Tank in the snow?
 

I'm wondering...winter is coming soon here in Canada...is there a safe way to drive our tanks in the snow? is there a method to waterproof our tanks so they dont smoke after a little run? Iwould like to try it...winter is 3 months here so Iwould still like to run my tank outside...inside is not really possible...let's say my girlfriend dont really appréciate the sound of the metal tracks on the wooden floors ;) If none, I might have to go with a 1/35 Tamiya tank!

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

You can run tanks in the snow just fine. I've never really taken any special measures and not had issues.

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

Well, what kind of tank?

I run the HL Panther G, Jagdpanther and the Stug in snow for six months a year.  The Stug has a big open area where the tracks can get snow inside so I tape it up with metal duct tape.  Not the grey cloth stuff Red Green uses, the metal stuff.  It seals the Stug up enough for fun.  The other two needed no fix-ups to run in snow.

A tip:  let the tracks cool to outside temps. before running the tank to keep the snow from building up.

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

Depends on which tank...my WSN T-34 doesn't like any sort of cold feet. Just don't run in deep stuff.

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

lol Bill :D. After the past week I needed a laugh.

Cheers,
Wade

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

my KV-1 ;) I would try my Desert Panzer as well but i'm afraid my weathering will go away with the snow!

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

RC tanks ar very fun in the snow. With a Panther G. I don't have a KV-1 so I don't know what they need if anything. Try it and see. Do you have metal tracks or plastic?

PC, good picture, hope the crew was OK.<br type="_moz" />

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

got metal tracks ;) works much better with those and got the speed 400 motors as well

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

Metal tracks will grip very well in snow and ice.  Cool them to snow temperature and the snow will stick less.  Silicone spray will also help to keep ice from building up.  If ice does build up, it can cause problems.  Stop and thaw the tank where it can drip without getting you in trouble with girls.  You will be surprised how much snow can build up.  <div>
</div><div>I don't know what your snow is like, but I always say, If the snow is good for skiing, it not good for tanking, and if the snow is bad for skiing, it's good for tanking.</div><div>
</div><div>Venture forth...   and have fun.</div>

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

buy your girlfriend a tank of her own

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

Metal tracks are hard on wood floors... I speak from experience.

The modern tanks have rubber track pads.http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...eeth_smile.gif



Here is a link to a movie of my tanks running in snow. It's all at 1/2 speed to show how they do in the deep snow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tRYVtVoQGg

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

wow...love the video! thanks for the tip about cooling the tracks before getting in the now..it's actually natural for snow to stick to hot metal I guess! I will really have to try this! It looks pretty cool!

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

http://youtu.be/prgc5LgThBo

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

Not the grey cloth stuff Red Green uses, the metal stuff.

There is hope for this world, another Red Green fan. That guy is a hoot!!!!

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

Great video and very realistic speeds.

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

hehe I would try my desert panzer in the snow but it would look kinda weird...but the KV-1 is made for that!

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

At NEAD we run year round. As far as I know we are the only RC tank club to have a winter battleday in real snow....I may be wrong. We had a great time and it was just like the real thing...we had the same troubles as the real tanks did in winter. Here is a video from my tank-top camera system. As you can see...winter camo does matter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z6VU-b6s5U

There are a few "do's and don'ts".

Here are a few:

DO:
Allow your tank to aclimate to the cold before running...Warm tracks and wheel will attract snow and ice.
Lube the bottom and the tracks with a spray funiture wax or silicone lube. It casts off the ice and snow.
Keep the batteries warm.... cold batts lose power. Keep them in a warm car or inside a interior coat pocket.
Upon finishing a battle lift the tank and run the track a FULL speed both directions to cast off debris.
Clean off the Idlers (most common trouble in trowing track in winter is a packed idler wheel).
Check tracks, wheels & pins after each battle.
If a tank is left for more than 10 min. hand rotate each track to be sure the track and wheels haven't frozen together. Traverse too. Just ask Gen. Von Paulus...
ALWAYS...put your tank on a block to keep the tracks hanging loosely when not in use.
ALWAYS...open your tank up at the end of the day and make sure all is clean and dry inside the hull of the tank.

DON'T:
Drive the tank with snow packed in the tracks or wheels.
Try and drive a tank with locked up wheels and/or tracks (you are begging for stripped gears).
Drive thru any water or puddles and then sit for more than a moment.
Make tight turns... you will pack more snow into the tracks.
Stop in deep snow unless you move forward and back a few inches each way to pack down the snow. If you get hit (IR Battling is what I do) you will have less power to get moving again.
Expect your tank to behave the same way it does on dry ground.
Drive on icy slopes...even with metal tracks you will have NO control.

Good luck and have fun. I love winter and the snow.

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

Some of the best winter battle scenes right there! ;)





















~ Jeff

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

Good list ofthings to do and don't do.

I find that colder snow is better than wet warm snow. I like 20 deg. F to 25 deg. F the best.

Hereare some pictures of my tanks drivingin snow. Getting stuck is easy.

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

Thanks to all of youse guys for the snow job photos ..........I needed that..........It was 98 degrees at my house yesterday afternoon.
Rex

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

wow!! thanks for the tips! now i'm really exited about the snow! i'll just have to be careful with the wheels and that's all!

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

And don't allow the electronics to get to cold.If you place your tamk out side for an hour you should be all right and fallow what was mentioned in the above post,Playing in the snow is my favorite time with the tanks,if I can post up a video later I will now that I have a system installed to do so.
Thats a good video Bob,we had a blast that day. 10:00am till 6:00 pm hope we can do it again this year.

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

love your stuff puk....i dont have snow here at the house...well gotta drive an hour to get to it, but do have lots o sand......
<br type="_moz" />

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

O M G...SAND. [&:]:([:'(][:@][:o][X(][&o]

Unless you have sealed the entire lower hull, including the sponsons, from the outside elements, DO NOT DRIVE IN SAND. Sand in a TU is a time-bomb waiting to explode on you. I very strongly believe all TUs should be covered to keep oil and grease in and debris and dirt out. I never run any of my IR battle tanks in sand. If you do be sure to clean it well afterwards.

RE: Tank in the snow?
 

R/C tanks run fine in the snow.....a couple of KT vids in the snow.....
http://youtu.be/EAaeK9gbNu8
http://youtu.be/whRuQ3Dlwu8</p>