Chaffee breakdown and build up time.

[Rubicon99]

Well it's been sitting long enough and I now finally cleared the work bench for the TongDe M24 Chaffee breakdown and build up. I had to really put some thought into what direction the build would go since SoCalBob set the bar so high with his beautiful Chaffee build. If you haven't see it take a look at his thread.

All right, first t thing I did was remove those god awful looking factory side skirts followed by replacing the barrel with a more accurate to scale 76mm one. I also replaced the TD recoil with one of the Mod B2 recoil units from RichJohnson Models & Stuff (photos of the B2 in my next post).

Side skirts removed.

New more correct scale 76mm barrel.

Show here the hideous factory recoil set up. This had to go too and was replaced with a super smooth running RJM&S Mod B2 (photos coming).

[RichJohnson]

So that’s what you wanted the 76mm barrel from my T23 turret kit for.
very nice adaptation and install.

[BonusJoe]

Very cool!

[Rubicon99]

Here is new Mod B2 recoil upgrade installed. I kept the TD servo elevation set up for now. Recoil now has a sharp impulse and is considerably smoother. I posted a portion of the test video on Instagram @ fsttanks if you are interested in seeing it work.

Not shown: The TD Chaffee like the M60 has the option to add bearing (same size used in the wheels) to the mantlet pivot points. I added these but forgot to take a photo prior to reassembly of the turret. Adding them really takes the loose play out of the mantlet and makes the turret feel substantial more solid.
Next up is adding the LegoDEI battle receiver so the Chaffee can be used at local club IR battle days.

[Rubicon99]

Track day.

The Chaffee tracks come rather loose and need to adjusted a bit tighter to run reliably outdoors.

Using the track adjustments system that the Chaffee has proved a bit interesting. TongDe has part of the cosmetic arm (lower part circled in red) situated in such a way the it can't be easily moved past the suspension arm of the road wheel just in front of it. This means you cannot move the idler enough to achieve a proper tensioning to keep the tracks on especially if you intend to use your Chaffee outdoors.

I had to cut the part circled in red off in order to be able to set the idler tensioning in the spot needed to achieve a proper track tightness(see upper circle ).

I will also say unlike many other tanks, it is easier to adjust the tracks on the Chaffee by taking them completely off, moving the idler and then reinstalling the tracks.

[Rubicon99]

I got all the all mechanical and electrical upgrades sorted out and next it's heading to the paint shop.

But before that I had to have some fun figuring out where to place all the crew "kit" and other accessories(no they are not glued on). For me this is the part I enjoy the most putting the puzzle pieces together. I literally can waist hours trying a hundred different configurations of kit and gear.

You might note the gray cargo boxes, these are something added to a number of Chaffees not necessarily American Chaffees. The were made for me by the company that makes parts for RichJohn Models & Stuff. In fact so were the spare wheel and scale barrel.

Nothing is painted yet, accessories are simply sitting on tank not glued on.

[rampage]

I'll be keeping a close eye on this. I really want one of these Chaffees but the fact that it looks like the suspension is constantly compressed and it's sitting on its bumpstops ruins the look of the tank to me. If the suspension can be 'raised' to have a stance that actually resembles a Chaffee with its torsion bars intact, I'll definitely be getting one.

[Rubicon99]

I'll be keeping a close eye on this. I really want one of these Chaffees but the fact that it looks like the suspension is constantly compressed and it's sitting on its bumpstops ruins the look of the tank to me. If the suspension can be 'raised' to have a stance that actually resembles a Chaffee with its torsion bars intact, I'll definitely be getting one.

The problem with looking compressed is that the return rollers are a bit larger then they should be.

The torsion bars can be easily adjusted to compensate and raise / increase ride height, but you will need to add a few track links in as raising the hips will also require longer tracks.

Shown in my photos are the metal tracks but I also have a set of plastic tracks which were lengthened for the very purpose I am talking about.

I am also working on having a set of more true to scal return roller made to help address the "compressed" look issues. But those will not be ready for testing a few weeks still.

[rampage]

Awesome. I'm glad I'm not the only one that saw it. I think you're right about the return rollers being a little bit too big and making the whole geometry look a little funny.

I'd be alright with adding a couple track links as necessary but another one of the hallmark aesthetics of the Chaffee was that its tracks always looked to be a little bit tight.



No slack between the return rollers and the idler wheel or the sprocket.

I know the full-scale tank had 75 track links per side, but I'm not sure if the track links on the model are to scale.

It's such a great looking tank. I'm also hoping that the low profile gearboxes in this might lend themselves to an M18. Because if they did an M18 I just wouldn't be able to resist...

[Rubicon99]

Well my M24 is just about finished. Here it is just out of "Show n Tell" fake weathering. Next off to getting some real world dirt and grim weathering on it then it will come alive.

It next off to the official test track to put it through some paces and see how it performs. I kinda excited to do well. Photos of the test track fun will be posted in a few day and videos will be available on my Instagram @ fasttanks.

[SoCalBobS]

Great look!

[Rubicon99]

Great look!

Yours still is the "cat's meow" and set the bar really really high. Best Chaffee build I have seen yet 👍👍

[Rubicon99]

Chaffee had its first official RC tank battle day in San Diego at the joint San Diego and SoCal tank clubs battle day.

i was really surprised with the Chaffee. It's preformed far above my expectations and was an absolute joy to drive and fight. Working in a team with another Chaffee the two were absolutely deadly.

The only issue I had was the servo recoil gear came loose. My fault for not tightening it sufficiently. Other than that the Chaffee ran flawless. I had been worried about the metal tracks and soft sand clogging them causing de-tracks (something seen on other Chaffees with metal tracks) but I had the track tension tight so the problem never even came close to happening.

Shown below with its team mate, SoCalBobs "Tiger" Chaffee. Sorry there are no action photos but I was having to much fun driving and battling to remember to take any.

[DavidN]

Here are the two pictures I have on the 2 M24 tanks at the event in San Diego 2/23/25.

[quitcherbitchen]

I just got back from Taiwan for my father in laws funeral. He was a Taiwanese war veteran and was interned at the most prestiges military cemetery just outside Taichung This Chaffee is parked outside of the mausoleum .

[Rubicon99]

Finally got around to working on fixing the Chaffees low squat rife height.

It's a simple process but takes time as you must remove both gearboxes to gain access to the front torsion bar mount. You must also adjust all the torsion otherwise the middle wheels will not be on sitting on the ground/tracks

After the adjustments have been made you will have to reset the idler tensioning.

Torsion bar and torsion bar locking mounts.


More accurate ride height although I still have to tweak the front torsion bars just a bit more as I slightly underestimate the weight of gearboxes pushing the front wheels down. Still it is much better looking then the stock ride height.

[761st]

Thanks to Rubicon and crew I was able to make short work of the suspension. Based on what I read there will be more tweaking. For now, I have a solid start. In spite of a windy, overcast 46 degree and falling temperatures, I was able to rattle can a primer and base coat. The entire lower hull section has been gutted. I think SoCalBobS mentioned possibly removing the smoke unit so as to accommodate a larger battery. That is on the board here. As well as installing magnets to the upper and lower hull. Time to stop for now because I should not have another whiskey/ coffee and I have to dig out the thermals. Forecast is for 25 degrees. WTH!!