RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Ecam wrote: ↑Wed Dec 20, 2023 3:25 pm I know those are micro connectors, but they look absolutely huge compared to the ESC! Fascinating work on such a miniscule scale. I struggle with room on 16th from time to time.

It was a challenge to solder the wires to the ESC. The pads are very close together. The soldering kit I use has changeable tips and for this job I used the smallest tip and a steady hand. The wires on the connectors shown here are high quality and keep their shape after being moulded to a final position through careful and slow positioning. That is the last step. This being two circuit boards wired together allows positioning the CB's independently to fit the limited space available. Best soldering practices are required for all connections. Also the connections are "shrink wrapped" with a high dielectric strength insulation material for electrical isolation using a special technique I developed in my electronics lab.


After Testing the Panther, I serious problem with the Tank was discovered. The rubber tracks have aged and are slipping in forward as the sprockets don't have "drive teeth" and are smooth so the aged track has lost enough tension for the tracks to slip. The panther is now in standby until I can figure out how to resolve that problem. Meanwhile, I have a Leopard II of the same scale that I have switched to for this thread topic. Even though it is a little longer length than the panther, It is narrower and has less radio bay room to work with, so it will be tight!

modler wrote: ↑Thu Dec 21, 2023 2:12 pm

Ecam wrote: ↑Wed Dec 20, 2023 3:25 pm I know those are micro connectors, but they look absolutely huge compared to the ESC! Fascinating work on such a miniscule scale. I struggle with room on 16th from time to time.

... and a steady hand.

That might be most of all our problems.

Ecam wrote: ↑Tue Dec 26, 2023 3:38 pm

modler wrote: ↑Thu Dec 21, 2023 2:12 pm

Ecam wrote: ↑Wed Dec 20, 2023 3:25 pm I know those are micro connectors, but they look absolutely huge compared to the ESC! Fascinating work on such a miniscule scale. I struggle with room on 16th from time to time.

... and a steady hand.

That might be most of all our problems.

I use to solder using techniques that meet mil spec standards in aerospace\military applications. I incorporate those skills in my hobby work these days. You can get good results with the right tools and some patience. The ESC work being shown here is challenging but with a few tricks can be done without too much effort.

Ok this thread got a bit of topic. The UM ESC build and information is now in its own topic thread below.



Ultra Micro ESC build
viewtopic.php?t=35118

I had a little time available and used it to make video of the 1/77 Leopard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KerBh0QAL6k

Oh I forgot the video, here it is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KerBh0QAL6k

What fun! I am tempted to look for one of those dinkusses because do get a kick out of the original TX shown in your photos. And, I confess, the video made me think about a fly-swatter.
Yet one-handed driving (while holding the camera) in any scale is a challenge, probably impossible without your "cruise' modification.

Herr Dr. Professor wrote: ↑Sat Jan 06, 2024 10:25 pm What fun! I am tempted to look for one of those dinkusses because do get a kick out of the original TX shown in your photos. And, I confess, the video made me think about a fly-swatter.
Yet one-handed driving (while holding the camera) in any scale is a challenge, probably impossible without your "cruise' modification.

Yes they are a change of pace type item and with 2.4g Tech, these toys are better than ever I use the electronics in some of my older tanks that still use 27\49 mhz Teck as the 2.4G needs no external Antenna.

So I used the Leopard chassis with Hobby Grade radio equipment then used the original 2.5G Handgrenade radio for a 1/35 scale Tamiya Tank as a starter radio just to get it going straight away. Nothing is wasted here.

Just for kicks, I looked at EvilBay. No grenade transmitters, but this might interest you or someone in need of little tankers: https://www.ebay.com/itm/285575947999?h ... R8CI9aKdYw

Two new videos

This Tank will easily run 40 mins on a 100 mAh 1s lipo The coreless motors have very low power consumption when run at "cruise speed" which is lower than stock speed.

Bridge Test run 1/77 Leopard
https://youtu.be/GTaOjDC1k3w

Round and round 1/77 leopard
https://youtu.be/loui9fk2uus