RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Something sharp stuck into my finger as I was working on the inside of the hull, and on inspection I found the cause was that both of the rear light wires had been cut-off close to the fixing pillar leaving some partially hidden strands that I had not noticed previously.

To access these small strands of wire I will unscrew and remove the rear part of the hull as it looks like it is only held on with 4 ST screws and either solder on some new wires (if the bulbs still work) or fit a new pair of wires and bulbs.

Just press on the LED and it will pop out of its socket.

Following on from the above, it turns out that I was stabbed by the leg of an LED that had been cut short leaving it with quite sharp "tangs" (legs) , and this was repeated on both sides - the short LED legs - not the stabbing !

The LED bulbs had been glued-in with hot melt, and the bulbs had also been painted over from the outside as well, so they were not in the best condition for rescuing - but nothing is impossible so..................

The rear light housing had to be persuaded to leave the rear hull plate as they were levered off with the help of a wide screwdriver to help spread the pressure load as much as possible.

One rear light housing came off "clean" with both its locating legs in place, and the other one came off with only one leg in place as the other remained firmly glued into the rear hull moulding!

Pavel wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2025 6:15 pm Just press on the LED and it will pop out of its socket.

Yup - hot melt glue removed, and then both LED bulbs were pushed out.

The paint that covered the bulbs has been removed ready for testing to see if they still work.

If they work, some correct length wires will be soldered on and jointed together across the back of the rear hull plate, with a fly lead added to join them to the TK board.

A pair of new terminals can be crimped on to the fly lead with a suitable 2P Plug Housing fitted to match the circuit board socket.

........and if not, a new pair of LED bulbs will be ordered to replace them.

With the rear hull plate removed, the amount of dirt in the joint between it and the main hull shows another area that needs to be sealed properly .

Glueing the joint as it is screwed back in will not only effectively seal it, but also add to the rigidity of the hull.

To clean, use the spray "brake cleaner"
Just wash in the yard with this miracle product, you can also wash the insides of the engine with it.
I have been using this product for years and have no complaints, then you can lubricate the necessary units.
Liqui Moly is the leader!!!!
I think you have this product in your stores.....
Don't use fakes!
The original does not damage the rubber and varnish on the motor windings, does not damage the electronic boards and parts on them, I clean EVERYTHING with it, after drying, and it is almost instantaneous, no film is formed, the parts are sterile clean!!!
I don’t use this miracle product to clean the brake discs of my car, they clean themselves!

The rear chassis plate and all the surface area's that it interfaces with have been cleaned and it has been reinstated with the original 4 mounting screws and glued all the way around to seal it.

Hopefully this will stop any ingress of water and mud etc that had been able to enter the hull through this joint previously.

I have also fitted a pair of the grey coloured gear covers to help keep any excess grease from being thrown out.

The above two small mods should help to keep the inside of the hull clean.

The replacement metal roller axles have arrived from HAYA and the broken one has been removed and replaced.

A piece of 2mm plastic has been cut and glued into the hole where the switch usually resides under the tank!

This was left open and so any mud/water etc could find its way into the hull through this open hole, so now it has been blocked to help keep the inside of the hull a little better protected.

You do great work Mr Zooma
Bit like me when only the best will do-but you dont have the best!
Just hook in & make the best of what you got.