Michael, Thank you for your response and input. I'd like to answer each of your questions below:
1. Different "spring rates". The springs are rated for 19 lbs each. They are 1/2" ID, radial-over-center leg coiled springs with tangential leg. If you try to source them yourself, it would be between $5 to $15 per spring. Our Tiger is 150 lbs over 16 of these springs. The other "tank hobbyist" from this Newsgroup can let you know if that suspension seemed "efficient" during the Gettysburg event. There are TWO ways to tension the springs. The coarse adjustment is made on the hex bolt head, and the fine adjustment is made on the "tension pate". As per our conversation with Dr. Pittelli [of the Pittelli Educational Services, Inc dreaming of his trust in the Cook Islands], we applied more tension on the first and last swing arms. I think those springs can handle the range of small/large tanks available to 1/6th scale hobbyist, because the real weight of the vehicle is in the motors/batteries (about 40 lbs together). The rest of the weight is between 50-100 lbs depending on your built. Those springs can easily be loosened for a 100 lbs vehicle, and tied for a 200 lbs vehicle. 2. Diameter of axle bolts: We use a patented invention here, thanks to a brilliant idea by Tyng Tech. It is a standard bolt inside a steel sleeve. It allows "off the shelves" and cost effective hardware to be used, besides the laser-cut swing arms with hex bolt head cuts. The axle bolts are 1/4" with 3/8" OD sleeves. So your diameter is about 9.25mm. It is important because it has to fit inside a bushing (3/8" ID, 1/2" OD). I'm French, but live in the US, and this country works on the "Imperial System". As I said, it's a business decision based on off-the-shelves available bolts/bushings. Otherwise these systems have to be machined, which escalates the cost. All you have to provide, is a wheel with a 1/2" hole for the bushing, and you need to also provide a rail with 5/8" holes to fit your swing arm axle bushings! Then you have an instant suspension! 3. High and Low Profile differences? NO differences. Same system, motors, gears. The difference is that the high profile does NOT fit inside our Sherman tank. So we had to make a design that would fit into less vertical spacing. I will add dimension limitations to the website, good point 4. Size of output shaft: This is a 5/8" cold-drawn steel shaft with a 3/16" keyway. I will add this info to website as well 5. Selling drive sprockets and tracks: We already do. They are NOT like the ones manufactured by RC Tank Combat members. FOA tries to offer "scale accurate" products. It is difficult to join practicality and accuracy. But the Tiger proved that it can compete WITH PLASTIC TRACKS against the best of this group (except its driver, who could not hit an Elephant in a corridor!). OTHER TRACKS will be offered shortly. We are currently working on the Sherman tracks, and on the Abrams tracks. We are playing with the same RUBBER compound that this group uses for molded tracks. We are adding inner aluminum shafts. As for Drive sprockets, they are tied to the size/shape of your tracks. You will see R/C drive sprockets on the website shortly. 6. FOA actually has a network of International and US suppliers. Those MSRP are for them. We have been mainly selling STATIC tanks to these suppliers. We will be offering them the full line of R/C tanks as well. But I will remove the MSRP on the website, especially if customers would have the impression of being fooled. Thanks for your comments. Looking forward to more input Loic -- -- 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 --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "R/C Tank Combat" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
