M24 Chaffee
 

Hello all, I am new to this forum.

I have not been able to find a single motorized model of a M24 in any scale so I have taken it upon myself to scratch build one. I do have a few questions though.

My first question is about scale, I was thinking of making it somewhere between 1/6 scale to 1/8 scale and a box area of about 1.5ft x 3ft. I know that is a bit on the big side but I have made robots bigger and I am a mechanical engineer. I have figured that I will most likely be using wheel chair motors for my drive cogs, but I am still pounding my head as to the way to mate the tank hull to the turret. I plan to have two sets of motor controllers and rf controllers one set attached to two 12v dc deepcycle batteries for the motors and the other tucked into the turret powered by a 12v dc LiPo to control the turret rotation, gun elevation, and the firing mechanism.

Any help on this would be great. This is my first model of this type that I will have made. I am used to making small scale plastic models.<br type="_moz" />

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

Sounds great. I would stick to 1/6 since it's a widely used scale. That way you'll have access to an array of same items commercially available (figures, guns, tools) instead of having to scratch build a 1/8 shovel, etc.

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

Welcome,

http://www.rctankcombat.com

On the site above I have seen guys use a lazy susan, drill holes and mount it.
There are some pretty good ideas on that site for the larger scales.

Cheers,
Wade

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

OberSchutze,
If you draw a set of plans for your tank, I hope you'll share them with us. I had planned on trying to model a Chaffee from a 1/18 scale M41 Walker Bulldog, but it is such a nice model, I don't want to cut it up. If you have some plans, then maybe I can scratch build it myself in 1/16 scale. Hope you post some pics of your build as well. I also agree that 1/6 would be the best scale as there are many detail parts you can order.

Jim

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

As soon as my 1/72 scale model arrives i plan to start cading the parts up I have to fabricate. My first goal is to get the tank to a point where it has a function drive system. I have a few milestones for this project. Once my book and model come I will take some pictures of those and then as I build the 1/6 tank I will be taking progress pictures of that too.

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

Just uploaded a picture of my scale model I just finished that I am going to use for the 1/6 scale tank. I am debating if I want to add the crew escape hatches that are underneath the tank.

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

Well I was working on the CAD file for the transmission hatch this morning and as it turns out my model isn't 1/72 scale as the box advertises. Yay... now to go find what the real scale of this tank is.

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

Based upon years of experience, I think that scaling up accurate 1/16 parts from 1/72 would be next to impossible for good results. A good 1/35 scale model would be better (Italeri makes a beauty)........I did that for many of the models I have scratchbuilt in the past.

Any errors on a 1/72 scale part gets enlarged 4.5 times (450%). 1/35 scale is only a 2.18 multiplier to get 1/16. Good luck with your Chaffee, that tank is one of my favorites.

Rex

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

I am glad that YOU brought up that issue Rex. I read somewhere that 1/72 is dimensionally compromised & flawed PLUS that 1/35th is more of a true scaled measurement. That is, to work with AND to take from for other uses.

Plus, you loose a lot when scaling down, so 1/35th is the best bet.










~ Jeff

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

It was 10 dollars so I picked it up. Where can I get a larger scale M24 Chaffee, for whatever reason people don't seem to like it as much.

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

~~~~~~~~

Yes, for some reason they are hard to find. Here is one place I found where they are still available. I have one that I will never build. I gave it to my grandson. He gave it back .........after he lost the instructions......"The dog ate it". All the parts are complete.

Maybe we could work out a deal you would be happy with since you only would need parts for scaling up. I will PM you later.

http://www.hobbylinc.com/cgi-bin/s8....t_s=SCP&mfg_s=

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

eBay has a few. Some overseas are around 20 bucks with about 15 for shipping. Here's a domestic seller [link=http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-35-Italeri-Testors-M-24-Chaffee-Light-Tank-810-1987-/261018914377?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cc5f0 8e49]M24 from eBay[/link] that's reasonable on the shipping. Then, later after measurements are taken you can re-sell it. I doubt you will find the Italeri or Testors M24 in any store other than eBay.

Bronco has a newly re-tooled M24 for about 50 bucks, and you can get that just about anywhere. It's supposed to be the latest and greatest.










~ Jeff

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

Sounds good Rex.<div>
</div><div>What is the difference between the Italeri one and the Bronco one?</div>

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

~~~~~~~~

I have never seen the Bronco model. My Italeri model is an excellent model in my opinion. It is over 20 years old for sure. It is the one that is shown on the Ebay site that Panther F posted.

I will send you a PM tomorrow on this. I have visitors this evening and I am kinda busy with them right now.

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

No problem. Talk to you then.

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

Hi Guys
Armorama has a review on the Bronco Chaffee - http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?...opic_id=189189 -

Mal</p>

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

Like I said, the Bronco kit is a brand new offering with new molds and "supposedly" a better and more accurate model.

Now that it's out the Italeri will be more affordable to use to get measurements from.










~ Jeff

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

Would making the front transmission housing 1in x 1in bigger than it should be for the sake of batteries throw off the whole model?

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

Was doing a bit of part sourcing this week and found the batteries I plan to use and the motors.<div>
</div><div>http://bluegrassbatteries.com/Powers...source=froogle</div><div>
</div><div>and a pair of these: http://www.robotmarketplace.com/products/NPC-B81.html</div><div>
</div><div>I have no intention of getting the motors off of that website though as it is a complete rip off, I can get a pair of motors off of ebay for under 150 shipped.</div>

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

Thats almost a grand just for gear boxes. I must be in the wrong business.

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

Just finished CADing the side plates for the tank.<div></div><div>http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x.../sideplate.png

Lower Glacis

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...owerglacis.png
</div>

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

Are tow hooks and trailer hitches available in 1/6 scale?

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

Just finished the upper glacis plate.<div>
</div><div>http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...pperglacis.png
</div>

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

Oberschutz,
Your cad drawings look great. When your done, do you think you could sell a set scaled to 1/16th? I would really be intersted.

Jim

RE: M24 Chaffee
 

Scaling them shouldn't be a problem at all.The screw hole sizes will be a bit too small so you would probably have to take some license and make the holes a tad bigger on a production tank, but the hole placement should be fine.