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12-17-2009, 01:38 PM | #1 |
Newbie Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: bangkok thailand
Posts: 40
| M26 Tank Recovery Vehicle, kinda ridiculous.
Well I've always wanted a scaler but wanted something different. I also wanted great detail which all the toy bodies can't provide. First I got a 1/35 Tamiya Steyr 1500, some WW2 German Jeep-like thing. Although the wheelbase isn't too far off, it's just too narrow and has tiny wheelwells. Unsatisfied, I got this 1/35 Tamiya M26 truck that is used to recover tanks from battle. The wheelwell and width fit better to the Losi but I had to modify it considerably to clear the Losi transmission and chop an inch off the frame so the rear overhang was minimized. It took 4 days to make this kit and fit it to the Losi. I suppose it's more of a Mad Max vehicle now since the tall proportions make it look goofy but I had to keep the body high to allow full articulation. I placed a tire from the model kit next to the Losi so you can see it's not too far off, but I'd guess based on the height of the figure the tire size on the Losi would be more like 6 feet tall in real life at 1/35 scale. Still, if Mad Max drove it he could just run over Tina Turner and the entire Thunderdome. Naturally it doesn't crawl as well with the top being so heavy, but I'm going to add some weight in the wheels to hopefully make it somewhat useable. I guess in the end it will make a nice static model. Tamiya makes the best armor kits. I added nothing but glue and paint so the kit came with the metal parts, chains, string, and hoses you see here. I also saw a Tamiya 1/35 Hummer that looked a better fit than the Steyr. I may make one of them next. Last edited by takman; 12-17-2009 at 01:47 PM. |
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12-17-2009, 01:45 PM | #2 |
Rock Crawler Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Calgary Crawlers, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 617
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Definitely too top heavy for competitive crawling but it looks really cool. Are the towing parts functioning or just for looks? It'd be awesome to toss a couple winchs/servos in the and make it all run from the remote.....
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12-17-2009, 01:54 PM | #3 | |
Newbie Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: bangkok thailand
Posts: 40
| Quote:
This one has wobbly wheels so it's just for fun scaler stuff. The winch spools do spin on this kit, but you'd really have to replace everything with metal to make them fully functional. I think it could be done, but that's for someone else to tackle. The M26 also has a winch under the front bumper. | |
12-17-2009, 01:59 PM | #4 |
Rock Crawler Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tuscaloosa
Posts: 855
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That thing looks totally wicked. Great job Taking the springs off of the shocks will help get the weight a little lower.
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12-17-2009, 02:09 PM | #5 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Martinsburg WV
Posts: 2,781
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If you could somehow lower everything, body and suspension, it would be really cool looking. Nice job on the paint and weathering, looks excellent... |
12-17-2009, 02:37 PM | #6 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Memphis
Posts: 4,786
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very cool!
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12-17-2009, 06:16 PM | #7 |
Rock Stacker Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: meriden, ct
Posts: 77
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Definitely lower it
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12-18-2009, 11:11 AM | #8 |
Newbie Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: lamar
Posts: 33
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or make it a actual scaler, using the frame from that model. which would make it really cool. basicly, you have a scale body sitting on a comp chassis.
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12-20-2009, 03:38 PM | #9 |
Newbie Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: bangkok thailand
Posts: 40
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Thanks for the input guys. The height of the body was driving me nuts so I managed to dig out a little more of the plastic model to get the body down as much as possible. Then I dropped the suspension to droop with rubber bands in the back. The only way I could lower the body more is to move the electronics up into the model kit, but then it would be even more top heavy. I'm keeping the Losi independent of the model kit so I can keep its full wheel travel and swap out scale bodies later on. I added lots of steel airsoft BBs in the tires (40 in each front and 20 in each rear) so I could counter all the weight up top. It actually crawls pretty well but my battery life will be shorter. I'm quite happy with it's crawling ability so I guess this is as good as it's gonna get. |
12-20-2009, 03:44 PM | #10 |
Rock Crawler Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Rock-throwing country
Posts: 847
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Looks a lot better lowered Great build you've got going!
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12-20-2009, 09:18 PM | #11 |
Quarry Creeper Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Long Island
Posts: 262
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Looks a whole lot better lowered, nice job |
12-21-2009, 08:32 AM | #12 |
Newbie Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: USA
Posts: 37
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That looks ridiculously awesome man, great job!
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12-21-2009, 09:07 AM | #13 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Scumrise, Flooriduh
Posts: 5,181
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looks much better lowered! the detail work is phenomenal |
12-21-2009, 09:07 AM | #14 |
Rock Crawler Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tuscaloosa
Posts: 855
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Looks better. That is a wicked, unique little rig. |
12-21-2009, 01:27 PM | #15 |
Rock Crawler Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Clemente, CA.
Posts: 531
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That thing turned out pretty cool, good job on the detailing
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12-21-2009, 04:25 PM | #16 |
Pebble Pounder Join Date: May 2007 Location: No Where
Posts: 164
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Beautiful!!! I looked at those at hobby lobby. Didnthave the cash to get one and I was worried the scale would be too small but that looks great! Cheers man. |
12-21-2009, 09:03 PM | #17 |
Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Indy
Posts: 120
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Looks pretty cool! Much better than the first mockup, but I'd still try to drop the body a bit more onto the chassis though. |
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