Mato M36 Jackson

[Tango689]

So for those interest I figured I would show an unboxing and initial impressions of the M36 Jackson from Mato. The one I bought is the "static model" in original metal finish.

It arrived in a nice black box, which was inside a normal shipping box.

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There was heaps of A4 paper and bubble wrap used to protect it. Both inside and outside. It may be why it weighed so much.

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The M36 was wrapped in bubble wrap.

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There was a second smaller box which contained the serial number, MG, roof and spare track links.

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After I cut off the bubble wrap I was able to get a good look at the thing, so far it appears nice but honestly I was expecting a little higher quality for the money. I might just not have a good frame of
reference. To me it looked like the back right suspension was sagging? I am not sure if there is an issue or if I just need to fix the track tension.

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It came in at 5.4kg, without all the internals. I am aiming for a 7kg scale weight for the M36 so I might need to add some more.

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The turret inside is rather bare, not much detail at all. I assume it was always meant to have the cover on top, but it does come with the servos installed for barrel recoil and elevation. You can see a gap in the seam line for the turret cheeks. That will need to be filled.

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Under the hood the wires for the lights are there, but no connectors. The turret has the gear but no servo motor or second connection, so that will have to be installed to get it rotating.

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The hull has a place to hold the battery and the gear box with motors pre installed, so at least that should be easy to set up. Not a whole lot of room but should be plenty for what I need.

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Going back to the suspension, it does look like the right side is looser than the left, not sure if that has something to do with it?

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[Tango689]

Sorry the other side;

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and two pieces already fell off...

If anyone knows what the issue is with the suspension please let me know!

Thanks!

[Kaczor]

The Mato Sherman's chassis has track tensioners that work like the real thing - you need to unscrew the nuts on the back and turn the idler wheel.

In case of turret rotation, Heng-Long unit will fit without problem (there are crew holes prepared).

After some work it will be a grat model.

[Tango689]

The Mato Sherman's chassis has track tensioners that work like the real thing - you need to unscrew the nuts on the back and turn the idler wheel.

In case of turret rotation, Heng-Long unit will fit without problem (there are crew holes prepared).

After some work it will be a grat model.

It feels like the springs on the rear suspension are softer than the front ones? It seems to bounce back sluggish

[Kaczor]

I would unscrew all bogies and check the springs. Mato bogies are constructed differently than Heng Long or Taigen where there is a simple spring made of thick wire.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

As I recall, it takes a 5.5 mm open end wrench and patience to loosen or tighten the bolts that secure the position of the track tension adjusters. The arc of adjustment is downward (i.e. toward the ground when the tank is sitting upright). Watch the adjusters when they are loosened, as they sometimes like to accidentally flip in an upward arc. I added some lock washers (split washers is another term) between the adjuster and the nut to keep the track tensioners from slipping.

[Conan_the_Hungarian]

The springs in Mato's VVSS suspension are not exactly great. I know this from building them myself after buying them from Mato. The metal in the bolsters that hold the whole VVSS unit together bends easily as well. And only one screw holds the front and back of each VVSS unit together. The Taigen VVSS units are far superior. I've built these as well after acquiring them from Taigen. Much better engineering and design. And no I am not trying to advertise for or against either company. The fact that Mato went to the trouble of producing an overall excellent appearing M36 is something I sincerely appreciate. The M36 I'm still working on is a combination of the Varanda upper chassis, the Taigen metal lower chassis and VVSS suspension, and Nick Acquilar's beautiful resin turret. Just wish it were pre-marked for drilling out all of the holes for the tie downs and railings.

[Tango689]

So I loosened the track tension on that side so it is the same as the other one and it seems to have fixed the problem. It sits flat and level and returns after I push down on the back. I will definately be putting a lock nut there as the professor said.

However upon closer inspection it looks like a spring issue like Kaczor mentioned. I noticed the VVSS unit at the front has two springs together but the middle and rear only have a single one. It explains why the tension feels softer and more sluggish. Not sure why they would do that?

Hey Conan, can the Taigen VVSS units be installed on the Mato hull without much modification?

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[Conan_the_Hungarian]

Tango, The modification would be significant, given the differing designs for attaching them and the fact you are working in metal. However, no doubt you could do it. I modified the Tamiya M4 lower hull for the Mato VVSS suspension. A fellow on RCUniverse did a great job demonstrating how to do this for Tamiya. With Mato's VVSS, I've also had the same problem with the springs falling out. A very poor design on Mato's part. People have used the Tamiya M4 parts for their HVSS bogies to modify the Mato spring mechanism. Unfortunately, it's now very hard to find those Tamiya parts. You could also scratch build a leaf spring like the one used in the real VVSS to replace the Mato springs. Also not easy but I believe someones already done so.

[Ecam]

That double spring is usually and attempt to get the model level (or protect the drive sprocket from damage). Several or the German tanks I have the first and last road wheel is sprung heavier that all the center ones. I'm not sure if the Taigen Bogie is the same, but your suspension is operationally correct compared to HL's version. I bought some Mato metal bogies in hopes of getting what you have, but they were near clones to HL's except for how they mount. If you check out the real thing, the arm pressing down on the wheel mount slides. HL and the Mato ones I have are a one piece affair and the whole thing pivots inward. If it were me, I'd play around looking for alternative springs. Also the TD's were 11,000 lbs. (about 5000 kgs.) lighter than the M4A3 (add another 10000 lbs. for the Jumbo). I'd add the weight you are aiming for and then do the spring thing to get the right ride height based on reference pictures.