RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

The plastic shroud on the barrel is I think acceptable. All British tanks with a thermal barrel covering have been rather complicated compared to the smooth ones used by other countries. I think most people don't even realize that the US Abrams has a thermal masking sleeve over its barrel.

I thought the metal barrel was inside a plastic sleeve that has all the detail...?

Anyhow, I reckon the metal barrel wouldn't be much of an issue if it can be completely replaced with an appropriate sized metal tube. The thermal sleeve can then be wrapped around the barrel using some other material or made around it with Milliput. As for the mantlet gasket/shroud/rubber-accordion-bellows thingy, well, that would be a problem but I think an appropriate sized one can be found somewhere being used on a lamp stand or some other item that can be bought off evilBay at a cheap price and dismantled as a sacrificial offering to the RC Tank Gods above hehehehe

At least that's how I'd approach the metal barrel thingy, especially since the airsoft mechanism won't be used so no need to worry about the ballistics of the BB hehehehe

Thanks for the Write up Scale ,

Tracks look smart. Liking the chain gun!

Hi, Scalawag. I'm almost as impressed by the crispness of your pics, as by the bagful of mods you've introduced to the Chally. Do you use extra lighting for your detailed shots, or just flash? Looks like a good zoom lens anyway. My Chally arrived on Mon.30th (St Andrew's Day, here in Scotland) but, having got it out of the box (it was the complete package too), I went out to feed our feathered friends on a wet grassy slope in my garden, and promptly broke my ankle! Having a foot dangling like a castor is not for the queasy...but I managed to summon up the Ambulance genie, after a long commando-style crawl. Five days in hospital, and an ankle like a Meccano set.Meantime, the Chally sits there..unused..the barrel pointing to the scene of my cracking mishap. I won't be using THAT slope for testing tanks, no way, not unless I'm equipped with crampons. Meanwhile, working on tanks from a wheelchair is a real pisser! Great work, though, and will probably adapt some of your ideas. The chair could do with tracks and elevation mods; but it does spin well on the spot.

I love the video and the tank Paul. I may have to take the plunge into the modern armor after reading your build.

Thanks a lot for the commiserations, Paul. Someone described life as 'short and brutal', and it can certainly spring a few unwelcome surprises. That said, I'm a big fan of life, especially when you consider the alternative.. eh? I'm also a big fan of Apple products, so I was delighted to learn that you'd achieved your detailed shots, and movie clips with your iPhone 5s. I've had the (now superseded) smaller iPhone 6 since May, and love the slo-mo, time-lapse etc., and incredible ease of use; but I can't get the lighting right.
Obviously, your fluorescent tubes trump the pathetic new style eco bulbs we've had forced on us; the ones I'm stuck with. I'll be glued (not literally, I hope) to your progress in future.. Maybe you could a detailed wiring layout for your Chally with IBU2 on board.
The IBU2 (maybe 3, eventually) will eventually grace my forlorn beast. Incidentally, you've got to hand it to Heng Long for the extras on this model. Overall, it's a pretty good package.
Cheers,
Roy

Cheers Paul that's good to know as I had assumed the Leo tracks would pop straight on! Lets hope some challenger specific ones come out soon to save hassle!

Spending scalawag's hard earned eh Kiaser

Simply amazed by the track studies.. I guess you have to be a wee bit obsessive to perfect these things; but the rewards come in sharing the results. (I'd admit to the driven bit myself). You're a real pathfinder, Paul. ...and then I see a mention of 3d printing. Who has access to such stuff? Chris Ludwig, yes, but who else? The potential is astounding. 3d metal printing, though? Wow.