Dammit, lost a post.

Heck, R/C models have kept me going a lot of the time. An R/C movie got me into this back as a teen, [link=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0316620/]Sky Pirates (UK, 1977)[/link] and I've been in it ever since. Reading was another hobby, and 'Hammer's Slammers' by David Drake was really great. All about armored hover-units - tanks, combat-cars (like the gun-trucks of 'Nam) and jeeps. David Drake had been to 'Nam, so his combat scenes were VERY real. (PS: if anyone can find me a torrent of Sky Pirates, I'd greatly appreciate it. It was never released to video or DVD)

About your fuse problem:

You are trying to put this fuse in-line with the whole electronics package? I doubt it'll work, the smoker is probably too much of a load for a light 5A fuse. Even without the smoker, under a heavy load, I expect the system draws more than that. Anyone checked the draw on the system when the tank is going full tilt, with other options running like gun, traverse, elevation and lights? (n smoker though)

If you're dead set, take the fuse out of the power circuit, then try a higher amp fuse and work down, and use fast-blow fuses. But IMHO, its not worth it.