Upgrading parts for M1A2 Abrams.
 

Hi, I've just started with this hobby and I bought the HL M1A2 with metal ttransmition, roadwheels, sprockets and tracks. I am looking for metal suspension arms, a trough front axle and bearing for the drive shafts...Also I would like to get more powerfull motors. Is there a online store that deliver in canada. I bought my tank and parts from MatoMart but they don't have all the AM I want. Thank you. Phil.

You'll need stiffer springs as well, all that weight will cause it to sag and throw tracks more.

Welcome to the Dark Side, Asmodeuss. I only know of one place where you can buy just the metal swing arms, and you have to buy them in pairs. All 14 runs about $28 and you need 7 pairs. I think there's another RC Tanker that's emailing them to ask so maybe he'll chime in.

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pro...608.0.0.DK90f9

As for the idler adjust, I just got the last one that ETO had in stock but I think you can get one from the UK and believe it or not, for such a small item the shipping isn't mind boggling, maybe $8 to $15 USD. I'd ask Forgebear where to find one, and if you need help finding forgebear tell me and I'll assist.

You might try the UK for the axle bearings you want, maybe Tankzone or Welsh Dragon. Schumo makes them for the Sherman, but I don't know about the M1.

You might take a look at this thread

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-t...er-wow-x3.html

What kind of tracks did yours come with? Got any photos?

You can get the metal swing arms at rctank.de. Just ordered a set myself.

You have encountered the dreaded 'must have metal' syndrome For me, on these modern, fast tanks weight is the enemy and all the metal tracks do is slow the tank down and put high stress on the suspension arms. The best set up is a metal/plastic lower hull (Taigen/Tamiya) with metal suspension arms, metal roadwheels with tyres, metal drive sprockets/idlers and PLASTIC TRACKS. this way, you can still get good performance from a plastic gearbox and they are quieter too...........

cheers

CaptB

Everyone wants more powerful motors, but that seems to be somewhat of a unicorn with stock electronics. Just run a search here and you'll find 100&52hundred threads about it.

Metal suspension arms? These plastic ones seem rigid enough with Mato's metal wheels. Do your wheels wobble around on the axles when you pick it up? Just wondering since you had it shipped preinstalled.

A couple pounds of pennies in ziplock baggies situated on each side of the battery box and in the nose do wonderous things for the way the Abrams rides, but probably not needed with those 400lb metal tracks.

The problem with plastic suspension arms is when weathered and with use, they look toyish. the metal ones are stronger, add little weight and look better when they weather a bit. Just my opinion.

cheers

CaptB

SkyHawk, I will try to get some as well, thank you for the heads up :) Cirus, thanks mate I'll look into aliexpress and try to get in touch with forgebear. I will holler you for help if I can't ;) Capt, same here I'll have a look at rctank.de and see what's what. I totally agree with you as for the set up of rolling gear. Metal tracks are mostly for the modeling point of view and they seem very well made ( still in the mail) Pcsguy, The plastic arms are pretty flimsy imo, and yes the wheels wobble like crazy, most of the screws have stripped the socket when they assembled the tank... :( So if I don't want wheels to go flying around when I use the M1A2 I should defo get the metal ones. Here is where I am at with this one: I am 3/4 done with the turret details I still have to make stowage to fill the bustle rack. The exhaust deflector and the roadwheel in the rack will be attached to the side racks of the turret when painted. Also the commander scopes need to be properly dressed. I know I'll add some other minutes details here and there as I work this out. https://c3.staticflickr.com/1/573/31...2acef629_k.jpg2016-12-16_08-34-13 by asmodeuss, sur Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/773/31...05f3b895_k.jpg2016-12-16_08-34-32 by asmodeuss, sur Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/706/31...4021e9ab_k.jpg2016-12-16_08-34-49 by asmodeuss, sur Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/342/31...b031cd88_k.jpg2016-12-16_08-35-12 by asmodeuss, sur Flickr ACW. Phil.

The metal swingarms will not improve the flimsiness on this particular model since that is due to the way the arms attach. After seeing the time and care you are putting into this model, I want to scream STOP putting any money into the lower hull and just enjoy your tank, finish the top and wait for the eventual Taigen metal hull with torsion suspension to come out. The Taigen wheels are tension mounted with double bearings unlike these stupid screw ones from Mato. The Taigen ones on my Leo 2a6 make my Mato parts feel like cheap chinese junk. Oh, wait...

HAHAHA! lmao :) Thanks a lot!!! Than I'm just gonna try to get the 360 motors to add some speed to this tank. Torsion suspension...Drooling good fore sure. I am a patient man so I'll defo take your comment in consideration. Thanks again PCS.

Here is their Leo hull that will be coming out soon with the Abrams slated to come out after if demand is there. Erik from Imex/Taigen has a thread on here about it.

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

Just ordered 2 360 hs motors for 3.95$ with shipping...Not to bad
now I got to find pignons for them...

Thanks for the link PCS!

Hey guys, I see y'all figured out the waterpump motors. I tried to learn about small brushed motors and came close to having my head explode. The big name in these things is Mabuchi, and they have spec sheets that tell what each motor does, but I have yet to figure out how to identify the motors themselves. The ones I originally went hunting for were the RS360SH-2885, and these are the closest I came but I don't think they're the 2885s, even though they are RS360-SH motors. It's amazingly confusing to an old hippie like me. You would think such little motors would be fairly simple, but it's actually confusing as all get out. As AC/DC said ... I tell ya, Folks, it's harder than it looks!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Water-P...item360232213d

Asmodeuss, what state are you in?

same specs and dimension!

this is weird, I edited my post and it ereased it all...:(

I am in canada Crius, nortern Québec
easy to find the mabuchi on evilbay cheap also! My wallet likes that ;)

You might want to invest in a pinion puller. I got one of these, and it works well so far.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Me...item281dde4998

Thank you crius, just ordered one!
So you pull them out with the extractor and push them on the new motors? It seems so simple it is scary ;)

I have a puller, but really need something that puts them back on. A hammer only works when the pinion is at the end.

I use a little piece of brass tubing to drive the pinion further down the shaft. The important thing is to make sure the back end of the shaft is fully supported on flat steel. I have some inspection blocks I use and they work well. I think I did a video about removing and replacing pinions. I used to use an old pair of wire strippers before I bought the puller, and for reattaching, just a tack hammer and some brass tube.

I would very much like to see that video. If you still have a link I would apreciate it since I am not quite sure I understand perfectly how to reassemble the pignon...And I just love looking at those kind of vids ;)
Sincerly, a big thank you to you guys, with your help I really feel that my learning curve is way steeper than all by my self.

Found it. Had to go to the recycle bin to get the clip, but the whole video is still at my channel, here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WE7rb2Qfuo&t=133s

and this is the part about my state of the art, hi-tec system for installing pinion gears

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_CQYOnA-O0

Thanks Mate! I am gonna subscribe for sure...Maybe I am already;)

Yep, I was already subscribed :)
Man, I just looked at your vid about the bb unit disassembly and tutorial! Very informative...Now I want to pimp this as well;)
I've got one of those 1-2-3 inspection block and a tack hammer, looks like I am all set as of tools. Thanks a lot for sharing the knowledge Crius:D

I did work a little on the upper hull this morning. I am waiting on the motors so, what better way to pass time ;)

https://c5.staticflickr.com/1/540/31...3b02bc07_k.jpg2016-12-18_01-38-28 by asmodeuss, sur Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/1/319/31...829b82b5_k.jpg2016-12-18_01-13-06 by asmodeuss, sur Flickr

https://c8.staticflickr.com/1/458/31...e4ef411a_k.jpg2016-12-18_01-12-50 by asmodeuss, sur Flickr

https://c7.staticflickr.com/1/546/31...60ef2222_k.jpg2016-12-18_12-20-16 by asmodeuss, sur Flickr

ACW.

That looks great and I might try to copy some of it. I'll start my build next weekend and I think I'm going to use the $39.99 Abrams. That way I start with a fresh canvass with none of the accessories applied. I'll have to take a close look at your photos and see what I want to change on mine. Do you have a build log on this anywhere else? More photos of your details would be helpful. Are you simulating a canvass cover for the grenade launchers on the sides of the turret? Do you have actual Abrams experience? I was in the army way back when (don't you dare ask if it was Union or Confederate) but I was in army aviation, back when they still had the Huey and the AAH-64 was just hitting the tarmac. Soooo, even though I got to crawl around inside a couple of M-60s I don't have any useful, first-hand experience for this one. The closest I can come is asking Erik to ask his neighbor when I have questions. :rolleyes: ;)

Crius, Go ahead and copy all you need my friend. I have a build log indeed on modelworx here is the link: http://modelworx.proboards.com/threa...abrams-stowage
I was in the military here in Canada as a weapon technician and I've been modeling since age 10 so it has been a while ;) I do publish once in a while in scale military model magazine which is based in UK. You'll see the bunch over at Modelworx are a great band of bros. They don't judge or count rivets as in many forums, but don't be mistaken they are top guns! You could start a thread there and you would have all the answers you need as a modeling point of view. I post here because you guys are pretty darn good at RC stuff(and youre a nice bunch as well) Have a look at my thread and don't be affraid to ask Qs Even if we live and breath armor we still have a lot to learn so there is no stupid questions.

As for Abrams exp It is my first :) but I've read a lot on it and sifted trough thousand of pics and walkarounds. Every mods that I do is supported by at least two or three pics of M1A1/2 if you want some good walk around pics just ask me and I'll post the links. I had great help from the guys on Modelworx...they have jedi like abilitys to find those pics...Uncanny really, I am not really good at finding stuff on the net so I count on them :rolleyes:

I'll try my best to answer any Q you got my friend.