The kit does not provide ways for the TOW missile launcher to be movable. As this is a RC conversion and the launcher is the only thing exciting about this vehicle, i decided to at least give it horizontal movement, flash and sound. First, an aluminum tube of the size that fits the hole in the hull is used and a support is create to glue inside the launcher mount. A servo will connect to the tube inside the hull to provide rotation.
- 1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build
The Wiesel carries six TOW missiles. The kit provides two, one for the launcher and one that is attached externally on the back plate. I assume the other four must fit inside the hull somewhere at the back. Too bad the kit does not provide interior details, it would have been interesting.
- 1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build
To my surprise, the kit missile cannot be loaded on the launcher by just sliding it in like the real thing, the tip is too wide, go figure what is wrong... Some design issue here for sure. So in order to load the missile, i had to cut the hidden portion of the tip.
- 1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build
- Capture13.JPG (74.67 KiB) Viewed 6824 times
This is a missile so the flash is not at the front, it is at the rear, aka Back blast. I decided to install a 5mm LED as a replacement to the small tip inside the protective cover. An aluminum tube provides the right dimension as a replacement, the LED fits inside it.
- 1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build
- Capture13a.JPG (93.51 KiB) Viewed 6824 times
Here we have a loaded TOW missile... the wire goes out where it will enter the base of the launcher all the way inside the hull, fully hidden.
- 1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build
Wiring is put in.
- 1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build
The TOW missile and wires are squeezed together inside the launcher.
- 1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build
The launcher is installed on the hull base.
- 1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build
The aluminum tube is locked inside by adding a couple of overlaid tubes, allowing the mount to be firmly held in place, vertical while still rotating freely.
- 1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build
A small servo is installed with a custom built attachment in order to control TOW missile launcher movement. The servo is connected directly to the receiver on a free channel and assigned the VRB knob on the remote control.
- 1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build
Continuing on following post