1944 M4A3 105mm

[scalawag]

Sorry the resistor didn't work out but glad you got it sorted anyway

Really the only thing I can think of is that the rear LEDs you have put in are a slightly different spec to the originals.

[PainlessWolf]

Good Morning, Scalawag,
I agree, Doc. The different LEDS I sourced for the tail lights were drawing too much current to work with the front lights on a single circuit. That's the reason that all four lights briefly worked when I added in the current from the Back Up port while testing. I don't know why they stopped working when I soldered the connections (possible battery drain) but it gave me impetus to find a way to use the Back Up port and tail lights as stand alone components. After I did that, front and back were on a different circuit and everything worked again. I think I would have fried the RX-18 if I had left everything plugged in as one. Thank you for all of your help, Scalawag. I would not have figured it out otherwise. ;o)
regards,
Painless

[cupoftea]

Nice one Painless - this just gets better and better.

[PainlessWolf]

Good Afternoon, Cupoftea,
Thank you for the encouragement! ;o) Last night was a toughie but I can move forward today. How is your Sherman build coming along, my friend?
regards,
Painless

[ALPHA]

Those micro connectors are cool .... I wish I had more Male / Female combos.. I salvaged only two from on of the choppers... just enough for my SHERMAN...for some reason I knew you fixed your's Painless.... as mine works now as well... thing is now my gun is stuck... not due to electrics... I did some work on the internals last night and I think it got it too precise....so will have to cut back some of what I did.... also put a base coat of paint on .. to set up the texture... and to see where I was... she's looking like a SHERMAN now lol

another thing I tried was to hook up a grain of rice LED from radio shack... it doesn't work... apparently the voltage (3volts) is too high for the circuit ...there is no way to amp up the juice for intermittent fire... so I will have to wait till I can find a lower voltage LED.... maybe if i can find a micro chopper or something lol...anyway at least the turret mount gun is ready for it...

If the weather clears... I might get some photos up

CARPE DIEM Painless

ALPHA

[PainlessWolf]

Alpha,
Glad to hear that you got it resolved. The micro connectors are nice. I forgot to mention it earlier, but the Backup Lamp port on the Taigen RX-18 can have it's micro port sleeve removed, leaving it as a standard HL 2 pin port. You just have to pull the plastic sleeve straight up being very careful not to bend or break the two pins that come through the holes in the bottom of the sleeve. I found this out by accident while removing the micro 2 pin plug I had sourced to solder it. *Laughs* I thought I had broken the board. Very tricksy, Taigen. Yeah, the 3mm\3 volt LEDS I had replaced the tail light LEDs with were too much for the system. Not even Scalawag's resistor idea was enough to overcome the draw. Looking forward to seeing pics! My Sherman should be painted this weekend. I have some small work to do to it tonight and tomorrow then Fri., Sat. and Sun., Paintsville.
regards,
Painless

[ALPHA]

Alpha,
Glad to hear that you got it resolved. The micro connectors are nice. I forgot to mention it earlier, but the Backup Lamp port on the Taigen RX-18 can have it's micro port sleeve removed, leaving it as a standard HL 2 pin port. You just have to pull the plastic sleeve straight up being very careful not to bend or break the two pins that come through the holes in the bottom of the sleeve. I found this out by accident while removing the micro 2 pin plug I had sourced to solder it. *Laughs* I thought I had broken the board. Very tricksy, Taigen. Yeah, the 3mm\3 volt LEDS I had replaced the tail light LEDs with were too much for the system. Not even Scalawag's resistor idea was enough to overcome the draw. Looking forward to seeing pics! My Sherman should be painted this weekend. I have some small work to do to it tonight and tomorrow then Fri., Sat. and Sun., Paintsville.
regards,
Painless

Yeah I think the HENG LONG LEDs are 1.5 or .5 volt... you would need to add some transistors and a capacitor to make it work.... still it wouldn't work for the machine gun as the pulse is intermittent ....for solid running lights they are fine....other than that they are useless for tank use
sorted my barrel problem too... the mech was hanging up on the rotater ring...so I just ground it out for clearance

Glad to hear you sorted yours out as well... seems you got extra credit and learned a lot more about how those taigen boards are done..she's really going to be a nice lady when she's finished

ALPHA

[PainlessWolf]

66th Day: Alpha, everyday is an adventure with a complex Build. I notice that your Sherman is looking grand in a fresh coat of O.D. tonight. ;o) Got a little research material for my next build in the mail today. It will prove useful and instructive reading. Sherman-wise, tonight was a cruise night compared to the tough going the last couple of days. I added the tools temporarily to see how the Engine Door rests would fit. I finally found a picture on the Sherman Minutia site to verify that HL did indeed place the tools correctly. I ground down flat the LED that forms the warning light for the gun firing in the Gun Shield Telescope aperture. I was going to make the neat armored slide cover for that scope then noticed that this part did not get added to the shield until late 1945. The LED in the scope mount is smooth and black looking now so I was pleased to get that much done to it. I finished up the night by doing some wire management under the rear deck. I also painted the tail light leads under there O.D. since they are exposed behind the rear bulkhead. I put a piece of clear acetate tape over them as well on each side to help hold them securely in place and add another layer of protection. The last thing I did was remove the black devil eyebrows my tank commander had been given by some tired Chinese fellow. I gave him a pair of regulation flat brown ones. A canteen for his empty hand was added until I can source a nice 1/16 map for him to be perusing. Pics:

[ALPHA]

Well painless... it's good to take a rest sometimes... I understand even more since we just went through a bunch of trouble shooting...installation and re installation...the adrenaline rush is a totally different kind of drug...even now though I do have stuff to complete... I'm mentally pooped

Nice Job Painless... and that's a mighty fine book you have....

ALPHA

[cannedheat]

well old chap
be careful with that axe eugine ,[sid barrett] in your case paint, its a corker tally ho wot wot .......