RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Sorted it

Turns out to be dead simply. Place a diode across two points on RX18 board (or leads coming off it). And that is same as having the microswitch on the airsoft.

So i've now disabled the airsoft motor (as have flash up main gun). so when I push the left trigger up it flashes and recoils and makes fire noise. The timing actually works better than the micro switch.

I actually found a guide a few months back for IR firing, downloaded it and found it again yesterday so thought I give it a go and it works. Only thing is I cant remember where I found the guide so cant post a link.

I carry on searching for the guide and if rain stops will upload a video.

Link to how to guide.

http://www.rccommand.com/guides/RX18FireMod.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Took a quick video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBzn30tO ... rofilepage" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The HL flash unit recharges quickly enough to flash each time although not showing to well in the video. Only thing if you fire again too soon about 2 seconds you still get flash and recoil (track twitch) but no sound.

Hi Tankbear,

I appreciate this is quite an old thread, but I would like to know more about how you did this and the link to the guide no longer works. Would it be possible for you to post the specs for the diode you used and which wires it goes between?

Thanks

Paul

I see that they finally took the old RCCommand site away...
I used a 1N4007 diode on my board for that mod...

strmnd54, If I do this mod I can completely remove the Airsoft/Recoil unit from the tank right ? I will still get flash/sound and track recoil when I push the left stick up ?

Also just to clarify, you only need one diode, either underneath the board inside the case or externally, correct ? I know the pin mapping is the same for Taigen and RX-18 so I know the external part will work for Taigen. I know the board is different if I take the case apart although I can still just count pins. I personally would mod it externally so that there is a reminder that it is a "special" MFU......

Great tip BTW. Now I can get rid of the Airsoft units in couple of my tanks.

Thanks, thats just what I was looking for, very much appreciated.

Hmmmmm, Tried it quickly tonight and couldn't get it to go on my Taigen based SU-100. Its a conversion and I don't have recoil on it but I kept the motor/microswitch to trigger the firing/sound/hull recoil. Nothing happens when I push the left stick forward after connecting the two pin with the N4007 diode. I also tried disconnecting the other connections from the airsoft motor and the microswitch to no avail.

The only thing is I didn't connect the two points directly. I tracked the two connection to their respective 8 pin patch board and soldered them to the spot there. Shouldn't make a difference but I can try ripping the plugs apart and try again.

Please post how you get on with this MicahelC. I also have the taigen 2.4Ghz control unit, so will be eager to see if you get it working on that board. I'm picking up the diods from maplins today, so have not had a chance to try it out yet.

Hi Michael,

With the HL RX18 if you apply 0v (battery negative) to the 4 pin (from left) on the CN3 port it triggers the fire sequence (recoil, flash, sound). So unless taigen have done something slightly different and switched pins 4 & 5 around it should work. Also try the diode both ways incase you have wrong way round as I’ve done that a few times as well.

The way this mod works is basically the RX18/Taigen use common positive and everything is switched in the negative therefore when you push left stick up it creates 0v (to power the recoil/airsoft). So with the diode we just cutting that out and using the 0v to trigger the firing sequence directly.

One thing I didn’t like with this mod is there is no delay between firing, so if you don’t let go of the left stick quick enough it double shoot, recoil.

Anyway keep us posted on how you get on.

Ian.