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Converting RC Battle Tank into O Scale Crane

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  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 11:07 AM

When all is done, how much of the crane will be operating?

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Will it just turn and lift, or will the boom elevate, extend, etc?

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Sunday, March 4, 2018 10:28 AM

Geoff Bunza has a couple of articles on animating the Athearn HO crane Some of the servos and actuators you can get are VERY small.

                                   --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    April 2017
  • From: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
  • 1,585 posts
Posted by OldSchoolScratchbuilder on Saturday, March 3, 2018 5:35 PM

mbinsewi

Oldschool, now that you have moved on to "O" scale, what are you going to do with those beautiful CN locomotives?  Stick out tongue

Mike.

 

I am still going to have a small and simple DCC/DC layout with a gypsum quarry all on kindling pieces. In fact, I just bought two more (and last) HO CN locomotives (a new DCC and a used DC) to round out the roster. Should have them sometime next week.

  • Member since
    April 2017
  • From: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
  • 1,585 posts
Posted by OldSchoolScratchbuilder on Saturday, March 3, 2018 5:29 PM

Even bought a two-track layout, complete with a 1991 Lionel Pennsylvania wheel car. My ultimate goal is to load and unload the wheels on the wheel car by controlling the crane remotely.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Saturday, March 3, 2018 5:26 PM

Oldschool, now that you have moved on to "O" scale, what are you going to do with those beautiful CN locomotives?  Stick out tongue

Mike.

  • Member since
    April 2017
  • From: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
  • 1,585 posts
Posted by OldSchoolScratchbuilder on Saturday, March 3, 2018 5:16 PM

SeeYou190

Good heavens... this sounds bonkers!

However, given how amazing all your other projects have turned out, I am looking very forward to seeing the updates on this one.

Your work is inspirational.

 

So much easier to work in O. Could never fit the tank guts into an HO crane. Also, it is not so frustrating because I am always dropping stuff with the arthritis in my fingers. No tiny coupler springs to try and find on the floor! Posting over on Toy Trains forum as well.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, March 3, 2018 5:03 PM

Good heavens... this sounds bonkers!

.

However, given how amazing all your other projects have turned out, I am looking very forward to seeing the updates on this one.

.

Your work is inspirational.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    April 2017
  • From: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
  • 1,585 posts
Posted by OldSchoolScratchbuilder on Saturday, March 3, 2018 3:52 PM

Testing each tank function by inserting breadboards between the main circuit board and each component. Power leads, power LED, power switch, all functioning normally. Engine comes to life through the speaker.

  • Member since
    April 2017
  • From: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
  • 1,585 posts
Converting RC Battle Tank into O Scale Crane
Posted by OldSchoolScratchbuilder on Friday, March 2, 2018 5:56 AM

I'm using components from one of my old RC Sherman tanks to build an O scale crane. The heart of the disassembled tank is shown here with the circuit board, four motors, IR transmitter and receiver, crystal oscillator and antenna, 8 ohm speaker, power leads and switch, and five LEDs. Going to a local electronics shop today to buy a case and connectors.

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