Just want to show you my latest project.......... M3 GMC. I have the excellent Torro M16 for a while now and it is actually a very nice RC vehicle, with metal subframe, servo steering and single motor via metal transfer arm to drive the half track portion for movement, plus front and back lights as well as the full motion quad .50 cal. The only problem is that there is no engine sound, and it comes with its own electronics and radio control.
M16_01.jpg (32.61 KiB) Viewed 3895 times
Then I found on Shapeway from Woz (Warren) the M1897A5 75mm gun that is designed for this mod so I took the plunge and here is what it looks like so far:
Plan is to put in a Sherman Clark board and make it full IR battle ready using my own Turnigy 9XR radio and hopefully look something like this:
Michael, Good afternoon,
That is a splendid idea! I'll be following along on this. I have one of these and my idea is to make the halftrack an M3 and have it tow a trailer with the powered Maxxon mount in it like they did earlier in the war. Neat stuff for these already excellent Torro(s) El Mod makes an mfu for this truck to give it sound, etc. I think I'll be going that route.
regards,
Painless
Thanks guys. Took it all apart and then realized that I don't really need to. Anyway, first step is to get it running with the Clark. The wiring are pretty straight forward. Single motor goes into one of the Clark motor plug, re-wiring the servo steering to servo plugs and hook it up directly into the receiver.
This is one of my favorite models. But I have been put off by the info that the tracks come of easily and that the truck is hard to modify.
Michael: from your picture with the truck disassembled, it looks like there is a track tensioner in the under carriage? Or is it a fake?
From your picture it seems however, that the frame could be modified to Make your own track tensioner? I mean that to Make a short slidt in the frame and slide the axle forward or backward a few mm to tension the track. What is your opinion?
Regarding you plans to run the truck on Clark?
Are Clark and ElMod the only boards for this truck?
Or Will it be possible to run it of a 2,4Ghz Taigen or HengLong board? (I do not necessarilly need original Sound, better signal, range and control Will suffice for me)
Sorry guys hasn't been updating this thread. I managed to do most of the conversion to Clark work but now is waiting for a fellow tanker here to do the gun shield for me before proceeding any further. Here is a quick video of the converted Clark board control test run. Sorry about the jerky stop and go, I was trying to keep the thing in the frame. It runs much more smooth than the video shown.
The track idlers is static and is for show only. As to whether it can be control by stock Heng Long/Taigen boards, I don't think it is without some mods to the steering. The track portion is easy enough, simply wired it to one of the motor outputs (Doesn't matter which one). However, the steering is controlled by a servo, so unless you mod it to use a single motor control, the Heng Long/Taigen won't work with steering servo.
Hi Michael, I'm new to this site and to this hobby. Sorry to be a pain but I have also purchased one of these models and I'm disappointed with the range of the 27 meg gear. In your links above you refer to a Clarke board? does this enable you to update to 2.4 ghz and can you fit engine sound? Again sorry to be so basic but electronics are not my thing.
With any of the after market electronics, you will be on 2.4Ghz regardless. I happened to use the Clark board electronics, but another one that is really popular for half tracks is the Elmod product, which in addition to having the half track mode (all of these after market electronics are really design for tanks and not half tracks), will also provide the correct sound set as well. Of course in addition to the 2.4Ghz radio upgrade, you will also have access to lighting control and sound, as well as battle capability which the factory one does not have.
The one caveat is that you will need additional space to put the new electrcnoics, as the stock one is design for the vehicle and is hidden underneath the quad cab. Clark is the smallest, but you will have to find space for them. One solution is to cover up the cab, or remove the quad which might not be what you want. This project is to replace the quad for a 75mm for battle so I will have lots of room.
The other consideration is the control for the quad. I didn't look into it, but you should be able to map elevation and rotation to any of the after market boards, as well as the LEDs for the barrels.
Lastly, the stock M16 uses 9.6v NiMH, and I don't believe any of the after market board supports that. What I did was find a 2S lipo (7.4v) which works with Clark and is small enough to fit in the stock battery compartment.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions. I am still waiting for the gun shield and hasn't done much to it still, but it is as you can see in the video working with Clark and my Turnigy 9XR radio already on all the basic functions.
HI Michael, Wow I did not expect a reply as quick as that, Many thanks. I will take on board what you have replied with and look into purchasing some of the above. Again Many thanks and I will let you know how I get on. Found the site through Forgemodel tanks, will thank them for the heads up.
Thanks again John
