I was told that the cool bright white flash would not work with Matto electronic, and it did'nt.

I wanted that flash real bad for the KING TIGER and its moving TC. So in desperation I made my own. andthe total cost was $0.....Nada....Nil....Zip....Nutin!

In a drawer I found an old disposable camera from 2003. So I took it apart and found the flash unit to be it's own item.

Hummm says I. So I knew that it would have to recharge after each shot. I installed a jumper where the push button was. I then ever so carefully removed the reflector. (This is an important part so keep it.)

I unsoldered the xeon tube from it's mounts and used 22 guage wire to conect the mounts to the xeon tube. Now you will notice a tiny bit of wire that sat on the reflector. This is what triggers the gas in the tube to fire off. I soldered a green wire to it. At the tube end I cut the releftor down to 1/4 the length of the tube. And shaped it to fit the rounded shape of the tube I stripped the green wire and laid it along the bit of cut reflector. To secure the reflector, and trigger wire to the tube and ensure they stayed put, I cut slices of clear heat shrink and shrank them onto the tube.

Next clear Heat shrink was used to hold the tubes and wires in place.

The power is a 1.5 volt battery. The flash will be triggered by a micro switch as the canon recoils.

Hope you guys can use this!!

NOTE!!!!! This system uses 330 volts! Be very careful. Do not hold the circuit while testing! When you first open the camera use an insullated screw driver and short the capacitor to dischrage it. Actual voltage is 2000 volts when the flash goes off...no kidding. Be carful and when you install in your tank , you might think of putting this thing in a box and insulate it.

Thanks Don.

I have two of these cameras in my junk drawer for this very purpose. Now I don't have to spend any time figuring out what goes where. You have done it for me.

Dan

Don,
Can you do a video with your new flash? I'm an airsoft tanker, but thinking of having an IR tank to be able to battle.

Thanks Jim

SUre thing Sarge!

Let me get the KT back on track...pun intended!

Don

Chief,

That's 1sg thankyou. Just kidding. I would very much like to see a vid.

Jim

YES!!! Videos please!


- Jeff

Hey Friends,

Been up all night playing with this...what a hoot!!

Now one problem was the gun would flash again as it returned to the Battery position. To solve this I places a small 2.5mm TACT switch on the end of the forward barrel mount.

Only when the barrel is in the fully forward position can the strobe charge up again.

Here is a very crude drawing.

Don

YES!!! Videos, PLEASE!! (Heck of an Echo in here)

Never throw anything away! I still have the Strobe from one of my "Vintage" Tammies and am using it as an AA powered "Beacon" in a scratchbuilt wood-and-brass Lighthouse.

Don....I hope those 1/35 Builders who complained about the "lack of eyestrain" involved in 1/16 modelling have "done the right thing" and given all of their trophies to the 1/72 guys. Can you believe opening hatches, [i]and a full visible interior[/i,] in a TigerI that nestles in the palm of your hand?

Paul McD.

I hope so also. I missed the show due to an infection in my jaw that cost me three teeth.

I'll get some videos up soon. Showing the operating TC the voice module and the High Voltage flash.

Other stuff coming along soon, such as a DIY sound system you can build for about $20.

Don

So, no video yet.


- Jeff

VIDEO Time!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXugPKAuHmo

Don

You're a genius! Maybe you can develop a system to support IR and AS for someone now.


- Jeff

Well Jeff,

You know one of the reasons, I'm not that much interested in IR battles. (and there is nothing wrong with IR battles, it is great and you guys who do it are top shelf. Just not my cup of tea.) is that ugly reciever that sits on top. To me it just takes away the looks of the tank. That is just me.

So what I have been designing is an ulta sonic battle system. With this system you can also make the battle more realistic. A Sherman will not be able to knock out a Tiger with one shot unless he is very close or hits it in the rear or the sides. The this works is just like real armor. The thicker the armor (plastic) the less ultra sonic waves can get through. The ultra sounds always requires that you really be on target to get a hit. No fanning of the beam.

The recievers for the ultra sound will be hidden in the tank, and you can use the flash and the ultrasound in tha same gun barrel.

Drawback is the system will have to be tuned for each type of tank. A sherman 75 or 76, or a Panzer III gun will have to be tuned to the scale power when compared to to other tanks.

Still in my noddle right now but I think it would add a great deal of fun to the hobby. You would replicate real history, as it would take a number of Shermans to take out a Tiger. Or a bunch of Panzer III to engage a Pershing.

Don

That's pretty interesting Don....both the flash mod and ultra sonic battle. How could this be possible on a mobile vehicle though? Instead of frequency response, the units would respond to vibrations or vibrations of the vehicle......that is, if the sensor is set to respond to so many pulses per designated kilo/mili/micro/nano/etc... seconds. Sound's like some expensive hardware and chips in your future, but that would be an interesting project to see!

Those towers are for those who want to use them in official battles. Nothing says you can't gut those towers and place the sensors in known weak points of the tank. I think that would be best, in my opinion. Reroute the IRreceiversto go in known weaknesses of the tanks.<br type="_moz" />

Hey Don;

Don't get me wrong, I don't adore the apple sticking out of the top either, but it's just a tool to use for the game and after awhile (and a few battles) you really do not notice it. Plus, once it is paint matched to the color of the tank it is hardly noticeable. I mean, after-all you are standing off a ways from the tank anyway, so it's hardly noticeable.

Man, I do need to drive out someday to Danville and knock the rust off.

All this talking of battling boils the blood. [sm=spinnyeyes.gif]


- Jeff

Hi Don,

I feel your pain.....The Tamya TBS is far from perfect but it is the best system that we have to enjoy RC tanking. The Fan shot is a CHEAP shot and the most unrealistic thing of all and I am very opposed to those who use it as their main tactic. I also do not like the four "blind corners" of the TBS. Some guys drive straight at the enemy tank pointng the blind spot at them and they fail to record direct hit after direct hit. I would gladly do away with the fins, corners and "fan shot and swepers" in a heartbeat if all players would agree to do so. The TBS grading system of light, med. and heavy tanks is quite viable. A Sherman or Panzer III could take out a heavy tank with enough accurate shots in the vulnerable areas of the tank. This is eveidenced by the wide variety of winning tanks that I have seen in my years at Danville. No one model of tank has clearly been the leading winner over all. Most of the time it is the tanker and his tactics that win in the end.

I hope you will come and play with us there sometime.......Bob

I fear an IR tank battle. It would be too easy to become addicted......and with only a few guys within hundreds of miles I'd be really up the creek.

Still I think I might just give it a whirl. Looking at getting the IR Panther to test the waters.

Thanks guys!!

Don

Let's add some smoke!

Pretty simple mod. The video makes it hard to see for some reason. My Lighting is the office sucks for video.

Basically you will use a small puff of propel to simulate the smoke. The liquid propel is contained in a small copper tube that is refilled via a shrader valve in the loaders hatch.

The tube will discharge puff of vapor when a Clippard valve is tripped as the barrel moves rearward.

In this test I did not use the flash. Thought it might wash out the smoke. Turns out the camera washed it out. Oh well you getthe point.

Don

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrzscG-FUj8

Hard to see is lightly putting it!! lmao! All I could hear was the barrel queef!

The Gun system is complete and will be installed in the KT along with the working TIGER commander this weekend. I added another sound module for the 88mm as I was not happy with the matto sound and I can't find that blasted little switch

Another really great video (I hope) coming soon.

Enjoy this little video!

Don


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCJDHqPdULU

Pretty awesome Don, great video too. Funny, I have to waite for hell to freeze over as well. If you know when it will be, let me know, that way I can order my Panther too.

Jim

Great video Don, LOL.

This is great. Exactly what I wanted to do in my 1/8th King Tiger with flash and smoke so look forward to seeing the end product....