first motorised tank was the Tamiya Mokei 1/21 scale Panzer III, I loved that tank, had lots of fun with it…..
Love the box art as well.Meanwhile, I retired my Panzer III L as a R\C tank and will use the gearbox and radio gear in the new Panzer III M/N project.
The Panzer III L which is a static model from the factory will go back to its former status as a static model. It is a very detailed model but really not suitable for R\C conversion IMO.
Actual Tamiya Panzer III models that are motorized remote control from the factory are very rare and if you do find one they are going for top money. I have only seen one and they price was ridiculous
Next best thing is the "motorized" version like this one. The only missing element is the twin motor gearbox which others can be used in place like the Academy M60 that I am using in this model.- Attachments
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- This is the M60 gearbox with motors from the Panzer III L in its new home. This gearbox is from an Academy M60 tank that I bought new just for the gearbox. These work very well despite having a plastic frame. Notice the steel idler axle that comes with this PNZ III M motorized kit, this is a must for any R\C conversion and saves a lot of time if already in the kit.
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- Retired after much effort to get it right as a R\C model.
If I ever find a set of narrow Panzer III POLY TRACKS I may try again to get it back to R\C status. - IMG_0410.jpg (1.49 MiB) Viewed 1192 times
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- This is an early PNZ III and has narrow tracks that are different from later versions. The Tracks that come with this model are RUBBER not poly and are not suitable for radio control. They would work fine for a pure 'motorized switch on" application that just goes forward with no turning. This is a static high detail model and the road wheel axles are different from motorized versions and are flimsy and wobbly. A few axles broke on me doing turns with the rubber tracks. You can see micro screws in some of the axles to hold the wheels on. This model just takes way too much effort to convert and is not worth it to me.
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Last edited by modler on Wed Apr 30, 2025 3:56 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Herr Dr. Professor
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Re: Tamiya 1/35 Panzer III build
A MAX 43 ton tank transporter...? You get so many goodies in 1/35! Hmm... an RC truck would put the whole rig in action again. Just sayin'...
Re: Tamiya 1/35 Panzer III build
Good morning Herr Doctor, I agree totallyHerr Dr. Professor wrote: ↑Wed Apr 30, 2025 3:43 pm A MAX 43 ton tank transporter...? You get so many goodies in 1/35! Hmm... an RC truck would put the whole rig in action again. Just sayin'...
Below are two examples of Peerless MAX armored M-26 Tank retriever trucks. Both converted to R\C. These came as a motorized kits. Tamiya made one too but was not motorized. Both the Peerless MAX still have the original gearboxes but one has been upgraded to 4WD rear axles.
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- These come as motorized switch on\off with posable steering. first converted to R\C 48 years ago with toy grade electronics. Many radio gear updates over 4.8 decades of use.
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- The one on the left has had its original gearbox converted to 4WD and is 48 years ago built. The one on the right was bought used off ebay 2017 and retains more of its original parts. It was in original condition as a switchable on\off motorized model that did not work and was poorly constructed. I rebuilt it in 2017 back to original condition and played with it a short while that way but soon converted it to R\C using retired model aircraft radio gear. Works so well that I left it that way.
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- These both run excellent and are crown jewels of my military model collection.
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Last edited by modler on Fri May 02, 2025 4:06 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Ecam
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Re: Tamiya 1/35 Panzer III M/N build
Wow! And I complain about the room in my 16th version!
"Don't believe everything you see on the internet" - George S. Patton
Eric
Eric
Re: Tamiya 1/35 Panzer III M/N build
Its true Ecam, there is not much room to work with in these 1/35 models but with the miniaturization of hobby grade electronics, it gets better all the time. Also the battery tech has much improved over the last 48 years lol. The one truck has a 2s lipo battery in it but it is very small and very light weight gives the truck good power to weight ratio. All 4 rear tires will spin when hauling a heavy load up an incline on my indoor track.
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- lower 4WD chassis has hand made all metal front end parts. Upper 2WD chassis was built with as few mods to the chassis as possible.
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- Gearbox at the bottom of the picture was converted to 4WD using the original metal 2WD frame. 42 years ago. Still work quite well. with its all metal construction.
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- 4WD chassis on left, 2WD chassis on right.
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- Looking under the hood.
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- 2 micro 1s batteries wired into 2s voltage gives the factory 130 motor plenty of current to power the 4WD axles.
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Last edited by modler on Thu May 01, 2025 1:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Herr Dr. Professor
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Re: Tamiya 1/35 Panzer III M/N build
"...two examples of Peerless MAX Amorered M42 Tank retriever trucks. Both converted to R\C." It's modler: I should have figured...stepped right into that one.
Re: Tamiya 1/35 Panzer III M/N build
Yes Herr Doctor, you didHerr Dr. Professor wrote: ↑Wed Apr 30, 2025 11:58 pm "...two examples of Peerless MAX Amorered M42 Tank retriever trucks. Both converted to R\C." It's modler: I should have figured...stepped right into that one.
I Have always been fascinated by tractor trailer rigs, so a military one is even better
I will get a video of the Dragon wagon with a Panzer III going up the ramps and then drive away with it using the same transmitter to run both.
Note, In the original post I call this truck a M42, it is actually a M-26, my bad
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- Rear view. Plenty of room for radio gear and such.
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- Sprocket alignment looks good. The steel axle for the idler wheels only comes with the "motorized" versions. The "motorized remote control versions do not for some reason. So you need both to build a solid Tank. In the "motorized " version with the steel axle, the idler wheels are removable like the sprockets with an internal poly cap that keeps it in place.
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- The Academy M60 gearbox and motors were a good fit with only minor mods required. Axles cut 2 mm each side. Standard Tamiya sprocket nuts fit the axles. The ones on the single motor gearbox word fine. 1 drop super glue holes them in place once proper position is found.
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- ready for radio gear and chassis first test run.
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Last edited by modler on Fri May 02, 2025 4:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
