Unofficial Coolbank M5A1 Stuart 1/16 Scale Light Tank Discussion Thread

[MaverickTank]

I know a trick for making leather straps and rifle slings that you might find handy. Nowadays you can get duct tape in just about any color you want, so I picked up a roll of brown and cut a strip of it and then folded it over so the two sticky sides are stuck together. Then with a good sharp blade and a metal straight edge I cut strips about 1/16 of an inch wide. They make great straps and slings.

Ill have to give that a try!

[RichJohnson]

Try it with green. I used flat dental floss and painted it green as almost all straps were OD canvas in wwii. The exception was often on canvas vehicle tops or accessories that were attached to a vehicle, they sometimes has leather straps sewn to them

[MaverickTank]

I was going for this...leather straps. I will try out using green for the other various tarps bits though.

[tank_me]

I know Rich knows quite a bit about WW2 stuff as he has some WW2 vehicles of his own.

When we restored "U-Go", they used leather straps. http://www.752tank.com/fsmmstuart.html They extensively researched that tank and it's history.

I know that they have used leather on some vehicles as they are still available as NOS WW2 surplus straps: https://www.hayesotoupalik.com/U.S.%...le%20Parts.htm

There were so many companies making stuff for the war effort that there was some variation in what was supplied.



Ordinance part numbers for the straps are here as a set of 5 for a Sherman:

https://powderriverordnance.com/shop/ordnance-materiel/ordnance-group-a-materiel/leather-strap/?v=f24485ae434a

[RichJohnson]

Yeah at that time, if the strap was permanently attached to the vehicle, then it was often leather, most others were canvas. The leather ones were wrapped through a footman loop welded to the vehicle and then stitched together to stay on the vehicle. Later on they were just wrapped through the footman loop and could be pulled out and leather slowly changed to canvas.

[MaverickTank]

That's cool info guys- thanks for that.

[MaverickTank]

So- where is the smoke supposed to exit? In the post showing the opened tank, I can see lines connecting to the bottom of the tank? There are no outlets on mine that I can find.

[tank_me]

Engine exhaust on a real Stuart is through the exhaust diffusers:

[MaverickTank]

Hmm. Maybe it's time to crack open this tank. Anyone have the smoke work?

[Chris curran]

I'm late to this party, but I'm so stoked that this tank exists. Got mine a week ago and went crazy with it.

[PanzerLoco]

As documented in earlier post by SoCalBobs.
The elevation of the main gun came back in mid-position after firing and releasing the control.
I like my riding my tank when theirs horn are up high !
In any way shape of form ; any ideas/suggestions to fix this? (beside swithing electronic)
I though at some point using glue on the gun mantlet.
Thank You RC tank Community !!

[Max-U52]

Hmm. Maybe it's time to crack open this tank. Anyone have the smoke work?

Mine isn't working either so please post your results.

[Max-U52]

As documented in earlier post by SoCalBobs.
The elevation of the main gun came back in mid-position after firing and releasing the control.
I like my riding my tank when theirs horn are up high !
In any way shape of form ; any ideas/suggestions to fix this? (beside swithing electronic)
I though at some point using glue on the gun mantlet.
Thank You RC tank Community !!

RC tanks Australia used to have a little ad on board that would fix this problem and leave the main gun in whatever position you want to leave it in. I'm not sure it would work with a coolbank tank or if they even still make it but I think I'll have to look into that. I like to keep the main gun in a slightly depressed position but that's just a personal preference.

[MaverickTank]

Well, I oopsed and posted my comment in the M5 Stuart thread instead of this one. So, rinse and repeat.

Anyone have transmitter issues? The connection intermittently cuts out even at short distances.

Beyond that, I am very impressed and am definitely considering purchasing other Coolbank models.

[Sureshot]

I opened up my M5a1 today to see if I could figure out why the cannon elevation quit working and also to see what was up with the smoke unit.
As far as the elevation goes, I traced and unplugged and reconnected wires and never did get it to work. There is a circuit board in the turret that controls the elevation,recoil and muzzle flash that is connected to the main board so hard to tell if it is the turret board or the main board. It could also be the TX but I doubt it. I ordered a new main board to try from BG so will see in a month or so when it arrives.
The smoke unit functions fine but the voltage at the heater is only 2.6v so it is just not producing enough heat to vaporize the smoke oil.
I think the vape pens are 3.7v and the Heng Long units are more than that but didn't have one open to check.
Other than that I really like the tank. Sound needs to be louder but the speaker is so tiny not sure if that is possible. I had no trouble driving it in a fairly scale manner in forward but reverse is too jumpy and fast. It drives surprisingly well over rough ground and small hills.
While I had the tracks off I took a link out of each side and it looks and drives better.
Not a lot of spare parts available yet but we'll see what happens in the future. Maybe Motion will become a Coolbank dealer?

Steve 😀

[MaverickTank]

I opened up my M5a1 today to see if I could figure out why the cannon elevation quit working and also to see what was up with the smoke unit.
As far as the elevation goes, I traced and unplugged and reconnected wires and never did get it to work. There is a circuit board in the turret that controls the elevation,recoil and muzzle flash that is connected to the main board so hard to tell if it is the turret board or the main board. It could also be the TX but I doubt it. I ordered a new main board to try from BG so will see in a month or so when it arrives.
The smoke unit functions fine but the voltage at the heater is only 2.6v so it is just not producing enough heat to vaporize the smoke oil.
I think the vape pens are 3.7v and the Heng Long units are more than that but didn't have one open to check.
Other than that I really like the tank. Sound needs to be louder but the speaker is so tiny not sure if that is possible. I had no trouble driving it in a fairly scale manner in forward but reverse is too jumpy and fast. It drives surprisingly well over rough ground and small hills.
While I had the tracks off I took a link out of each side and it looks and drives better.
Not a lot of spare parts available yet but we'll see what happens in the future. Maybe Motion will become a Coolbank dealer?

Steve 😀

Where do the smoker lines exit the hull?

[Sureshot]

There are 2 small holes just above the exhaust diffusers. Hard to see after the diffusers are in place.

Steve. 😀

[MaverickTank]

There are 2 small holes just above the exhaust diffusers. Hard to see after the diffusers are in place.

Steve. 😀

Thanks!!!

[Milspec1]

I have 4 Stuart's now and none of the smokers work.

[Milspec1]

They make noise but no smoke