RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Hi,

After a series of complex builds, I am looking for something simple for my next project. I also want to keep things clean around the workbench and limit dust, so I am going to build a plastic kit.

My new project is a Renault FT tank, definitely the best tank of WW1 and still in service at the start of WW2 in limited tasks.
It served with the French army and all around the world with friendly and not so friendly forces, and then with the Germans when they captured hundreds of them in WW2.
They were mostly used for Police work in occupied countries.
They were sent by the Germans as far away as Norway. Although it is tempting to build a German Beutepanzer, I have not decided yet on the markings.
Although it has been available in 1/16 scale static kit for many years, I kept mines on the shelf for years, never getting the right electronics for the build, until now. I have two versions of the Takom 1/16 kit, the one armed with the 37mm canon and the one with the 8mm machine gun. They come with a nicely made interior but conversion to RC is difficult due to the small size of the model.
The first task was to find the motorization. I selected the gearbox from a Do-it-Yourself kit sold for a few dollars from China. The gearbox units have a 130 size motor and seems strong.
The electronics has to be real small to fit. I purchased the MCT-2 and ACU units from 35rctank, designed for 1/35 and small 1/16 RC tanks. Although i have no experience with these, the FT seems to be a perfect match to experiment with. The ACU has all the features of a regular RC tank, including turret rotation, gun elevation, recoil and sound. It will be fun trying to go as far as i can considering the small hull and turret.
Another important factor are the tracks. The ones provided with the kit are in articulated plastic. They seems strong enough but it will surely be a bumpy ride.
Continuing on following post

It is sad to waste all the nice interior parts coming with the kit. I will need to build another one as a static one day.
The gearbox units are prepared
New cables fitting the 35rctank control unit are installed.
Some drilling are required to install the gearbox.
The biggest challenge is to find the right arrangement to fit the sprocket that are totally not designed for RC. Sets of brass overlapping tubes with epoxy are used to create a shaft that will get everything connected with the very custom suspension and sprocket of the FT tank. I have experimented with this type of shaft in other builds. The light weight of the FT tank will not require anything too complicated.
Next step is to install the suspension and sprocket.
Regards, Louis

Very exciting build Louis Want to see how you design this one

I wouldn't call this simple!

PershingLover wrote:I wouldn't call this simple!

I'll second that. Mine is sitting half-assembled in its box. Need to get back on it.

Hi Louis, an interesting build!
It might be easier than your IDF Sho't or the M48 but not that easy...but I think you'll love these challenges
About the track from the chassis you have ordered - I guess they are completely made of rubber (no single links with pins)?
I'm still searching for small tracks usable for scratch builds.

Cheers,
Freddy

Louis I've utilized those gearboxes for my RSO ost build and they are quite and reliable.


P.S.

Freddy, I've purchased that lower hull from banggood. I've ditched the wheels and rubber tracks.

Since then I've supplemented them with the tamiya tracked vehicle kit rubber tracks and sprockets. ( per Lee on the forum) Much better quality.

Thanks Carl, do you have a link? I'm not sure which one you mean (example).

My goal is to make this a low cost, low risk, low dust, simple, fast and fun build. The 35RCtank electronics, hopefully good, will surely be reused for other planned small rc models in the future. These are interior RC models for action on the kitchen table...

Panzerjaeger66 wrote: guess they are completely made of rubber (no single links with pins)?

Yeah, rubber, there is not much that can be done with these tracks.

Hi,
Here is the suspension.

Because the sprockets need to be made functional with the motor shafts, i have changed the building sequence compared to the instructions, installing parts in a telescopic fashion instead.
The sprocket is simply glued to the shaft arrangement. The structure of the side suspension units and limited spacing between the main parts does not allow for much engineering. The tank will be very light so i saw no point in trying to make the complex suspension functional with a swinging pivot at the back and heavy realistic spring at the front. It would have complicated things tremendously and would not have been solid. It is fragile enough as it is. As i said, it's a simple build.
The suspension is completed. The sprockets rotate well.
This is a very nice detail from Takom on the side of the left suspension unit.
Size comparison between a Clark TK control board and the 35rctank MCT-2 and ACU units that provide similar features.
I will have no difficulty fitting these in the frontal hull bottom.
Power will be provided by a Zippy compact 2 Cell 7.4V Lipo, with plenty of room on top of the gearboxes at the rear.
Next step; the tracks, configuration of the electronics and a test run.
Regards, Louis