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Re: Skeeters contracting services
Nice looking apparatus!
That should be a ton of fun to start converting! How many functions are you thinking about? (Yay, i'm a bad influence) |
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Ideally, ladder extend/retract, as well as rotation too, plus working emerg lights with siren & a working water pump too. In reality, IDk what will come of it. It'll be a last project to do, after I get the rest did.
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This might be useful.
German build of a USA firetruck that was built in China https://translate.googleusercontent....NtzJ-DkCTqWN0g |
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Thank-You, sir for the link. ALL information is helpful, as I've never tried doing a corded to true RC conversion.
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Being unable to locally source anything larger then 1/2" heat shrink tubing, I had to order the 1.5" heatshrink tubing from evilbay. It was awaiting my arrival when I got home from work today, so I put it to good use. The 600MAH NMH battery pack for the Bruder D5 conversion has been finished. I made 2 of them, as they ONLY last about 8-10 minutes, from the time they are turned on, to the time they are dead. since the battery life is such short lived, I've decided to forego the on board charging system, & the battery will need removed/swapped when it dies.
One of the 2 COMPLETED battery packs. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4575/...1147bc0f81.jpgunnamed (38) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr I smoked 2 batteries while trying to figure this out. I had BOTH + & the - terminals on them bused together. I was wondering why the batteries were getting so warm, & they sparked each time I touched the buss bar. Now I know! |
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That sucks, atleast you only smoked 2 batteries. Maybe you can use the 600mah batterys in something with lower current draw.
Cord remote to real RC can be easier than starting with a clean slate. It's going to have some kind of a gearbox and steering axle already installed. Then it's more about pulling old electronics and swap with something good. |
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The wintertime slowdown with work has started to happen. I didn't work today, so I ran a few errands, then tinkered in the garage a bit.
The Bruder 574 front loader conversion got some love today. Under the hood is bolted the Sabertooth 2X5 that will controll the bucket & arm lift. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4550/...76c64ff3d9.jpgunnamed (42) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr Speaking of the lift rams, I did mine a bit differently then my mentor's. I decided that since I added a LOT of weight to the model, it would have more force applied to the rams. That being said I abandoned the method for fastening the rams to the model liek his, & came up with my own version. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4547/...e2515e2714.jpgunnamed (39) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr Here's the parts I used to do it. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4549/...3f5728066f.jpgunnamed (41) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr mocked together https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4526/...cd88b23f55.jpgunnamed (40) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr The "blind nut", AKA ribbed nut (I've heard them refered to both ways) did require some slight modification to the 3D printed parts that it goes through. I believe I had to drill (CAN'T remember for SURE) a 6mm hole about 1/4 inches deep into the print part. Then I used a M3x40mm bolt to go through both of my custom built aluminum parts, into the blind nut. Between the alum part, & the actuator there is a washer, followed by an M3 nut, then 5 more washers. There is a locknut behind the custom aluminum parts that holds the actuator to it. one more pic, showing the wiring of the 2X5 controller finished. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4539/...a86b7d383e.jpgunnamed (43) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr Tomorrow, I hope to start the wiring for the wheel motors! |
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Well, today DIDN'T go quite as planned. I went to Batteries + Bulbs today to try & get batteries. Theirs was worse then mine, as all they could source was 2/3AA 400MAH batteries. :mad: After that I ran around town & did a few more things.
As I got back home, & prepared to start in the garage, the phone rings. It was the call that sold the old ford ranger pickup truck that had been sitting for a few years. I was keeping it as a backup rig, but decided to let er go. :D Flushed with cash, & having become such a large contracting services company, we needed a tax write off. We decided it was time to invest in a racecar! :bounce: McQueen was purchased from Fred Meyer about 2 months ago. It's the largest "cars" toy that I recall ever seeing made. It works out close to 1/10th scale. When I walked into the LHS, their jaws about hit the floor when I told them I WASN'T there to buy parts, :lol: (as I USUALLY am there ONLY to buy misc parts/pieces for various projects) but rather to buy a new RC car. :cool: They asked what I had in mind. I told them IDK, ANYTHING that will fit this body, as I flopped McQueen onto the countertop. After a few minutes of measuring & trying the body on a couple vehicles, I walked out with a new Traxxas Rustler. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4556/...4b549fa8a8.jpgunnamed (44) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr Here's what's left of the stock chassis, & the packaging that it came in. Since McQueen WASN'T made as an RC, I had to gut the chassis from it. Who would have known them little screws they pt in it would be so d@m hard to get out?:confused: I was FINALLY able to remove the 3 front screws. After removing them, I carefully cut with the Dremel tool, the chassis near the remaining screw holes. I then took the same dremel tool with the same end mill bit still in it, & carefully carved off the remaining screws of that section in the body. Then I cut back to the next section, for a repeat. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4586/...cb44f0a4a1.jpgunnamed (45) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr The body gutted from it's childs toy chassis https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4541/...fd83f208a1.jpgunnamed (46) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr Here's the mock up on the donor chassis, of the Traxxas Rustler. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4580/...6836c05bd4.jpgunnamed (47) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr I've got smaller tires to place on it yet, as well as figure out how/where to secure the body to the chassis. McQueen will fit right in with his buddy Towmater sitting next to him on the shelf. |
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I also took the D5 out for a lil video session today. Sorry, it's a small video snippet, as that's ALL my phone (ONLY thing I got that'll take video's) ONLY takes short vids before running out of memory. I need to adjust the blade servo a bit, so we have some down pressure to the blade. With the blade improperly adjusted, I WASN'T able to get down far enough to push well due to the rocky terrain.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4544/...bf8397d250.jpgBruder D5 2nd version vid by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr |
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I'm already feeling overwhelmed looking at it. I may have bit off more then I can chew with this project. :o I'm sure the onboard water system i was hoping for is not a viable option anymore. I've no idea where/how to do that. Also since the ladder will extend/retract, as well as pivot side to side, IDK how I'd make a hose to extend/shrink like that. The other functions, lights, sound, fwd, rev, ladder extend/retract, ladder movement side to side, I'll have to take a look at it later this winter. As IF I DIDN'T already have enough projects, I felt the need for another. ESPECIALLY with the insiders information I just hears about. Something bad is about to happen near the new year with the tractor industry, & the farmers won't be able to get enough machines to do their work this year. Having the inside scoop, I had to get in on the action by getting some equipment while they can be got. I hope that little twerp at the tractor manufacturing plant ISN'T pumping me full of BS about the grave situation that'll be happening. So.........................................knowing the secret insiders info, we acquired this little gem, a NewBright tractor https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Bright-...72.m2749.l2649 Also had to acquire the wagon to go with it https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-New...72.m2749.l2649 Hopefully we'll have enough time to get em right so that they are ready to go to work when they are needed. |
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Today, after doing a few things I needed to do, I started the Weyerhauser Logging truck conversion. I didn't get too far along on it, but it's a start. I got as far as chopping off the sleeper, adjusting the width of the previously rear panel/access door on the sleeper, & marking out where I intend to place the rear window.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4551/...795e9b4208.jpgunnamed (48) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr The hardware was previously used for open/close the access panel.......it's only there temporary, until I get everything sorted. Once things are ready to be glued in place, I'll remove them, & patch their holes. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4560/...2990bdd181.jpgunnamed (50) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr I took 5CM out of the center(ish) to make the panel fit it's new home. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4571/...eae4b2c655.jpgunnamed (49) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr |
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1 more photo from today. This is what the sleep portion looked like, after i hacked it off. I used what Bo, in his steering mod tutorial calls a "FAST TOOL" to make the cut. I stayed rather far away from the cab portion of the truck while doing this. I would rather have a NON needed part look ragged & haggard, then the cab of the truck.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4519/...924755e8_c.jpgunnamed (51) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr |
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Instead of 2/3AA cells, Have you tried looking for 2/3A cells, they're usually good for 1500-1600 mah. They're about 0.650" diameter by 1.150" long.
Nice Rustler, or is that a Rusteeze now? I've got an old randomly upgraded ancient MSC version of it, you'll have fun. Don't get overwhelmed, use the Elephant Method. With the Ladder start with the basics: steer, drive, flashy lights, maybe some noise. Then later on when that's not enough, get a couple cheap esc to run the ladder up/down, right/left, in/out. If after all that, you STILL have some insanity and the room to do it, maybe look into nitro fueltanks, fuel tube and fountain pumps or windshield washer sprayers. Water cool, but its a gimmic you can't do all the time and can easily trash your electronics. Make conversions run and drive as soon as possible because it gives momentum to keep you from getting burned out because you already see the light at the end of tunnel. I didn't know they did cable control tractors, that's pretty cool. I wonder how well it will be able to pull? Nice progress on the daycab. |
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Great website I found to make your fire truck put out some flames. https://www.harbormodels.com/firemonitors.html
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Thank-you for the link. That's so cool, that they have WORKING version of them. I wonder if the 1;16th scale version is adaptable to working order?
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/12-Pcs-2-3-...cAAOxy2YtRtToU The Rustler, it's now morphed into a Rusteeze race car. I like it a LOT! :D I've several Traxxas vehicles around here. I started with the nitro trucks/cars, I had 8 of them at one time. I went to LHS to buy a new motor for one of them. A man was there & saw me doing that, he inquired if I'd like some nitro motors. I replied, I may, what do you want for them. To my reply, he laughed, & said you can just have them for FREE! A short time later, I was following him to his house to get them. While there he showed me his truck/cars that he'd yanked the nitro engines off from. He showed me how he used redneck engineering to replace the nitro motors with brushless motors. He also introduced me to LIPO batteries. Before I left that mans house, he let me drive his Traxxas Tmaxx that he'd converted. My nitro Maxx NEVER popped wheelies like his did! I was sold, I went home, & converted my Reevo to an E-revo. Shortly there after, I ditched the nitro chassis, & acquired the electric version to swap everything over to. Everything went downhill after that. I sold the remaining gas vehicles. I went from those 8, to the currently 30+ RC vehicles. 2 boats, a few semi trucks &/or big rigs, some equipment, a couple Emaxx, a couple of the slash, a few Duratrax evaders, some models that are awaiting conversion from static to RC, others awaiting corded to cordless conversion, while still others are kits that need put together, & there's more. I do concur. Vehicle driveability will be the first issue tackled, when I get around to this project. I didn't know they did cable tractors either. I was searching fleabay for "NewBright" & thats how I found it. I looked through several pages of garbage :eek: before I found the GOOD stuff. By garbage I mean NewBright electronical components pieces/parts that people were trying to sell . Hopefully it'll do alright pulling. I may have to add some weight over the drive tires to make it function more gooder. :thinking: The daycab.............well, it's just a start. I've got a LONG way to go before I cross the finish line with that project. :popcorn: |
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The 1/15 says display only. I'm sure you could find some some wear that would work.
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Come to think of it, it's got one on it already, I wonder if I could just hook hose(es) to it & make it work? I'll have to check next time I'm out in the garage.
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I'm surprised none of the RC logging people here have done this Letourneau log loader yet. IF I had access to, or room in the garage to have machinery, I'd be doing one of these. I'm sure it'd be a one off, that no one else would do.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4519/...685bcf9037.jpgLoglifter Laterneou by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr |
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Tonight, after dinner, I went back into the garage to tinker again. I made a lil more progress on the logtruck conversion. I removed the drivers side fuel tank, & the passenger side steps. The passenger tank with it's steps will move ahead to be the cab steps. The drivers side exhaust was removed, & won't be back again. I also got the hole for the back window cut away.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4581/...b619d0c342.jpgunnamed (53) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4516/...0df877d98e.jpgunnamed (52) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr |
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It was a cold wet rainy day here today. No work for me today, so I ran some errands. I have to acquire a coupler for the 3D printer feed tube, as well as some new feed tubing. After I ran to several shops, & FINALLY found a place that sold them, I went to the garage. I didn't have much time to tinker tonight. I did manage to get the cab for the log truck worked on a bit more. I'm still awaiting the couple pics I took to finish uploading. Soon as they get did, I'll post up a couple pics
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Here's the pic of the cab with the holes filled in. The putty I used Squadron Products, I've never used before. :eek: I hope it works well. I figured if it works for them fly boys & their aerodynamic plane bodies, it should work good enough for my truck body. :D
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4582/...04af168e_c.jpgunnamed (54) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4539/...54f5751d_c.jpgunnamed (55) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr |
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It arrived me today, the NewBright tractor, & trailer that is :)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4570/...b52444f1_c.jpgunnamed (56) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr It's been placed on the shelf of projects awaiting my attention. Sometime this winter I'll get er did. No work today fir me. A friend of mine talked me into going to Tacoma RC Raceway http://www.tacomarc.com today. I took the Traxxas slash as it's 1/10th scale short course truck type of track. I HATED how it performed. :( The Team associated buggies were WAY faster then we were. SO..................I just had to do it, as if I needed ANOTHER project, I just couldn't help myself. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4530/...7dac4319_c.jpgunnamed (57) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr |
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NOT my video, but it does give one a good sense of what kind of fun can be had here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcKczUGFiGU |
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Another vid clip, again NOT mine. It's at the same track
Tacoma RC Raceway's 2wd Mod A-main from 7/1/2012 The winners BOTH driving Team Associated trucks in the race. 1st Luke Smith - Team Associated 2nd John Walentia - Team Associated https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtXFxhJ-15s |
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Squadron putty is supposed to be pretty good and stable.
'turbo' tractor? Body looks nice. Am i seeing 3-point arms on the back of it? The hay wagon looks decent too. Heh, you're reminding me why my stuff doesn't race. Rock crawl comps were expensive enough. Get a great setup, then they change the rules... |
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I'm glad to know it's good stuff.
Yes sir, turbo tractor WITH a 3 point hitch. Both tractor & wagon are in decent shape. No competition racing will be done. It'll just be something that'll keep up with what my friend, & new friends are runnin at the track. I found a group of coworkers that go to the track in the wintertime while work is slow. They go every Monday & Wednesday after work. If no work, then they meet at the track at 10ish. |
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It costs 10 dollars fir an hour, or 15 for the day. They provide power outlets for the chargers, a nice pit area with tables & chairs & a vast array of spare parts for purchase.
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Tonight, after work I made some progress on the Weyerheauser log truck conversion. I painted the green parts of the 2 tone body. Green on the back of the cab over the patch where the sleeper was hacked off, & green on the hood, just like the 1:1 I use to drive. It was an old Weyerheauser truck when the bossman acquired it.
I taped off the lines, then packed the entire cab assembly into a plastic shopping bag to keep over spray off the unwanted areas. I have a bit of touch up work to do to make everything right. This was the first time I tried tape lines. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4527/...c6131d74_c.jpgunnamed (58) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4523/...cdca98df_c.jpgunnamed (59) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4561/...183b3d52_c.jpgunnamed (60) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4548/...d98823b8_c.jpgunnamed (61) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr |
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Tonight, after dinner, I went to the garage to do a bit of work. Remember a while back I used the 3D printer to make a case for the Sabertooth 2X12 controller?:thinking: Well today I got around to using that case. I had to modify it a bit to make it work for me. I wanted a protective case for the Sabertooth. This case was set up to be a direct bolt on unit. Since I DON'T wish to take the front loader apart further, I will be just resting this case inside the body of the machine. That said, I had to modify it a bit. rather then re-CAD this thing, I used my Dremel tool, & what Bo Wallen calls a "FAST TOOL". :lol: I needed to make openings for the wires to pass through the walls. Tomorrow, I'll go to the LHS & acquire the wire & connectors for the battery so I can get them installed. Here's a couple of pics of the Polish ingenuity I did to make the case work.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4580/...7c98ed60_c.jpgunnamed (62) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4528/...6195c25b_c.jpgunnamed (63) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4547/...e80a7d97_c.jpgunnamed (64) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr |
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Today i messed with the front end loader a bit more. I found I had to modify the hood a bit so that it would close with the Sabertooth 2X5 being tucked into the engine compartment. I also found that with the CUSTOM boom cylinder mounts that I used, I'll have to modify the bucket a bit. Rather then 3D print &/or mod the stock plastic bucket, I'll be attempting to make one from sheet aluminum. :popcorn:
Here's the pic showing the mod to the hood. I used the Dremel tool with the "FAST TOOL" to do the mods. I just had to shave a little from the hoods underside. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4532/...cfbb9685_c.jpgunnamed (65) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr I was able to test (SORRY I didn't have the opportunity to video it) this thing today, & everything works. The Traxxas 1/16 Slash battery is a little small for this operation. 4 drive motors, with 3 actuators needs more then the 1200MAH battery can provide. Additionally, EVERYTHING in this model is equipped to handle at least 12 volts. More volts = more power :D Once my batteries FINALLY get here on the SLOW boat from China, I'll be building a 12V 1800MAH battery pack for this thing. |
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I still have to figure out how to program the "MIX" setting on the Spektrum DX6i radio. With the current mix settings, the bucket will tip forward, to dump, as the boom s trying to raise. :( I messed with it a bit, unsuccessfully. Perhaps I'll take the model, & radio to the LHS tomorrow. I know the guys in there know how to set them thingies.
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WELL.........I wen tback into the garage tonight, & messed with the dip switches on the Sabertooth 2X5. Turns out the problem WASN'T in the radio mix(es), but a switch was set wrong. It functions now as it should. :)
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No work today, so I monkeyed around a bit in the Garage. I got started on the Bruder Skidsteer conversion. I figured I'd start with the hardest part, making the bucket functional. After scratching my head most all day, staring at that d@m thing, & a few different ideas later, I got something that worked. Since it's servo operated, I hooked it up to the servo tester, & turned it on in the "AUTOMATIC" mode. I works fairly well, WIHTOUT weight in it. I don't yet know how well it'll work with weight in the bucket.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4574/...40c0f0c8_o.jpg20171120_1617451 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr |
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HOPEFULLY you guys see a video /\ up there! It doesn't look right to me, but I remember struggling last time I tried posting a video here, using Flicker.
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Here's a few still pics of how managed to get the bucket servo mounted to the skidsteer last night
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4574/...e1a95ddc_c.jpgunnamed (67) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4569/...4e3630a1_c.jpgunnamed (68) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr HOPEFULLY it shows what, where, & how much was cut/trimmed to make this work. This set up isn't my idea, I'm fairly sure I seen this on one of SmallHaul's conversions. |
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Made a lil more progress on the Bruder skidsteer conversion today.
The wheels proved to be a challenge! I COULDN'T using only 1 adapter get them to work. I wound up using spacers that I had paying around the shop. I cut the axle & placed it back in it's hole in the wheel. I used this as a guide for the centering to drill the holes. Each wheel will be held on by 4 bolts, just like the 574 front end loader I just did. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4542/...f5bd303d_c.jpgunnamed (66) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr Here it is all cut away & ready for servo's to bolt into it. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4554/...7b9f285e_c.jpgunnamed (69) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr Those sidewalls look a lil thin for plastic. I think I'd better beef that up a bit with some metal! https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4561/...e495b5bc_c.jpgunnamed (70) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr I'm not sure yet if I'll paint the aluminum, or leave it unpainted. |
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That looks like it's coming along real well
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Yes sir, thanks to the pioneers before me that have done these, & posted pics/vids, it's moving along nicely. I REALLY wanted to use FULL size servo's in it, but they WON'T fit right. If I used the larger servo's, I would have had to cut the mounting brackets completely off one side, the side where they meet in the middle of the tires. I was thinking that the large servo's might could be a touch faster then the micro servo's I'm using. I know I was slightly disappointed with the speeds of the Bruder D5 conversion.
I've decided to leave the Aluminum unpainted. My lil custom addition to this build. A pic of everything mocked up. I just need to get them installed into this thang. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4543/...9a2f6e81_c.jpgunnamed (71) by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr |
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