Rescued Abrams build

[Handy Lance]

I was able to remove 4-5 mm of deflection from each wheel once assembled on the swing arms. That’s 8-10mm total from only the wheels. I will shim the arms for even more precision as well.

each wheel needed an m5x8 by . 25mm shim
some needed an additional, .13mm
tensioners needed a .5 mm shim


additionally I found a slightly thicker m3 x 14mm screw to replace the silly 8mm oem screws. The new ones fully fill the axle shaft. This creates a much stronger shaft than the stock. Stock had a 5mm section only supported by the alloy axle shaft now the screw fills the whole shaft.

you can see where I machined off the casting burrs on the axle shafts. This allows proper shimming without drag from the casting rubbing on the shims. Super smooth.

[Handy Lance]

Do the TM motors come with the pinion gear attached? Is it something the end user has to pressure fit or attach using a locking screw? If screw does the motor shaft has a flat spot for the screw to mount squarely against?

I had to swap. I used a pinion puller then hot and direct heat and a vise as a press. As long as you only press on shaft and pinion and not housing and keep it straight a vise works great. I used the transmission housing as the guide for pinion depth.

The Holmes do have a flat grind on shaft for a grub screw, I didn’t want to source 2 new pinions. The HL pinions are plenty tight on the Holmes shafts.

[Rubicon99]

https://youtube.com/shorts/IKdnGrBRq...wOVJOknEaE624f

here’s a quick little video I shot to show the difference of the two motors

Do the TM motors come with the pinion gear attached? Is it something the end user has to pressure fit or attach using a locking screw? If screw does the motor shaft has a flat spot for the screw to mount squarely against?

[Handy Lance]

https://youtube.com/shorts/IKdnGrBRqVU?si=w0wOVJOknEaE624f

here’s a quick little video I shot to show the difference of the two motors

[Handy Lance]

Getting the gear boxes cleaned, shimmed, and relubed, and my Holmes hobbies torque master 380 motors (rated for 11.1v) installed. Shimmed them trannys like I would an airsoft gearbox. They were pretty dirty inside and they use a soul robbing grease that is sparsely applied. I make better. Magnalube. Great stuff

I can’t describe the improvement in quality from ANY Heng Long motor. You can feel it in the motor. Dual Ball bearing and neodymium magnets. 18$ each. These are top off the line RC crawler motors. I use Holmes Hobbies in most my trucks. They also make awesome servos.

here’s my example

the stock Heng Long motor (390) won’t even turn over with a bare shaft on a AA battery

the Holmes Hobby turns the entire transmission on 1 AA with power to spare. Don’t believe me… try some

[Handy Lance]

I couldn’t resist one more photo😂
some of these scale details I found are pretty fun

trash bags I made
MREs Spec ops
ruck sack EBay

[Handy Lance]

Mocking up scale details getting ready for final paint.

[Handy Lance]

My tension system is top notch. I put so much test strain on it, the old ones would have just ripped out. Not a mm of movement. Some red loctite and no loosening tensioner on my watch.

Storage/armor baskets primed and ready to paint. Spent a bit of time fitting acrylic windows into cupola and drivers hatch.

A hilarious bonus, I’m headed to prime my wheels and whined as I picked up the bag full of raw metal wheels with immovable rubber tires. I laughed and noticed as I was disassembling the tank I had cut myself masks for all the wheels!!!! Past Lance was a good dude😂

I'm loving this build.

cheers!!!

[Handy Lance]

Hinged the barrel elevation shroud. It is going to work so great. Imbedded magnet holds it down and lets it slide, left it raw so you could see the trimmed down du-bro hinges. Another cool detail left out of both HL RC and Trumpeter kit.
There’s a slightly larger magnet under turret to allow the small magnet to slide without losing contact.

[Handy Lance]

More kit pieces fitted on the HL turret👍🏻

I have to make the doors open!

[Handy Lance]

I assume you have this for placement of the anti-slip coating?

more or less👍🏻
copying the Trumpeter kit

[tank_me]

I assume you have this for placement of the anti-slip coating?

[Handy Lance]

Double post
Sooooooo…
workbench👍🏻

[Handy Lance]

Got one side tow cable mounted. Once primed and painted it’s going to be so cool. Although tiny looking, Cable anchors will “grow” with finishing. Contrasting with the black cable perfectly. Cable will benefit from being removable, another great scale feature lacking in both the Trumpeter kit and Heng Long tank.
I had to put a metal barrel on the trumpeter 7.62 MG
music wire with heat shrink for flash suppressor, pin drilled into kit gun. It’s strong now, the kit barrel was going to break for sure during any use.

🍻

[Handy Lance]

Anti slip coating will add a really nice texture to the smooth HL factory finish.

light sand
mask
thinned gloss acrylic
tap to tinkle home made sieved additive on top
let dry for 3-5 minutes
turn model on side and tap off excess (gently )
let dry
Top coat with thinned gloss
let dry
lightly sand to remove high particles and uniform texture
prime
paint

12 steps

12 panels
😂🤣😂🤣

[Handy Lance]

I got the backend, looking really good! Lots of great details instead of some simple moldings
don’t worry about the shiny. It’ll get a coat of matte finish. The difference is laughable. I put the oem backend on the kit😂😂

I hacked up some trumpeter photo etched details. We will see😮💨

[Handy Lance]

Oh man it’s behind is lookin good 👍🏻 I basically used the HL back as a frame to mount all the Static parts. I used thick CA with acceleration spray to attach polystyrene to the abs. Fills gaps and sands ok.
nerve wracking but I feel like the end product may be worth every drop of blood

[Handy Lance]

Painting wheels. Whew tedious as Hell! I had to make a wheel helper for the spray booth (it holds an entire tanks set of wheels) . That’s my custom made lexan spray booth with a down draft table🥰 8 inch inline fan into a 24 inch carbon filter. I needed to spray indoors year round.

I was able to neatly fit the Trumpeter back end on. It will be more difficult to put the HL backend on the Static tank🤣I will be running smoke through it like others have👍🏻diffused on start up only .

[Handy Lance]

I found some 6mm plugs that work perfect for the remaining screw holes. Will help keep gunk out.

Using the Trumpeter kit parts to scale out the RC tank is fun. Made some super cool tow cables with some stainless steel multi strand and the tow cable ends from the model kit. Looks so much better and will weather after paint nicely.

I’m getting the 2 tanks to an equal completion. It takes twice as long.

working on trumpeter headlight conversion for the Heng long , fairly involved stuff

stay tuned!

[Handy Lance]

aluminum kid plate and stainless steel Hot Racing tow anchors in. Aluminum should scratch up perfectly😂 super protective. Anchors aren’t quite scale, but some grinding will help. They are threaded into the skid and plastic epoxy behind so they can actually pull stuff out.
Some more super cool Spec ops stuff, handles instead of the molded nubs we are given👍🏻

cheers everyone