Has anyone ever used stepper motors or other such upgrades on a Walker Bulldog?

[EDude7779]

I've been building models of all kinds for over 30 years - I was thinking of using the forward/reverse signal from the tank og controller and going through possibly an L298N (possibly an Arduino/Teensy in between) I have tons of small steppers that will work. I'm currently awaiting parts to upgrade the plastic gearing to steel and metal tracks/idlers/sprockets so I was only wondering - sorry if this has been asked before it's my first time posting here. Thanks in advance

[Rubicon99]

I've been building models of all kinds for over 30 years - I was thinking of using the forward/reverse signal from the tank og controller and going through possibly an L298N (possibly an Arduino/Teensy in between) I have tons of small steppers that will work. I'm currently awaiting parts to upgrade the plastic gearing to steel and metal tracks/idlers/sprockets so I was only wondering - sorry if this has been asked before it's my first time posting here. Thanks in advance

What performance gains are you trying achieve with those motors? There are simpler ways of adding torque and speed not to mention different transmissions you can install in your tank that will also enhance its drivability.

The M41 is one of the most widely modified tanks so you have to be careful what you wish for with it because someone has done it.

[keilau]

I've been building models of all kinds for over 30 years - I was thinking of using the forward/reverse signal from the tank og controller and going through possibly an L298N (possibly an Arduino/Teensy in between) I have tons of small steppers that will work. I'm currently awaiting parts to upgrade the plastic gearing to steel and metal tracks/idlers/sprockets so I was only wondering - sorry if this has been asked before it's my first time posting here. Thanks in advance

I am very confused by your proposal. The RC tank needs proportional speed control to drive smoothly. I thought that a step motor is designed for rotational step control. How do you plan to adapt the sprocket to your steppers?

[EDude7779]

I'm an electrical engineer and have been modifying things of this nature for quite some time - what I'm going for is smoother accel/decel - as well as longevity of each motor - of course this will require some coding in such a device like an external MCU - the signal coming from the heng long controller is basically pure DC +/- Voltage - so there is really no ramp up or down without such a device. So in the code i can take this and depending on the associated sound I can through trial and error get it to precisely manipulate each movement. Using my oscilloscope I've also been able to tell when a sound is sent to the corresponding speaker for each action - so really I'm just asking if anyone has ever done this type of modification so I do not reinvent the wheel so to speak - I've also been able to capture the clock signal of the heng long controller so using the SCL and SDA lines it could possibly be flashed to it as well.

[keilau]

I'm an electrical engineer and have been modifying things of this nature for quite some time - what I'm going for is smoother accel/decel - as well as longevity of each motor - of course this will require some coding in such a device like an external MCU - the signal coming from the heng long controller is basically pure DC +/- Voltage - so there is really no ramp up or down without such a device. So in the code i can take this and depending on the associated sound I can through trial and error get it to precisely manipulate each movement. Using my oscilloscope I've also been able to tell when a sound is sent to the corresponding speaker for each action - so really I'm just asking if anyone has ever done this type of modification so I do not reinvent the wheel so to speak - I've also been able to capture the clock signal of the heng long controller so using the SCL and SDA lines it could possibly be flashed to it as well.

We have been using ESC in RC tanks for many years. I do not understand what you are trying to accomplish with steppers. However, I will be very interested in your one of a kind customization and how it compares to an general purpose ESC.

[RichJohnson]

I think you are reinventing the wheel here.
There are really good transmissions and motors available that drop right in as well as an array of tank control boards and radios.

[EDude7779]

I think you are reinventing the wheel here.
There are really good transmissions and motors available that drop right in as well as an array of tank control boards and radios.

I've gotten the upgraded steel transmission, steel idlers, springs, tracks etc - I was more or less just wondering if anyone had ever tried it before and if so, how did they go about it. You guys are much more experienced than I am with this particular model so I was just wondering. I know a brushed ESC can be used with 380 motors it's just I've never had the greatest luck or had one to last very long, especially with the amount of torque necessary after the weight of all this is added. Over the years I have, for lack of a better word, collected brushed, brushless and small steppers - either way, if I do I'll post pictures here. Thanks for your reply, JS

[Rubicon99]

I've gotten the upgraded steel transmission, steel idlers, springs, tracks etc - I was more or less just wondering if anyone had ever tried it before and if so, how did they go about it. You guys are much more experienced than I am with this particular model so I was just wondering. I know a brushed ESC can be used with 380 motors it's just I've never had the greatest luck or had one to last very long, especially with the amount of torque necessary after the weight of all this is added. Over the years I have, for lack of a better word, collected brushed, brushless and small steppers - either way, if I do I'll post pictures here. Thanks for your reply, JS

Half the fun of RC tanks is experimenting with them when you first start down the learning path. Sometimes people find new improvements even on well tried and true tanks like the M41. Heck I did many years ago when I was playing around with sprockets and tracks. I discovered that you can run Pershing sprockets and tracks and Abrams sprockets and tracks on the M41 and vice versa (you have to reduce the number of links of course). VERY few people even tried different sprocket and track combinations back "in the day". What came of sprocket/track swapping was now the M41s had fewer "de tracking" issues and the ability to run a wider variety of aftermarket tracks.

So go ahead and have fun experimenting. You just might find something new we can all benefit from.

[keilau]

I've gotten the upgraded steel transmission, steel idlers, springs, tracks etc - I was more or less just wondering if anyone had ever tried it before and if so, how did they go about it. You guys are much more experienced than I am with this particular model so I was just wondering. I know a brushed ESC can be used with 380 motors it's just I've never had the greatest luck or had one to last very long, especially with the amount of torque necessary after the weight of all this is added. Over the years I have, for lack of a better word, collected brushed, brushless and small steppers - either way, if I do I'll post pictures here. Thanks for your reply, JS

The Mabuchi 380 series is one of the engineering marvel that was credited with revolutionizing the automobile industry making cars more reliable. The Mabuchi motor is a fallout from the NASA space programs in the 1960's. However, the knockoff 380 motor that HL use on their RC tank or those you purchase at ebay are completely different from the genuine Mabuchi 380. When I need a 380, I purchase a Tamiya standard 380 from the Tamiya shop. It seems to be the most easily obtainable genuine Mabuchi 380. In most cases, I replace the HL grey 380 with a quality brand 390. I do not have the Walker Bulldog and don't know if it can accept 390 motors.

The Heng Long radio, both 6.0 and 7.0, have good linear ESC in the MFU receiver for realistic driving. The 6.0 lacks some secondary function of the TK7.0, but the driving quality is adequate. The HL steel gearbox and metal track are poor in quality and should be replaced. Some of the more senior forum members did very complicated upgrades. I do the beginner's upgrades. You can find some example of what I did in this Leo2A6 thread.

https://www.hobbysquawk.com/forum/rc-cars-tanks-trucks-and-more/rc-tanks/219818-discussion-thread-heng-long-1-16-leopard-2a6-modern-german-mbt/page2

[Max-U52]

The Bulldog is a great little tank (even being out of scale) and it was one of my first. I've done a bit of work to it and have more to do, I have all the stuff, metal roadwheels, suspension, etc, and I've already done all that to my Pershing, but I'm nowhere even close to being as advanced as you are with electronics so I kept things simple. Taigen black steel ball bearing v2 gear boxes in what they call 3:1 H/L give me a scale speed of just over 30 mph, and it uses the cheapest clark tk20 (on 2s lipo) and the $20 Hobby King T6 tx. Runs great and it's still one of my favorites. I built an alternate upper hull for it so it's kind of two tanks in one. These videos are old but they show both versions and they're not too long. I really like the sounds in the clark, especially engine start up and the .50 cal. You might find them amusing and I'll be watching this thread, looking forward to whatever mods you decide on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-H_hqIVYbQ&t=41s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r9bhTFPygY

[EDude7779]

Half the fun of RC tanks is experimenting with them when you first start down the learning path. Sometimes people find new improvements even on well tried and true tanks like the M41. Heck I did many years ago when I was playing around with sprockets and tracks. I discovered that you can run Pershing sprockets and tracks and Abrams sprockets and tracks on the M41 and vice versa (you have to reduce the number of links of course). VERY few people even tried different sprocket and track combinations back "in the day". What came of sprocket/track swapping was now the M41s had fewer "de tracking" issues and the ability to run a wider variety of aftermarket tracks.

So go ahead and have fun experimenting. You just might find something new we can all benefit from.

Thank you for your kind words - although I haven't had an HL Tank, my first nitro RC was a Kyosho MK2 in the very early 90's (showing my age here lol) and from there I've just about built all kinds of RC vehicles, air and surface. Scratch built and programmed several using structural components from Servo City with something like an Arduino or Raspberry Pi. I was the kid who took all my toys apart so I had to learn how they went back together (eventually:) I've just about got all of the signaling of the stock HL controller saved on my scope - so my next step is to pull the program but I just have to be sure I've got all my ducks in a row. One thing that was odd is that one of the MOSFETs on the motor output was burned out on arrival - I repaired it but that is basically what got me to thinking of what else can be done. Anyway, again thanks to everyone for any and all help, it is much appreciated, JS

[EDude7779]

The Mabuchi 380 series is one of the engineering marvel that was credited with revolutionizing the automobile industry making cars more reliable. The Mabuchi motor is a fallout from the NASA space programs in the 1960's. However, the knockoff 380 motor that HL use on their RC tank or those you purchase at ebay are completely different from the genuine Mabuchi 380. When I need a 380, I purchase a Tamiya standard 380 from the Tamiya shop. It seems to be the most easily obtainable genuine Mabuchi 380. In most cases, I replace the HL grey 380 with a quality brand 390. I do not have the Walker Bulldog and don't know if it can accept 390 motors.

The Heng Long radio, both 6.0 and 7.0, have good linear ESC in the MFU receiver for realistic driving. The 6.0 lacks some secondary function of the TK7.0, but the driving quality is adequate. The HL steel gearbox and metal track are poor in quality and should be replaced. Some of the more senior forum members did very complicated upgrades. I do the beginner's upgrades. You can find some example of what I did in this Leo2A6 thread.
https://www.hobbysquawk.com/forum/rc...rman-mbt/page2

Thank you for this, I will definitely go through it in detail, I really appreciate it, JS