Old MSgt

Well sollie, then I'm going to have to figure out how to hook up the sound. There's a few wires that aren't hooked to something. I'll play 'fit the skinny connector in to the large block'. I would like to see if it works.

And RUDY! I 'may' have to do a 'little bit' of repainting, and not really by choice. I noticed that the engine end of the upper deck hadn't been washed so I took it out, same as yesterday, leaned it against the bench, and washed it some more... when I washed it the paint came off. I SPECIFICALLY ask: 'What kind of paint did you use?' and Mark said 'Tamiya'... I thought he ment 'enamel'.

The base coat IS Tamiya enamel but the red/brown & green washed off. SO, gonna do some slight touchup... with a lot of brown and green. I kinda wanted an 'ambush' pattern anyway.

I WILL take closer, clearer pics tomorrow and post. Right now (especially after washing PAINT off!) I'm thirsty. Mike

Panther F

Been waiting for an update on this and hope we haven't veered off course. Last famous words were "I'm thirsty"!

I bet you're still recovering from the shock of actually getting one!


(no pressure)





Jeff

Old MSgt

Hi Jeff! Oh, I've just been doing 'little' things like welds, replacing one of the rear side track racks (it was missing), and a few more details.

I even broke down and ordered a new airbrush because the one I learned how to use on (my wife's originally before we got married) is over thirty years old. And I'm trying to figure out if I'm going to use (order) Rotbraun RAL 8017 & Olivgrun RAL 6003 or other colors. Hav'in to do a LOT of THINK'IN (which I ain't use to...)

But still, I've tried to figure out how to make this radio work like my other radios cause I don't like one lever for one track and one for the other. I'm within an 'eye blink' of taking all the original electrics out and putting in the two Sabertooths from the Sherman (cause the Sherman don't need'em anymore... I sold it. Gotta sell some stuff so I can afford this other stuff.)

I said I'd post pics 'soon' so I will ASAP... soons I gits me something to eat! Mike

Crius

It will take forever to airbrush that huge beast! Better get yourself an automotive spraygun and maybe some oompa loompas to help out.

Oopma Loopma
Doopity dee,
Why haven't you sent
That tank to ME?

Old MSgt

Here's some quick pics of it while it's setting up on blocks. As you can see, the paint came off when I washed it but at least the base coat was Tamiya enamel. I'll catch a warm sunny day and roll it out to wash the rest of the paint off so I can redo it.

Mark, the seller, used 6th Scale Icon parts for practically all the outside details. The cleaning rod tube has a brass baffle that goes inside so the rods won't roll around so much. I measured the two round radiator holes and they're 90mm so I ordered a couple of those size 24v cooling fans and I'll put them inside blowing out if it's a hot day.

The turret weighs about 45 pounds and the steel upper deck probably weighs more than that. There's a rear light and I hooked it up to a 9.4v battery and it came on but dimly. Mark made driver/radio operator hatch opening arms and they WORK. I may have to disconnect them so I CAN close the hatches.

I'm going to have to install a plastic antenna base plug so I can run a radio antenna out, like I had to do on the T1. Reception isn't too good (dangerously NONE!) with the antenna inside the aluminum/steel hull.

All the little wingnuts, chains, and tool mounts look to be there and everything works. I was trying to figure out how to take the roadwheel hubcaps off to get at the wheel keeper bolts. I thought they were glued on but I looked in the manual and they SCREW on, into the wheel hub.

I have one more pic to take after I post these pics and post'em (so I can use the disk).

Old MSgt

When Mark handed me this Panther barrel the WEIGHT surprised me! The 2003 T1 barrel is made of aluminum but this barrel/muzzle brake are heavy steel. Here's a pic of it beside an M1 Garand barrel and it dwarfs it!. I bead blasted the muzzle brake and will the barrel soon so I can repaint it. The tank is WAY too big to go in the blasting booth.

And here's those hatch opening arms/springs. They have rollers on the ends and the springs are stiff! They work great at opening the hatches but I like to close the hatches in the fall to keep the 'stank bugs' out!

Panther F

I grab my popcorn everytime you post new pics!



That's great the tube is detailed, that way the antenna AND the cleaning rod sections are nice and organized. I showed the wife your thread and she stared at me with that worried look. LOL I thought... only if I had all my 1/16 sold would I jump onto one.




Jeff

Old MSgt

Here's the traverse motor and the copper ring the turret slides on. I always put some grease around it. And the elevation motor and traverse drive gear that bolts on.

Imex-Erik

Loving the build so far! What electronics are in the tank? If there are none currently or it is running direct you can get a v-tail mixer or do it in the TX to mix the two channels together on one stick.

Old MSgt

Thanks for the advice and I think with this 7 channel radio it COULD be programed to do it. But I'm an IDIOT on 'programing' something. I looked at the on-line manual but I might as well have been reading Mandarin.

It HAS the original Armortek electronics and they work fine. But I want it to be right lever F/R and left steering. I have Sabertooth ESCs in my other tanks and KNOW how to wire them and I came darn close today (but I was repairing details on it) to removing all the original 'boxes'.

I'm pretty good at mechanical stuff but know nothing on electrics. It's a shame because this is a NICE radio but it has a lot of little levers on it...

Mike

Imex-Erik

There are mixers you can buy online. Robot Marketplace is a good source, here are two:
http://www.robotmarketplace.com/products/0-MX-02.html
http://www.robotmarketplace.com/products/RL-IMX1.html
Sabertooth ESCs are pretty top notch though, I really like mine.

Old MSgt

Thanks! I'll check out those two sites. This radio is pretty programmable, just needs someone who knows how to do it.

I LOVE Sabertooths! And I have an extra set so, if push comes to shove, I'll install them.

Thanks again! Mike

Imex-Erik

Yea Sabertooth gets a 10/10 from me. Even a 5A can drive our metal tanks plenty fine with just passive cooling. Very robust products.

tankme

I have this one that Erik posted in my 1/6th scale Sturmtiger and the 1/6 M113 that I was building. Works great mixing the IFI Victor ESCs I have on to one stick.

http://www.robotmarketplace.com/products/RL-IMX1.html

Old MSgt

Thanks Imex-Erik and tankme. I've realized I need to get my brother (the USAF F15 electrician AND now 'Expert Electrician') who knows a lot about electronics to look at the options you've shown and HELP ME figure this out. Either that or I'll put in my two Sabertooths and an extra 4 channel radio and I'll get it working.

The 'other thing' I bid on and won will be delivered by the freight carrier tomorrow (Friday). So I'm kind of excited to get it and will post pics when it gets here.

Thanks Again! I need all the help with getting a radio to work like I'm used to, done! Mike

Imex-Erik

The delta mixer from Robot Marketplace is plug and play, I don't think you would have much trouble there. What TX are you using again? There might be a delta v mixer built in. I'll see if I can help with instructions.

Old MSgt

Good Morning! I really appreciate any advice you can give me! This is the radio and it has more switches, buttons, and that screen seems to scroll down forever. There's 'elevator', 'flappers', 'alerons', 'bicuspids', 'mixings', 'Klingon Cloak', 'tractor beams', and about everything else to scare me to death.

I have an extra 4 channel radio and those Sabertooths I can put in because if this complicated computer radio ever messed up, I wouldn't know how to reprogram it. This is a NICE radio but I don't know how to use it. But if I go to 4 channel, I might not be able to hook up the sound card (like I'd EVEN know how to start to do THAT anyway...)

Thanks! Mike

Panther F

That would be my luck. Anything more than a 4 channel might be more than I know how to program... not that a 1/16 needs it.

A larger tank does!




Jeff

rivetcounter

Looks like you have picked up a nicely detailed Panther someone has spent a lot with Mike Stannard to build this tank.

Old MSgt

Good Morning! Yeah Rivetcounter, Mark (the seller) did a fine job installing about every 6SI detail part Mr. Stannard had for a Panther.

And Jeff, I'm going to put in a 4 channel radio. I'm tired of just trying to figure the radio/ESCs out. Plus I think this radio has 'Aircraft' frequencies and it should be ground.

I'm glad summers' almost here cause I have work to do. I WANTED 'something to do' now I'm 'covered up.' Mike

MAUS45

Mike, sorry about the paint, but maybe this is a nice mistake? If the base coat is enamel, I would take the rest of the camo off and repaint in a "ambush" scheme using acrylics and then seal it with an enamel flat coat. then you wouldn't have to worry about washing it off with the water hose!!! I really like the Vallejo and Mig brands right now. Easy to shoot through an airbrush and you can get the camo colors in a water base polyurethane version from Vallejo. I am talking the German RAL colors. Really tough primers in a camo color. I use an Iwata HL-CP dual action air brush and Smart Jet compressor to do my camo.

I have attached a photo of what I just recently did with a 1/48 scale Gundam my son talked me into building as a change of pace. to give you an idea of how big he is, the shield is 7"x2.5". I also have the link to the U.S. Vallejo site for you to look at. Check ot the PDF on the primers.

http://www.acrylicosvallejo.com/en_US/primers/family/22

ArmortekAddict

The 4QD DMR203 in your Panther has the ability to mix two channels so that you can run it on one stick. That way the tank goes in whatever direction you puch/pull the stick.



"Tank Mode" is driving with two sticks, like you have it at the moment.

Pull the jumper from the "Steer Mode" pins and it should go into one stick mode.

Adrian.

Old MSgt

Hey Adrian! I found the second jumper and gently pulled it off. I'll test it tomorrow because I'll have to put ALL the original electrics back inside.

Today I've been painting it and just a few minutes ago I broke the fitting on my airbrush hose (yeah, the NEW hose...) now I'm burned out and THIRSTY.

Thanks Again Adrian! I work on installing everything tomorrow.

Mike

tankme

I thought that Armortek was using the 4QD controllers.

Old MSgt

Yeah, Armortek used those controllers. I was going to install a couple of Sabertooths but Adrian told me how to pull a pin on the 4QD one so I'll reinstall them. I'll see if how it works out tomorrow.

Mike