Asiatam Elephant

[MichaelC]

My Asiatam metal Elephant after a makeover from dgsselkirk........ Atek zim and Taigen Electronics before but will be fitting Clark board shortly. Great job from dgsselkirk, much better than what I have done before......

[cannedheat]

that is one nice elephant old chap wot wot

[jarndice]

Does seem to be getting the hang of it A lovely piece of work. shaun

[tomhugill]

Would love to see it running! How's the quality? I've heard some bad things.

[MichaelC]

Thanks guy....... Tom, let me tell you, this baby is build exactly the way they used to. I already have one broken suspension arm, numerous mechanical problem. Basically like that episode of Tank Overhaul. When it runs it runs beautiful, if only for 10 feet before something else breaks. Will post video when it is running again. I don't think I have never run it for more than 50 feet in total in the two years I owned it.

I should have known when Asiatam shipped me two barrels, 6 additional suspension arms, springs, and two complete back panel (?!?!?) and basically a complete set of gears/pinion and shafts with the tank.

MichaelC

[tomhugill]

Darn! I've got the metal running gear for my Hooben elefant and it struck me as really really sturdy! How have the suspension arms broken?

[MichaelC]

Ask dgsselkirk..... The suspension arm is connected to the lower chassis via two pieces of "white metal" tabs and then squeeze thru a mount then a hex screw goes thru it to tighten it. dgsselkrik was in the process of taking it apart to paint and it snap off. Two others ones are strip already as far as I can tell I am sure when I push them out to replace them they will snap off too. The shaft gear strip after running for about 10 feet. The weight of the tank doesn't help. Fully equipped it weights over 20 lbs.

It is basically a museum piece as far as I am concerned.

[lister fiend]

that's a real shame
she's such a looker.
is there nothing you can do to lighten it?

[MichaelC]

Excess weight, under power motors and over tax gearbox and suspension........ Like the real thing, just the way I like it.

[tomhugill]

Is there a reason why there are slots cut in the suspension arms when attaching them to the metal elefant? I couldn't never work out why, seems like it just weakens them? When I do mine I'm going to add brass sleeves to stop them splaying out.