1/16 RC M4A3E8 Korean war - Restoring Tamiya M4 with Takom kit - build

[tankme]

Excellent. I am in the same boat with the clear periscopes. I think it adds a lot to a model. I tend to go out of my way to make them clear on most of my vehicles.

[MrChef]

You have done this Tammy some serious justice.

Great work!

[Kaczor]

Well done. Looks crisp and clean as always. The new releases from Takom/Andy's HQ feature beautiful details. M10 and M8 will be next in line

[Ad Lav]

Superb!

[Ecam]

Stunning E8!

[HERMAN BIX]

Extraordinary Sherman Mr Mcq11, you made it look easy though we know it wasn't.

[lmcq11]

Thank you guys for your encouragements !

As Kaczor indicated, i think these new 1/16 cheap static models that are coming out fast are opening a new era for many RC tank modellers like me. There are also opportunities for after market guys that can create conversion parts to bridge old RC chassis with new upper hulls and enable RC functions, this would help everyone.

Same with Tamiya, there is no point for them ever issuing a new M4A3E8 Sherman when there is already a perfect cheap one on the market. They should just re-release their RC metal chassis with gearbox or make deals with others to create new RC offers, Tamiya mechanics with Takom or Trumpeter plastic.

This is the same chassis, before and after. I have a lot of old RC models that can get the same treatment.

Regards, Louis

1/16 RC M4A3E8 Korean war - Restoring Tamiya M4 with Takom kit - build

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[PainlessWolf]

Louis!
Happy Holidays! Magnificent Easy 8! I have a lot of older Tanks and Vehicles that need updating. A lot of us do, I would bet! One of the oldest is currently the subject of my Winter Build. Keep up the Great work!
regards,
Painless

[lmcq11]

Thank you Painless, and Merry Christmas to you and everyone.


Some updates.

After extensive tests this morning, i had a failure with turret rotation. It started with one click, then followed a bit later 3 clicks, then a bit later 5 clicks and so on until the turret stopped rotating.

Looks like having to work harder to handle the tube for gun smoke recoil is taking a toll on standard rotation units.

I had to reopen and unplug everything.

1/16 RC M4A3E8 Korean war - Restoring Tamiya M4 with Takom kit - build

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It worked well during previous tests. The little Tamiya rotation unit that i reused is no longer able to support any pressure, now its worthless and weak. I guess smoking cigars was too much for it...

Too bad. Lessons learned, gun smoke recoil needs a stronger rotation unit. Now i am starting to worry about the recoil servo.

The only reason for using it other than nostalgia is because it could be positioned at the front, allowing the reuse of the large Tamiya speaker at the back. No way around it, both of them have to go now.

1/16 RC M4A3E8 Korean war - Restoring Tamiya M4 with Takom kit - build

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I redesigned the rotation and it's now using a large Heng Long rotation wheel. I temporarily installed a regular plastic Heng Long rotation unit i had on inventory so that i can continue my tests until it can be replaced by a metal rotation unit.

1/16 RC M4A3E8 Korean war - Restoring Tamiya M4 with Takom kit - build

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A new metal rotation unit is on order from China. Looks like the design of these was recently upgraded, taking less room. I'll see how it performs.

1/16 RC M4A3E8 Korean war - Restoring Tamiya M4 with Takom kit - build

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Smaller speaker now at the back. Feel sorry for the big guy, it worked well but was just taking too much room.

1/16 RC M4A3E8 Korean war - Restoring Tamiya M4 with Takom kit - build

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This is the new electronic layout. It's actually simpler and better spread out. Now only the Tamiya gearbox is reused.

1/16 RC M4A3E8 Korean war - Restoring Tamiya M4 with Takom kit - build

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And finally, here is a demo video of the finished model in action.

phpBB [video]

Regards, Louis

[Ad Lav]

I read somewhere the gears can be glued or changed to stop the slipping?

Looks and sounds great. I hope my current build turns out half as good as this!