1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build
Re: 1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build
The inside of the gunner's hatch is the only place where i needed to take care of ejection pin marks with putty. All the periscopes are well detailed and molded in transparent plastic.
The various sections are displayed in preparation for the installation of headlight LEDs, TOW launcher rotation and flash electronics.
Regards
Louis
The various sections are displayed in preparation for the installation of headlight LEDs, TOW launcher rotation and flash electronics.
Regards
Louis
Re: 1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build
Continuing with the build
Roadwheel 1 and the idler are equipped with a shock absorber. The kit part comes as a plastic stick and the shock absorber is long and thin, difficult to replace it with anything functional. It is glued to the side of the hull but the attachment point to roadwheel 1 is very weak. As a shock absorber is not really needed at the front because the Tamiya gearbox is very light, i installed the shock absorber so that it is shown from the side but i cut it short so that it does not impact the torsion bar suspension.
The idler shock absorber attachment is stronger so it is properly linked to the suspension arm.
But it has a different configuration to attach it to the hull, it goes inside. I cut it short in order for it to move freely inside and not impact the torsion bar suspension. A small spring could fit there if the idler torsion bar needed assistance but i found its not needed.
The kit headlights are very nice and are screaming to be equipped with LEDs. I found a way to drill a hole through the mount so that the wires can be totally hidden inside it.
I have been accused in the past of installing LEDs that are too powerful. In order to do something about it, i purchased a LED resistor kit on Amazon, it provides 600 resistors in all the various strength for a few dollars, a real bargain.
I tested a bunch of them to select the kind of light i was looking for. I was surprised how much the LED can go from xenon bright to low dimmed candle light by just changing the resistor added to the positive wire. With so many varieties and not really knowing anything about resistors and the complicated formula to select the optimal one, i tested many strength and picked the 1K, it seemed to do the job...
After inserting the wires, the back of the LED is simply glued to the back of the interior, facing forward.
Test and retest everything during the wiring in order to avoid issues.
Continuing on following post.
Roadwheel 1 and the idler are equipped with a shock absorber. The kit part comes as a plastic stick and the shock absorber is long and thin, difficult to replace it with anything functional. It is glued to the side of the hull but the attachment point to roadwheel 1 is very weak. As a shock absorber is not really needed at the front because the Tamiya gearbox is very light, i installed the shock absorber so that it is shown from the side but i cut it short so that it does not impact the torsion bar suspension.
The idler shock absorber attachment is stronger so it is properly linked to the suspension arm.
But it has a different configuration to attach it to the hull, it goes inside. I cut it short in order for it to move freely inside and not impact the torsion bar suspension. A small spring could fit there if the idler torsion bar needed assistance but i found its not needed.
The kit headlights are very nice and are screaming to be equipped with LEDs. I found a way to drill a hole through the mount so that the wires can be totally hidden inside it.
I have been accused in the past of installing LEDs that are too powerful. In order to do something about it, i purchased a LED resistor kit on Amazon, it provides 600 resistors in all the various strength for a few dollars, a real bargain.
I tested a bunch of them to select the kind of light i was looking for. I was surprised how much the LED can go from xenon bright to low dimmed candle light by just changing the resistor added to the positive wire. With so many varieties and not really knowing anything about resistors and the complicated formula to select the optimal one, i tested many strength and picked the 1K, it seemed to do the job...
After inserting the wires, the back of the LED is simply glued to the back of the interior, facing forward.
Test and retest everything during the wiring in order to avoid issues.
Continuing on following post.
Last edited by lmcq11 on Sat Apr 24, 2021 3:18 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: 1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build
The kit does not provide ways for the TOW missile launcher to be movable. As this is a RC conversion and the launcher is the only thing exciting about this vehicle, i decided to at least give it horizontal movement, flash and sound. First, an aluminum tube of the size that fits the hole in the hull is used and a support is create to glue inside the launcher mount. A servo will connect to the tube inside the hull to provide rotation.
The Wiesel carries six TOW missiles. The kit provides two, one for the launcher and one that is attached externally on the back plate. I assume the other four must fit inside the hull somewhere at the back. Too bad the kit does not provide interior details, it would have been interesting.
To my surprise, the kit missile cannot be loaded on the launcher by just sliding it in like the real thing, the tip is too wide, go figure what is wrong... Some design issue here for sure. So in order to load the missile, i had to cut the hidden portion of the tip.
This is a missile so the flash is not at the front, it is at the rear, aka Back blast. I decided to install a 5mm LED as a replacement to the small tip inside the protective cover. An aluminum tube provides the right dimension as a replacement, the LED fits inside it.
Here we have a loaded TOW missile... the wire goes out where it will enter the base of the launcher all the way inside the hull, fully hidden.
Wiring is put in.
The TOW missile and wires are squeezed together inside the launcher.
The launcher is installed on the hull base.
The aluminum tube is locked inside by adding a couple of overlaid tubes, allowing the mount to be firmly held in place, vertical while still rotating freely.
A small servo is installed with a custom built attachment in order to control TOW missile launcher movement. The servo is connected directly to the receiver on a free channel and assigned the VRB knob on the remote control.
Continuing on following post
The Wiesel carries six TOW missiles. The kit provides two, one for the launcher and one that is attached externally on the back plate. I assume the other four must fit inside the hull somewhere at the back. Too bad the kit does not provide interior details, it would have been interesting.
To my surprise, the kit missile cannot be loaded on the launcher by just sliding it in like the real thing, the tip is too wide, go figure what is wrong... Some design issue here for sure. So in order to load the missile, i had to cut the hidden portion of the tip.
This is a missile so the flash is not at the front, it is at the rear, aka Back blast. I decided to install a 5mm LED as a replacement to the small tip inside the protective cover. An aluminum tube provides the right dimension as a replacement, the LED fits inside it.
Here we have a loaded TOW missile... the wire goes out where it will enter the base of the launcher all the way inside the hull, fully hidden.
Wiring is put in.
The TOW missile and wires are squeezed together inside the launcher.
The launcher is installed on the hull base.
The aluminum tube is locked inside by adding a couple of overlaid tubes, allowing the mount to be firmly held in place, vertical while still rotating freely.
A small servo is installed with a custom built attachment in order to control TOW missile launcher movement. The servo is connected directly to the receiver on a free channel and assigned the VRB knob on the remote control.
Continuing on following post
Last edited by lmcq11 on Sat Apr 24, 2021 3:33 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: 1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build
View of the electronics before temporality closing the hull for the testing. Tamiya gearbox, speaker, ACU, MTC2, Zippy Compact 2 cell 7.4V 850 battery, servo for missile launcher rotation and receiver.
The lens for the headlights will be installed after painting.
Overview of the model as it stands today. Construction is not yet finished but it is going fast.
View of the model when firing the TOW missile, with tracks running back a bit.
Short video of the electronics and weapons testing.
Regards, Louis
The lens for the headlights will be installed after painting.
Overview of the model as it stands today. Construction is not yet finished but it is going fast.
View of the model when firing the TOW missile, with tracks running back a bit.
Short video of the electronics and weapons testing.
Regards, Louis
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Re: 1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build
Louis,
You make it look so easy! Another amazing build, and one of the cutest one's too!
Cheers,
Eric.
You make it look so easy! Another amazing build, and one of the cutest one's too!
Cheers,
Eric.
"You can always tell a German, you just can't tell him much." Anonymous.
German cars, German girls, German beer, German firearms, German Shepherds, German motorcycles... Not necessarily in that order though!
UP THE IRONS!
German cars, German girls, German beer, German firearms, German Shepherds, German motorcycles... Not necessarily in that order though!
UP THE IRONS!
Re: 1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build
Thank Eric,
This one is really simple, and cheap too. With the understanding that the control board/speaker is the same that i reused on pre-wired models (plug and play), the complete budget for this RC model is the most affordable at less than $100.
Takom kit - $50 + $15 shipping
Tamiya 70097 Twin Motor Gearbox - $8 + $8 shipping
Servo - $3, purchased in bulk on Amazon
Various hobby supply - $15
This one is really simple, and cheap too. With the understanding that the control board/speaker is the same that i reused on pre-wired models (plug and play), the complete budget for this RC model is the most affordable at less than $100.
Takom kit - $50 + $15 shipping
Tamiya 70097 Twin Motor Gearbox - $8 + $8 shipping
Servo - $3, purchased in bulk on Amazon
Various hobby supply - $15
Re: 1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build
Getting close to the end of the build.
Showing the Photo-etched fret, mainly for the grills. I found them to be a bit thin and the instructions to install them are lacking in detail. I do not have any references on the Wiesel so i hope they are placed correctly.
The kit is coming with a superb 25 pieces German Bundeswehr full crew figure to assemble. It's a kit on its own. I think some guys will buy the Wiesel kit just for the figure. I paid the whole kit $54 including shipping. I have paid more in the past for a single resin tank crew figure... So here you get the figure and the tank is a bonus...
Some last minute change. I decided to replace the torsion bar of the Idlers as i notice some tension and suspension weakness during the running test. A plasticard tube or rod have more flexibility than the kit plastic. The tube extends to the interior center of the model.
A new connection to the idler arm is done, with a bit more swing and its more solid.
The construction phase is finished. Here is a quick walk around the vehicle before painting.
Those little hooks all around the vehicle do not look like much but they are the devil incarnated. I had a lot of trouble putting them on. They have very small parts and the fit to the vehicle is not good. I found them to be the only bad thing about this build.
Partially assembled crew figure. The hands and head will be permanently installed only after painting the uniform. The head was put on with a drop of superglue in order to check out the overall face and the fit.
Very nice figure.
Headlight lens and some other clear parts will be installed after painting.
continuing on following post.
Showing the Photo-etched fret, mainly for the grills. I found them to be a bit thin and the instructions to install them are lacking in detail. I do not have any references on the Wiesel so i hope they are placed correctly.
The kit is coming with a superb 25 pieces German Bundeswehr full crew figure to assemble. It's a kit on its own. I think some guys will buy the Wiesel kit just for the figure. I paid the whole kit $54 including shipping. I have paid more in the past for a single resin tank crew figure... So here you get the figure and the tank is a bonus...
Some last minute change. I decided to replace the torsion bar of the Idlers as i notice some tension and suspension weakness during the running test. A plasticard tube or rod have more flexibility than the kit plastic. The tube extends to the interior center of the model.
A new connection to the idler arm is done, with a bit more swing and its more solid.
The construction phase is finished. Here is a quick walk around the vehicle before painting.
Those little hooks all around the vehicle do not look like much but they are the devil incarnated. I had a lot of trouble putting them on. They have very small parts and the fit to the vehicle is not good. I found them to be the only bad thing about this build.
Partially assembled crew figure. The hands and head will be permanently installed only after painting the uniform. The head was put on with a drop of superglue in order to check out the overall face and the fit.
Very nice figure.
Headlight lens and some other clear parts will be installed after painting.
continuing on following post.
Last edited by lmcq11 on Wed Apr 28, 2021 1:13 am, edited 3 times in total.
Re: 1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build
The MG3 and mount are very nice.
View of the anti-skid plates, well made.
A TOW missile is mounted at the back. I understand there are interior space for up to 5 more.
The hinges for the crew hatches are very small. Ideally, they would be made functional but they will be very fragile.
View of the Wiesel TOW carrier next to an M-113A2 TOW carrier for size comparison.
View of the Wiesel next to a Leopard 2A6 for size comparison.
Next time you see it, it will be painted.
Regards, Louis
View of the anti-skid plates, well made.
A TOW missile is mounted at the back. I understand there are interior space for up to 5 more.
The hinges for the crew hatches are very small. Ideally, they would be made functional but they will be very fragile.
View of the Wiesel TOW carrier next to an M-113A2 TOW carrier for size comparison.
View of the Wiesel next to a Leopard 2A6 for size comparison.
Next time you see it, it will be painted.
Regards, Louis
Re: 1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build
Hi, continuing the build with the painting phase.
All Wiesels are pretty much painted in the same 3 color camo style in use in the Bundeswehr. The Takom painting sheet is very hard to read, all explanations are typed in characters that are way too small. It seems to propose all kind of exotic MIG color variations of the basic Bundeswehr 3 color camo. I use the paint colors i had on inventory, mainly Nato green, Nato black and Nato brown... Can't go wrong with that. The TOW launcher was later found to be painted Olive drab in real life and was repainted.
Then to represent the vehicle in a more interesting overseas deployment, i gave it the sandstorm treatment. It involves brushing sand pigments freely all over the vehicle, followed by a coat of pigment fixer. The process was repeated 3 times.
Here is a walk around of the painted vehicle.
All Wiesels are pretty much painted in the same 3 color camo style in use in the Bundeswehr. The Takom painting sheet is very hard to read, all explanations are typed in characters that are way too small. It seems to propose all kind of exotic MIG color variations of the basic Bundeswehr 3 color camo. I use the paint colors i had on inventory, mainly Nato green, Nato black and Nato brown... Can't go wrong with that. The TOW launcher was later found to be painted Olive drab in real life and was repainted.
Then to represent the vehicle in a more interesting overseas deployment, i gave it the sandstorm treatment. It involves brushing sand pigments freely all over the vehicle, followed by a coat of pigment fixer. The process was repeated 3 times.
Here is a walk around of the painted vehicle.
Last edited by lmcq11 on Tue May 04, 2021 2:48 am, edited 6 times in total.
Re: 1/16 RC Wiesel 1A1 TOW - Armored Weapon Carrier - Build
Regards, Louis