My Sherman's First Field Test
 

[8D]:D It was a beatiful day with Temperatures of +8C today. I finally had a chance to test my New Mato Sherman Tank and see how it would run in the field. Winds were brisk at times. I had to operate the Sherman from inside the Car with the window down a crack to allow the antennae to poke out. The run was flawless. No issues with the range or handling of the Tank Everthing worked. We had the Tank out as far as 50 -70 ft. The Tank fan for a full Hr flat out. The Battery already had 40 minutes of run time in the basement at the house where I tested it's climbing power on my ramps which are set at 45 degree elevation. The Tank must have self cleaning Tracks because I put it through massive clumps of leaves and the most it got was a couple of leaves in the back hung up on the rear and what was in the tracks I was able to remove them from the tracks just by backing the Tank up a few few feet and them move forward. I am very pleased with this first field test. Nothing to report but a good time with the Sherman.

RE: My Sherman's First Field Test
 

More pics :D

RE: My Sherman's First Field Test
 

Great pictures! What are all those bombers still doing around there? Aren't they supposed to be crapping in my backyard now? LOL

Well, you've motivated me to put on my shorts and flip flops and take my tank for a walk too! :D

RE: My Sherman's First Field Test
 

You try shorts and flipflops here at this time of year and those Bombers are going to swoop in and deliver!

RE: My Sherman's First Field Test
 

nice photos/...did you test the gun to see if the Canadian Air force would move any faster:D

RE: My Sherman's First Field Test
 

Yes I did!! OH CANADA!! They sure move fast!!

RE: My Sherman's First Field Test
 

Global Warming is a myth? Ducks that far north in November? When I was a kid they were already down in New Jersey by Halloween!

RE: My Sherman's First Field Test
 

Awesome..!! But watch out for those "B-52" grade Canada Geese.....!!

RE: My Sherman's First Field Test
 

Are those the new and improved duckbill connectors:D

RE: My Sherman's First Field Test
 

Is that the stock paint job?

RE: My Sherman's First Field Test
 

Oh, it's a myth. Snowed last winter in southern Riverside County in Ca. But, that's a different discussion.

SNOWTANK, you mentioned testing the gears on 45 degree ramps. Did you upgrade the motors or gearboxes? Or is everything stock? How did it perform on your climbing tests? Looks like it climbed that rock pretty well.

RE: My Sherman's First Field Test
 

Be careful of those ducks!!! They are notorious drug users. Many are on Quack:D

RE: My Sherman's First Field Test
 

I think these ducks are feeding off of bread injected with steroids and Growth Hormones. These ducks were very large. They dwarfed my Sherman . :D

RE: My Sherman's First Field Test
 

The duck in the foreground is actually a Modified Mato Sherman.. using a very colorful but attractive paint scheme to draw the Tigers out. The barrel is a modifed duck bill. [:-]

RE: My Sherman's First Field Test
 

We found that using this color scheme keeps the Shermans "Flocked" together. ;)

RE: My Sherman's First Field Test
 

I ran the Tank on those ramps as is . Pure stock. It climbed it no problem. In fact all of my Tanks have climbed the ramps with no problem. The Sherman climbed over the Rock no problem but it was tricky as the ramp portion had a raised ridge of rock so the Sherman being so Narrow nearly tipped over on several attempts but it eventually made it. The bogies particularly the middle one worked well and didn't leave the track. I think the main thing that has been overlooked is that the Tank is fairly light and without the weight your not going to get the kind of scale action on the bogie suspension . Not like it would be for a 1/4 scale or a 1/6 scale Tank. You want scale realistic action the larger scales work better for it. I find it interesting that Tamiya has so many metal upgrades and photo etch for their plastic tanks to add weight to try and get that realisitic scale suspension movement. 1/16 is difficult to get that kind of weight movement to scale on such a small scale. The Sherman performed as expected because it is after all mostly light weight plastic. Next year I hope to add detail to it and a Crew with some photo etch parts.

RE: My Sherman's First Field Test
 

Hey I showed Armored Rabbit the Mato Sherman. He took it for a spin in his bacyard and drove it through thick grass, and very high inclines. The Tank performed marvelously. We did have a minor issue getting the Tank started. Turns out it was just a loose crystal inside the Tank. He painted the 50 cal for me and he was very pleased with the Tank overall.