The original plan is to go with TTS style tracks like the Spartan has. But I suspect the tank is going to end up heavier than planned (don't they always?), so I may switch to an attachment chain track system for the added durability and simplicity. The suspension can easily handle it. I suspect the motors will have enough grunt to move attachment chain.
I'm good for a build session around that time. We should be settled by then. Mike ________________________________ From: Clark Ward Jr <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, July 3, 2009 4:01:07 AM Subject: [TANKS] Re: Merkava Progress Mike, what kind of track system are you going to use? And, are you up for a tank build session in October/November? On 7/2/09, Derek Engelhaupt <[email protected]> wrote: > Very nice looking tank. Lots of work in there. Looks like a quality > build. Can't wait to see it in action. > > Derek > T065 > > On Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 10:16 AM, Mike Mangus <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Over the past couple weeks since finishing the Spartan, I've been working >> slowly on the Merkava IV. The torsion suspension was put in place, the >> road >> wheels were installed, and a mechanisim for connecting the turret rotate >> motor to the hull devised and implemented. Oh, and a marker mount is >> partially installed (temporarily in place). All in all, the tank looks >> pretty good ... and big! >> >> I switched to Flickr to hold the Merkava build pictures. Flickr isn't >> that great (I prefer Yahoo Groups file and picture manager) but works >> somewhat. The link to the Merkava photo album is >> http://www.flickr.com/photos/39806...@n06/sets/72157620308016739/detail/. >> >> I'm very happy with the suspension and turret rotate. The 1/4" diamter >> torsion rods seem stiffer than suggested on that torsion spring rate web >> site. After putting the torsion suspension and road wheels on the tank >> hull, I stood on top of the entire thing. The tank hull dipped about 1" >> under 220 pounds of me. I don't think there will be any problems carrying >> weight and bottoming out the suspension. Heh. >> >> The turret rotate came out beautifully. The rotate motor is a 24v >> windshield wiper motor and gearbox. The shaft goes through the middle of >> the turret plate and meshes with a gear attached to the upper hull. Just >> to >> see how it worked, I stuck the motor wires into a 7.2v battery pack. The >> turret turned smoothly without binding. The turning speed seemed just >> right. As soon as the speed control arrives next week, I'll get it all >> hooked up and get some video. >> >> After that, the build will take a break while we move back to the Unites >> States. Once our furniture shipment arrives in the States sometime around >> October, work will commence again. :) >> >> Hopefully, the Monster Merk will be terrorizing battlesfields starting in >> the Spring of 2010. >> >> Mike M >> >> >> > >> > > > > -- Clark in Georgia M4 Sherman --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You are currently subscribed to the "R/C Tank Combat" group. To post a message, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe, send email to [email protected] Visit the group at http://groups.google.com/group/rctankcombat -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
