Heng Long M4A3>M10>M36 conversion

[Delta_19]

Well I got a 3d printer 7 months ago and I guess its time to start making tank things, so why not jump in to the deep end!

Like they say go "big or go home."

Sadly I didnt take to many screenshots of the 3D process so this is all you really get..



Started off with the hull of course.

After some test prints (thank god filaments cheap) I ended up changing something around and ended with this as my final model.



Then I printed the hull, the engine deck and rear plate, glued it all up and thank the nine it fits.



Now I was happy with this as a working prototype so I moved on to the turret and, thats where the title came from.

For those of you familiar with the M10, M10A1 and, M36 you'll notice the welded travel lock on the rear deck. Yes this started off as an M10A1 but IDK if I have inhaled too much JP8+100 or if I'm just special needs, I found the M10 turret to hard to model and decided on the M36.

So this became an M36, might change the travel lock might keep it, some early WW2 M36's did have the OG M10 travel lock.

So after a week or two of trial and error and a whole lot of filament (REALLY THANK GOD ITS CHEAP) I had a working model



And then I printed it all out, glued it together, made a few more makeshift prints to get motors in place.


And now we're here

[quitcherbitchen]

Very nice.

[Delta_19]

Mud flaps printed, body primed and sanded and, a few minor things glued on.

[quitcherbitchen]

what kind of filament?

[Delta_19]

what kind of filament?

anycubic pla

[tank_me]

anycubic pla

Don't leave it in the hot sun too long. It won't melt, but it will sag. My SU-152 casemate and rear deck in PLA did just that. I print in PETG or ASA for tank parts.

Derek

[Delta_19]

Don't leave it in the hot sun too long. It won't melt, but it will sag. My SU-152 casemate and rear deck in PLA did just that. I print in PETG or ASA for tank parts.

Derek

i have yet to have that problem and i've printed a few dash rabbits for people

[Delta_19]

[Delta_19]

Crap, been a while

So life got in the way but I'm back now.


So when we last left off I had a working prototype. Hull look really good in my opinion but the turret was just the basic shape so i could see that everything worked.

Well no more! I have gone over the turret and reworked it so I'll looks a little better and closer to the shape of the m36.

Still more to do but so far this works. Next will be cleaning up the hull files so that everything is easy to assemble and then i can look at uploading the files

[ccarley]

Awesome work, Delta_19. For me the printing is the easy part, modeling in CAD is the tough part! Looks great though and looking forward to seeing progress.

Clay

[ArmorBolt]

That's awesome Delta. I plan to save up for a 3D printer. I guess if you are into tanker sooner or later need a 3D printer.

Is that a Creality, there's are so many Creality model.. which one would you or any in the tank community recommend (that's reasonable price hehe..). Thanks.

[Delta_19]

That's awesome Delta. I plan to save up for a 3D printer. I guess if you are into tanker sooner or later need a 3D printer.

Is that a Creality, there's are so many Creality model.. which one would you or any in the tank community recommend (that's reasonable price hehe..). Thanks.

ender 3 S1, honestly unless you like to tinker i wouldnt suggest a creality, but outside of creality i havent tried anything else

[tank_me]

My first printer was a Qidi iMates and although way more expensive than an Ender, it was a great machine and I've kept it around even though I have a Bambu X1 Carbon. The iMates is completely enclosed and with a $100 upgrade can do Nylon and Poly Carbonate. Most Qidi printers are really large, but there might be one for sale on Craigslist or FB Marketplace in your area.

[Delta_19]

Heard good things about the carbon.

[tank_me]

Oh, it prints really fast. I've printed so many tanks now it's not even funny. I have projects for years at this point. I have over 900 hours of print time on the X1C. In that time I've printed at a minimum the hulls and turrets for an IS-4, a Comet, an M113, an M60, a Hellcat, an E100, and a BMP-1. I even printed about 80% of a 1/10 Jagdtiger lower hull. I need to get my resin printer running to finish printing all the detail parts from those tanks.

[Delta_19]

Oh, it prints really fast. I've printed so many tanks now it's not even funny. I have projects for years at this point. I have over 900 hours of print time on the X1C. In that time I've printed at a minimum the hulls and turrets for an IS-4, a Comet, an M113, an M60, a Hellcat, an E100, and a BMP-1. I even printed about 80% of a 1/10 Jagdtiger lower hull. I need to get my resin printer running to finish printing all the detail parts from those tanks.

I want a resin for the tow hooks and small details. Would really make this m36 pop

[Delta_19]

Little update, added a gun sight hole to the mantlet for the heng long ir bulb.

Next is making a spot for the receiver. Haven't decided if I'll put it on a stick or cut a spot for it in the ammo bustle

[Delta_19]

The ammo bustle is done and now has ir support.

[ArmorBolt]

Hi Delta_19, looks good. Did you buy the STL or you design it yourself. Thanks.

[Delta_19]

As per the first post everything that is 3d printed was designed by me using blender.