Sherman M4A3E8 76(w) HVSS Prototype

[Armortek]

Some progress on the Sherman prototype. Parts are all coming together nicely - some have veeeery long run times on the machines.

[Jerry Carducci]

Our recommended radio of choice going forwards will be the Taranis x9d plus 2019
https://www.frsky-rc.com/product/taranis-x9d-plus-2019/

Umm.... Knowledge Base anyone? The X9D is a great radio for our models but the scope for screwing up OpenTx is considerable unless there's some simple guidance.

I've been experimenting, bench testing with my older Taranis (pre-2019) x9d to control the guts of my M3 Lee.

I'm using:

-2018 Taranis Plus x9d Tx ( using OpenTx 2.3)
-external XJT Tx module
-X8R receiver
-24v 24Ah LiFePo

I'm a old Mode 2 Tx user (since my earliest Futaba days in the 70's) setting defaults as AETR with my tank drive controls on the left stick- throttle and steering. I want to use the left stick for forward/ reverse and steering; it's how I've set up every tank I have.

I'm using Open TX Companion on a Win10 desktop to configure the Tx and model profile(s) via USB connection for this testing.

Modules I've attached so far are motion and sound with the focus of my tests being controlling the L/R drive motors and two geared motors
for turret functions. So far all is well mixing Rudder and throttle except some odd performance near neutral for main drive controls- one motor
insists on continuing running ever so slowly. I think I may have to implement some sort of compensating offset on the output definition or some sort of curve. Still fiddling with that. Other controls seem normal including fail safe settings (set to zero for channels 1-16)- I tested it by shutting down the transmitter with the receiver and modules still powered up and all motors came to a stop ( except for the rogue creeping mentioned above!).

I think that's about it. If someone has a profile they like that works well I'd appreciate comparing notes regarding your settings. If anyone wants a copy of mine I'm sure I could send a zipped backup of my definition as it is so far.

Jerry

[Stephen White]

Jerry, great stuff. In order not to hijack this Sherman thread, I’ve copied your post to a new OpenTx thread in the Knowledge Base:

viewtopic.php?f=33&t=8585

Stephen

[Roy Beukeveld]

Very impressive model! I really love the volute spring bogies, they look absolutely amazing

[Armortek]

A few more prototype photos to see us into the weekend.

[William Vallejo]

Talk about the quintessential torture master. You do know how to churn the anticipation.

[William Vallejo]

Very impressive model! I really love the volute spring bogies, they look absolutely amazing

I must agree. Not only was the HVSS a great improvement, I think it’s visually more pleasing to the eye.

[Armortek]

Some more pictures of the prototype. We ill swap out the hex heads on the light guards to button heads to make them a bit more subtle.

Tank looks so much better with the tracks on - although the tracks are not on right as the sprocket is loose and some of the rubber tyres are not on the model.

Shipping is currently looking like it will be end of May/ Early June. We are very much in the hands of suppliers at this stage - all of the machining that we can do will be finished next week - we then need to sit pretty and wait for the tracks, castings and tyres ... and the driven gear which is now 8 weeks overdue

Still - that will give us plenty of time to test out the new elevation mechanism for this model.

[Tim Page]

That is really coming together nicely.
It is a shame that the headlight guards have to be bolted in place when they were welded on the original tanks.

Could you not have the legs locating into holes and then epoxy in place.
This would look a lot more realistic and would still be secure.

So far everything else looks spot on and really well detailed.

Tim

[William Vallejo]

That is really coming together nicely.
It is a shame that the headlight guards have to be bolted in place when they were welded on the original tanks.

Could you not have the legs locating into holes and then epoxy in place.
This would look a lot more realistic and would still be secure.

So far everything else looks spot on and really well detailed.

Tim

A very good precision welder could possibly accomplish this.

[William Vallejo]

That is really coming together nicely.
It is a shame that the headlight guards have to be bolted in place when they were welded on the original tanks.

Could you not have the legs locating into holes and then epoxy in place.
This would look a lot more realistic and would still be secure.

So far everything else looks spot on and really well detailed.

Tim

A very good precision welder could possibly accomplish this.

Never mind. It appears to me that the light guards are steel.