Post all your Smaller Scale RC Tanks, Half Tracks and Vehicles, including build threads here. From below 1/18 to way down as far as you can go, H.O. 1/87th scale or less. Even your Smaller Scale figures are welcome here.
Ecam wrote: ↑Wed Dec 20, 2023 3:25 pm
I know those are micro connectors, but they look absolutely huge compared to the ESC! Fascinating work on such a miniscule scale. I struggle with room on 16th from time to time.
It was a challenge to solder the wires to the ESC. The pads are very close together. The soldering kit I use has changeable tips and for this job I used the smallest tip and a steady hand. The wires on the connectors shown here are high quality and keep their shape after being moulded to a final position through careful and slow positioning. That is the last step. This being two circuit boards wired together allows positioning the CB's independently to fit the limited space available. Best soldering practices are required for all connections. Also the connections are "shrink wrapped" with a high dielectric strength insulation material for electrical isolation using a special technique I developed in my electronics lab.
After Testing the Panther, I serious problem with the Tank was discovered. The rubber tracks have aged and are slipping in forward as the sprockets don't have "drive teeth" and are smooth so the aged track has lost enough tension for the tracks to slip. The panther is now in standby until I can figure out how to resolve that problem. Meanwhile, I have a Leopard II of the same scale that I have switched to for this thread topic. Even though it is a little longer length than the panther, It is narrower and has less radio bay room to work with, so it will be tight!
Attachments
input\output of the new Ultra micro dual ESC.
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The Tiger 1 on the right is 1:72 scale for reference. Both Tanks on the Left are 1:77 scale.
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Both are 1:77 scale. I am switching to the Leopard II as it has superior ITL Tracks with sprocket teeth drive to the track. The plastic ITL track design requires less power to run than a low tech 1 piece rubber Track. The 100mAh lipo is mounted in the Leopard II Turret. A wiring harness with LVC added with on\off switch and lipo charging plug is now visible on the Leppard II Turret.
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This is the smallest HOBBY GRADE radio gear in my arsenal. The key element is the new Ultra micro ESC with Track mixing. Then there is the DSMX, Telemetry 5 channel Ultra micro Receiver. Combined this will allow 1:77 scale RRC conversions!
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This Tank is the same scale (1:77) as the Panther but has much better tracks and sprockets. It is ready for final circuit board positioning. The Leopard II looks way better with it 5 road wheels as opposed to the Panther with 3 road wheels.
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The receiver just fits in the lower hull sideways. The ESC is slowly twisted CCW and moved aft at the same time to its new position over the drive motors and gears....UPDATE this did not work as wiring was too close to the drive gears after upper hull was installed. See img_0464 for final position of ESC.
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Some manipulation of the connectors and wires away from the drive gears resulting in position that works with upper hull installed.
Ecam wrote: ↑Wed Dec 20, 2023 3:25 pm
I know those are micro connectors, but they look absolutely huge compared to the ESC! Fascinating work on such a miniscule scale. I struggle with room on 16th from time to time.
... and a steady hand.
That might be most of all our problems.
"Don't believe everything you see on the internet" - George S. Patton
Ecam wrote: ↑Wed Dec 20, 2023 3:25 pm
I know those are micro connectors, but they look absolutely huge compared to the ESC! Fascinating work on such a miniscule scale. I struggle with room on 16th from time to time.
... and a steady hand.
That might be most of all our problems.
I use to solder using techniques that meet mil spec standards in aerospace\military applications. I incorporate those skills in my hobby work these days. You can get good results with the right tools and some patience. The ESC work being shown here is challenging but with a few tricks can be done without too much effort.
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IMG_0562.jpg (1.77 MiB) Viewed 32789 times
IMG_0564.jpg (1.11 MiB) Viewed 32789 times
Soldering on this one looks good.
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Another UM dual ESC comes off the line and ready for testing. This one has a track mixer.
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Todays work 1.5 hours, is ready for next phase. Testing.
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Last edited by modler on Wed Dec 27, 2023 2:03 pm, edited 2 times in total.
The stock version as it comes has a nice display case that also stores the TX all in one place Portable 2.4G micro Tank good for travel.
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Here it is, WORLDS SMALLEST (1:77) HOBBY GRADE RADIO CONTROL TANK. A 100mAh lipo sits in the Turret. external on\off switch with charge plug is visible here.
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1/77 Leopard on the left, 1/72 Tiger on the right just for reference scale comparison. Both of these Tanks have hitech plastic ITL tracks that have sprocket gear drive making all others with "1 piece rubber track" obsolete. Both also are 2.4G and work very well. The 2.4G radios are Toy Grade but are quite excellent in their operation.
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Here are the elements that make up this Tank in its Toy Grade form before the upgrade. The 1.25 mm connectors were added so that this TG 2.4 G radio system can be used in other models. The TX has been modified with a "cruise" switch.
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Left to right, 1/77 Panther, 1/77 Leopard II, 1/72 Tiger 1. This is the extent of micro 1/77-1.72 RRC Tanks on ebay that I know of. The 1/77 Panther has 1 piece rubber tracks with smooth (no teeth) drive sprocket and tends to slip as it ages as the rubber starts to degrade. These are inferior in my mind and I will be retiring this and 2 others like it.
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This is as tight as it gets! 5 channel Rx-42 D+ with dual ESC's.
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Last edited by modler on Sat Jan 06, 2024 9:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
What fun! I am tempted to look for one of those dinkusses because do get a kick out of the original TX shown in your photos. And, I confess, the video made me think about a fly-swatter.
Yet one-handed driving (while holding the camera) in any scale is a challenge, probably impossible without your "cruise' modification.
Herr Dr. Professor wrote: ↑Sat Jan 06, 2024 10:25 pmWhat fun! I am tempted to look for one of those dinkusses because do get a kick out of the original TX shown in your photos. And, I confess, the video made me think about a fly-swatter.
Yet one-handed driving (while holding the camera) in any scale is a challenge, probably impossible without your "cruise' modification.
Yes they are a change of pace type item and with 2.4g Tech, these toys are better than ever I use the electronics in some of my older tanks that still use 27\49 mhz Teck as the 2.4G needs no external Antenna.
So I used the Leopard chassis with Hobby Grade radio equipment then used the original 2.5G Handgrenade radio for a 1/35 scale Tamiya Tank as a starter radio just to get it going straight away. Nothing is wasted here.
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hook up two motors to the 1.25 mm connectors and your ready to go.
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This is all you need to get a 1/35 Tank up and running with micro 2.4G stock radio system. This one has a "cruise mod" switch.
This Tank will easily run 40 mins on a 100 mAh 1s lipo The coreless motors have very low power consumption when run at "cruise speed" which is lower than stock speed.
I use the electronics in some of my older tanks that still use 27\49 mhz Teck as the 2.4G needs no external Antenna.