RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

I am working on a 1/16 custom Sherman. As I have said a few times, my interest in 1/16 armor is just to build a large scale model collection and RC aspects are just a fun bonus but not a must. That said the barrel I made is solid plastic. It will still elevate fine but no BBs are going to be going through it. I will sell it afterward and I want to know opinions on how much not shooting will affect its value as it will do all the other RC functions just fine but obviously wont be able to "battle".

I rephrased my question.

Personally, I build for battling. IR only. Most of the places I have seen use only IR due to liability issues.

IMO solid barrels are a no no, you can't run a flash unit or an ir bulb through it. There are enough people making barrels out there at reasonable costs I can't see a reason to not use a hollow barrel.

The question is, "why would you make a model with a solid barrel?" with or without function, just looks naff imo

It would look like a popgun with a cork in the end so you would at least have to bore some of it out and sort the muzzle brake depending on what version you build.

I am new to this RC 1/16 world, I am coming from a static model world. Metal barrels are always better as they are stronger and don't have to be sanded to hide the mid line but if I can't find the right one a custom one must be made and solid plastic is stronger. Obviously one would hollow out the guns muzzle and some of the barrel to give it the appearance of being hollow. This is a new world however and I must adapt. I am now thinking of new ways to make a custom metal barrel for it.

Hello Jnewboy... Quite frankly... no matter what you do... if you plan on selling your model.. you better get it done fast... with the new ALL METAL line of 1/16 scale Shermans that will be coming to the market place... your scratch built will be in low demand ...add to that ... the factor of NON-FUNCTION the appeal will be even less for people who like to see their models perform...whether in competition or not

Bottom line... I think you are asking the wrong group... and should be marketing your tank to "static " aficionados who can appreciate your work...perhaps put it on a motorized turntable for more enjoyment

I don't compete... but I like my tanks to work...to date... all of them do... considering something like yours for purchase... not to discourage you... but I just wouldn't

GOOD LUCK

ALPHA

ps. Why a Sherman?... sure there are many variants... yours would have to be something really special..as most RC "modellers" custom build theirs using Tamiya or Heng Long based models already...your overall structure would have to be very sound...as you would develop a nasty reputation if the tank fell apart

Thanks Alpha, to be clear it is being built on the 1/16 henglong 105mm Sherman. All the RC functions are still intact except for actually shooting, but after reading the input from you and others I will make it shoot, I already have some ideas on how to build the barrel. Thanks Guys

Jnewboy wrote:Thanks Alpha, to be clear it is being built on the 1/16 henglong 105mm Sherman. All the RC functions are still intact except for actually shooting, but after reading the input from you and others I will make it shoot, I already have some ideas on how to build the barrel. Thanks Guys

Once again GOOD LUCK Jnewboy... Heng Long is an excellent foundation... and perhaps I spoke too soon about being in the wrong place... there are many excellent Sherman builds ... finished and on going on the board you might want to follow the work of fynsdad..Phil..Painlesswolf..Cannedheat.. CupofTea.. to mention a few... I would say fynsdad and Cannedheat.. have hit on he most of the variants

Making the barrel is easy... just get a used airsoft barrel...the brass ones...and machine it down... you can also use a stock inner from another tank and sleeve a fiberglass fishing pole tip over it

Many times what you are thinking...has been done...all you have to do is ask... or check out the history of builds on the board

ALPHA

It isn't too hard to make hollow barrels. I make them with a metal tube and some car body filler turned on a drill.

Below you can see one I made earlier (2nd bottom) and one I'm making (bottom). Both can fire BB's or have IR LED's in them. The top two are a Heng Long then Matorro and you can see how out of scale they are