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Tamiya Panzer IV build

Old 04-17-2018, 03:38 PM
  #101  
manchu9inf
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lastly, I went back to my old tracks, but i switched them around so the worn part was on the outside of the track.



Right side: the worn chevrons on the outside of the tank


Left side: the worn chevrons on the outside of the tank
Old 04-17-2018, 11:22 PM
  #102  
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Very interesting build and experiments. I wonder how many kilometers you drove with your tank for wearing the tracks that way.
Did you have any problems with the return rollers wearing for the metal tracks?
Old 04-18-2018, 12:22 PM
  #103  
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I can't say how many Kms have been driven, but it has basically only been driven on the Danville battlefield. What i can't figure out is why only the inside chevrons have worn off. is it simply the weight distribution of the tank where the weight is mainly focused on the inside road wheels?
As for the plastic return rollers, i have had zero problems with them. they do show wear, but nothing excessive with the metal tracks. I will post some pics of them too.
this thread has gone from a build to an upkeep and modification thread, as this tank is the 2nd oldest tank i have and continue to battle at every Danville event I attend, which is almost all of them. i think in the last 3+ years i have only missed 2 battleday weekends. And this tank has battled at Danville since 2010, so its seen a lot of use. And I hope that someone can learn something about repairing damage, adding details, and maintaining a tank for IR battling, as I think IR battling is the most intense action/use you can put your tank through.

Last edited by manchu9inf; 04-18-2018 at 12:25 PM.
Old 04-22-2018, 04:51 PM
  #104  
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Wonder if it's hull flex Will. Wouldn't think you'd have to worry about that in a smaller tank but could be. Could you do the old trick of putting screws through the speaker box into the fenders to get more rigidity? Or it's like you say the road wheel assemblies just have too much play and toe in towards the hull a bit. Great example of the wear and tear that happens to a tank battling at Danville.

Last edited by TheBennyB; 04-22-2018 at 04:54 PM.
Old 04-24-2018, 03:50 PM
  #105  
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here are some pics of the return rollers, they are holding up pretty good with the metal tracks.


Old 04-24-2018, 06:14 PM
  #106  
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Not a lot of wear on the plastic return rollers or the ideler wheel.
Old 04-24-2018, 11:29 PM
  #107  
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Originally Posted by MAUS45
Not a lot of wear on the plastic return rollers or the ideler wheel.
The ilder wheel is metal. But yep, Im surprised about how well are lasting the return rollers!
Old 04-25-2018, 05:25 PM
  #108  
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Everything lined up should be close to no distress on returns. Just weight of track rolling over. Also could be that for IR battling we've found a bit tighter track tension performs better so maybe less on the returns as well. Will may chime in to his track tension on this tank.

Last edited by TheBennyB; 04-25-2018 at 05:30 PM.
Old 04-29-2018, 07:15 PM
  #109  
manchu9inf
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i definitely don't run them loose, i would say i keep good tension on these tracks. its certainly not so tight, that its a guitar string!
Old 08-15-2018, 02:32 PM
  #110  
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wanted to post a pic of my Panzer IV with the barrel kill rings on it. it is next to a Panzer IV that I painted for a good friend of mine. I think his P4 looks better than mine!



The Panzer IV, 333; doesn't have decals on it, all the markings are painted on.
Old 08-16-2018, 09:48 AM
  #111  
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Both look great!!!
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Old 12-23-2018, 01:07 PM
  #112  
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gap between track and wheels


more gaps


even with tracks off


the loose bogie
Well, after the last battle weekend and doing some maintenance on the suspension, still trying to figure out how or why the inside of the track was wearing. What I did find out is I had a loose bogie that needed tightening, but that was the only one. All others were tight. So looking at the track, the outer roadwheels dont evenly sit on the track, there is a gap on some others seems to touch. Even with the track off the tank, the problem is still there. All screws are tight and nothing is loose (rechecked all screws and mounting points), only thing i can figure out is that somehow when the suspension was built it mush have a natural toe in. here are some pics:
Old 12-23-2018, 07:47 PM
  #113  
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To even up the wear, change the tracks right to left. Check the hull sides to make sure they are square and plumb.
Old 01-06-2019, 01:09 PM
  #114  
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Hello Manchu9inf,
What are the size of the bolts you used to replace the stock Tamiya screws that hold the rear idler wheel mounts to the lower hull?
Old 01-12-2019, 05:57 PM
  #115  
manchu9inf
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i believe those screws are M3x6 hex head bolts. you can buy them from many different sources and they come in handy when building a tank and replacing the standard philip head screws.
Old 01-13-2019, 04:40 AM
  #116  
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Thanks
Old 06-25-2019, 06:44 PM
  #117  
manchu9inf
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I can't believe that when I built this tank I did not replace the bushings with bearings in the idler wheel. I have done on so many other builds of this type chassis. But after 10 years, when doing some maintenance to get ready for Danville, I noticed some wobble in the rear idlers and decided to take them apart and was surprised to see bushings. Luckily, I had the right size bearings and quickly replaced the bushings, needless to say, the wheels roll better! I think the idler shaft is showing a little wear as well.
With all the battles over 10 years this tank has held up!
I might need to replace my cutting mat, too!

I

the 10 year old bushings


what it looked like with the old nasty bushings


all apart to add the bearings


with the new bearings installed


replaced the set screws as they were getting wore out and harder to tighten, this is the right side


same for the left side
Old 06-25-2019, 11:23 PM
  #118  
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Again, thanks for updating, it is a very interesting thread of Panzer IV maintenance. How are the suspension leaves? Are they holding well or did you have to twist the position?
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Old 07-02-2019, 08:24 AM
  #119  
manchu9inf
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the suspension leaves are the Schumo ones before they went out of business. they have been holding up well. For the past 3 battle weekends I have been running a set of kit plastic tracks just to see if they will make a difference of the stress on the running gear because this has been running metal since I built this tank in 2010.
I will also so take some pics of some areas that I feel should be of attention after battling this tank for so long. So more to follow.
Old 07-02-2019, 08:36 AM
  #120  
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What size bearings did you use on the idlers?
Old 07-02-2019, 12:56 PM
  #121  
manchu9inf
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those bearings are 5x8 in size, non flanged, you can get them on Evilbay.
Old 07-03-2019, 10:08 AM
  #122  
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Thanks for confirming the bearing size!!!
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Old 07-03-2019, 11:01 PM
  #123  
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If I remember right, the bearings in the PIV idler wheel are a straight fit in the Sherman roadwheels.
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Old 07-16-2019, 11:15 PM
  #124  
manchu9inf
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yes, i think you are right too, they are the same.
Old 08-13-2020, 05:47 PM
  #125  
manchu9inf
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Default Out with the old and in with the new

It was finally time to replace the impact gearboxed that I modified to run with ball bearing with a set of the OEM Tamiya gearboxes. I just got fed up with replacing the bearings that kept getting chewed up. It was becoming every other battle day something needed replaced, so I splurged and got a new set of stock gearboxes and swapped them out.
She will be ready for the next battle weekend at Danville!


the old gearboxes, roughly 10 years old.

Brand new ones!!

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