Dogs fed, woodstove lit, coffee brewed and Kenny G on the box (iPhone). While I wait for my first O-rders to arrive at the hobby shop, I am going to try converting one of my old RC tanks into an operating RC crane for loading and unloading the wheels from my first-acquisition 1991 Lionel wheel car. I am taking two tanks apart so I have lots of spare components.
So starting with the turret/ gun barrel and going counterclockwise we have lots of functionality: IR transmitter in the gun barrel, IR sensor, barrel elevation gears, turret asimuthal rotation motor, two main track driving motors, four headlight/taillight LEDs, power LED, battery leads and on/off switch, sound effects 8 ohm speaker, antenna, crystal and frequency board, main turret rotation gear, and gun barrel elevation gearbox.
Converting a Sherman tank into a crane? Interesting.
Don't forget to put "Patton Contracting" on the side when you're done!
Firelock76 Don't forget to put "Patton Contracting" on the side when you're done!
I like that. Maybe just a shorter version - GP Inc. lol
Testing all the circuitry by inserting breadboard between the tank's main board and all the components. Power, switch and associated LED test ok. speaker roared to life!
Please excuse a little digression on the Patton comment:
My father used to talk about Patton. As an Air Corps pilot, he was loaned to Patton while he was training his tankers before going overseas. Patton had the clever idea for the time of directing them by radio from a C-47 flown by my father.
My father said that he was a completely different person when on and off the radio. He turned off the "blood and guts" when talking to the aircrew, who didn't report to him and whom he had no need to impress. He himself confirmed that it was all an act:
"When I want my men to remember something important, to really make it stick, I give it to them double dirty. It may not sound nice to some bunch of little old ladies at an afternoon tea party, but it helps my soldiers to remember."
In fact, he had a very unintimidating high-pitched voice--nothing like George C. Scott--recordings of which are on the Internet.
He loved flying. He bought a plane, but could never get the hang of piloting, according to my father. He asked my father to sell it for him when he had to leave.
Bob Nelson
Nice story about Patton Bob. Thanks for sharing
This is the tank outside the military base where I grew up in Petawawa, Ontario. It's still there on display. I used to climb on it in the 60s.
Great Patton story Bob! Patton had a lot of respect for combat aircrews, even decorating a B-17 crew that bailed out over the Third Army's zone with Bronze Stars.
On their return to Britain the crew was told the Bronze Star was a Ground Forces medal, Air Force personnel weren't eligable for them, (The Air Force equivalent was the Air Medal) and as such they had to turn them in. "Oh yeah?" said one of the gunners, "General Patton gave us these medals, and if we're not supposed to have 'em you tell him!"
That was the end of that!
Want to hear what the real General Patton sounded like? Prepare to be shocked.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9DpKDwCJcM
At the time they were casting the movie "Patton" in 1969 the filmakers were well aware of what Patton's voice was like, but didn't want to go there as they felt audiences wouldn't accept it.
The general would have killed to have had George C. Scott's voice!
Scratch - nice!
A genuine O scale "swords to plowshares"!
Regards, Roy
wrmcclellan Scratch - nice! A genuine O scale "swords to plowshares"!
Tanks Roy!
Looking good, DJ! Now I have to ask, is it going to be "command" equipped? Sorry, I couldn't pass on that one!
Good Ol' CFB Petawawa. My Grandfather was posted there after WWII and my brother-in-law was in 2CER for years there as well.
Rob
robmcc Looking good, DJ! Now I have to ask, is it going to be "command" equipped? Sorry, I couldn't pass on that one! Good Ol' CFB Petawawa. My Grandfather was posted there after WWII and my brother-in-law was in 2CER for years there as well. Rob
Command and Control Crane C^3.
My dad retired there in 1973, the year I graduated from General Panet High School. My youngest brother still lives in Petwawa Township. There was a huge derailment there when my dad and brother were both in the volunteer fire department In 1985. I have some pics and news clippings I should try to find.
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