RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Hi has anyone converted a hobby engine M1A1 abrams 1/16 to heng long electronics and if so have you any pointers/advice - I (maybe stupidly) just bought a non-worker for £20 in the hope that I can do a heng long conversion to get it working. Alwyn

I've done it and not too difficult

Start with the easy things like battery and motors, then traverse motor.

Then open the turret and trace out which wires do Bb, elevation and machine gun.

Ian.

Thanks Magman, I was hoping for something positive like 'yes of course it can be converted'. I'll just have to wait until it arrives and then open it up and see what mysteries await.

Aha managed to find this by tankbear which looks exciting
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=11257
So it looks like something is possible

Anyway worth a shot.

Alwyn

Hi Ian, thanks for that, our postings crossed and I found your thread as per my post - you have given me hope!

The hobby engine wiring is easy to follow ie positive and negative wire to everything unlike the heng long which has shared positives so three wires to headlights and machine gun or Bb and elevation.

Get yourself a rx18 wiring diagram, sort out the easy ones and your then left with just a few wires then trial and error LEDs will only work correct way but won't break if wrong way round and the motors will only go wrong direction.

Ian.

Thanks tankbear, yup I have an RX18 wiring diagram and will put it to use as soon as the suspect item arrives. Thanks for the advice, if I hit anything I can't understand I'll pm you if I may? Regards Alwyn

Just hook the motors up first and turret turn. I have done three rebuilds of late and always run the lights off a separate switched and powered circuit so they are not on all the time anyway. Will make the wiring s lot easier.

Thanks rocketman, I'm feeling more comfortable tackling this now I know several members have already 'been there, done that'. Hopefully it's going to be straightforward(ish). Regards Alwyn

Well I got the item (I will refrain from calling it a tank for the time being). First impression was that the box was very light, could there really be a tank in there? Opening the box the outside of the tank looked good, maybe I could do something with this?



Then I opened it up. There are companies selling these things for £100 or very close and I think they should be prosecuted! I paid £10 as a spares and repair plus £10 postage and that is about what this thing is worth. This thing is so cheap and nasty it gives cheap and nasty a bad name. I have bought chinese made rc cars for £14 that were better made than this. The pc boards look a joke, you can't change the crystal in the receiver. None of the components are made to be replaced. So it's use it, and when it breaks chuck it. Even the tracks have not been joined together properly! Magman I think your comment was pretty much on the button!




Anyway having said all that I now see it as a challenge to actually do something with it. Most of the wiring looks straightforward, Ill just have to have a look inside the turret when I get to that point. hopefully and can make a runner out of it. The first task is to put a decent battery box in it which I have salvaged from an old tiger carcass. Then put in an RX18 and receiver and connect up the motors and see if it runs?

Don't be too hash there is plenty of potential to make unique.

And strangely mine has out lasted some of my other tanks where I've spent 4 times as much money.