Asiatam Hull Advise

[Tankbear]

Right I’ve got my Asaitam Tiger metal hull.

Read a few threads on here about issues like having to bend suspension arms or getting idler wheels to fit.

So before I start like a bull in a china store, anything I should do in advance of assembling it all?

Using HL metal gearbox and tracks, bought metal sprockets and idlers wheels at same time as the hull.

[Saxondog]

Which set of road wheels are you using? If not the Asiatam wheels you may need to either buy the set for stock plastic wheels or Modify the control arms by tapping them to 3.5mm thread and use Allan head shoulder bolts for axles. Other than that issue and one hole for gearbox mounting to drill the hull is great. RC.TANK.DE has the axles for the H/L Plastic wheels.

[Tankbear]

Hi Saxondog.

Bought it from Steve at Welsh Dragon Models
http://www.welshdragonmodels.co.uk/asia ... -512-p.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

At moment going to use HL plastic road wheels so should be ok as hull now comes with bolts.

[Tankbear]

At moment going to use HL plastic road wheels so should be ok as hull now comes with bolts.

Spoke to soon. Both long and short versions of axle bolts are to short!

Other than that issue and one hole for gearbox mounting to drill the hull is great.

One hole for one side and two for the other.

Plus haven't an allen key small enough for the screws

I knew waking up with an headache I shouldn't of started this.

[caddyshack]

Hi Tankbear
Its a set back but look at it this way ..it will come good in the finish

As the the allen key bit, been down that road when building my heli's..went to the local model shop,and got a set of allen keys that looks like a screw driver set..
The quality is out of this world compared to those normal set you pick up along the way.

good luck with your build, hope to see it all togeather soon.

[blimp]

" . . . both axle bolts are too short " - 's easy , grab yeself some 3mm nails from B+Q and trim to fit

[blimp]

. . . Ooops , forgot to mention , if you are adapting the HL plastic roadwheels , the inner hubs will need shortening because the Asiatam swingarm hull has a slightly different geometry . - I know , been there , done that

[Saxondog]

I purchased my hull from Steve 2 years back almost. The axles you need he may be able to supply,it is worth asking him.You might find he can send them and the Allan key you need a well.

We went through this when the hull was first offered. I was fortunate in having a set of WSN Tiger early wheels given to me by a member. These required a 3.5 mm axle so I tapped the control arms for shoulder bolts with a Allan head, using a flat nylon washer between arm and wheels it worked very well.

But I did run the plastic wheels first,using 6-32 thread standard bolts. Bottom line is you have to make a choice with an eye to future upgrading to an Asiatam wheel set or perhaps another brand.

If you tap the control arms you can run the stock H/L Wheels,or since tooling may be an issue RC.TANK.D.E. has the right axles as well.

[blimp]

It is confusing , the Asiatam hull now comes with swingarms with 3mm dia axles with grub screws already fitted . Older versions of the Tiger had 3mm axles as well , but were the pressed in type . New Tigers now have 4mm shouldered bolts for axles . The new wheels must be 'bushed' (i.e. with lengths of 3mm i/dia. brass tube ) or they will be very sloppy indeed , it just takes a bit of effort . I did this to mine - using a 'steel' Sturmtiger conversion that kept the stock plastic inner wheels - the set up is identical , i then trimmed the outer ends of the plastic wheel hubs as well , this allowed me to use the 3mm Asiatam long axles . - replacement wheels are cheap and easy to get if you change your mind .

[Tankbear]

Thanks for the help guys.

Thought I would end up shortening the plastic wheels but didn't want to do it in case I was missing something obvious.

For now then I think I stick with the plastic HL wheels and HL axle bolts. Trim the axle bolts and shorten the road wheels. As the HL axle bolts fit into the suspension arms but need to use the tiny allen screw to tighten it up.

Another thing i've noticed is the idler wheels have some play in/out towards the hull, is that correct? I'm using the pins supplied and is pushed in as far as it will go.

Also one of the grub screws thead is damaged so doesn't want to screw in, what alternative screws work?