About
This 1/16 M1A2 Abrams tank by Heng Long is a well detailed model with reasonably good RC controls. This "almost ready to run" tank required a number of parts (and decals) to be installed (press fit or cemented) in place. Several of the parts should be painted to look proper. It leaves open plenty of areas that can be modified or added to for additional realism.
These three photos show the tank's exterior and a tank commander figure that I added. The first modification was to the commander's 50 caliber machine gun. It had no handles nor trigger mechanism, which required it to be hand made and painted. Part of the HL gun support needed to be repainted desert tan for realism.
The second modification was to replace the HL tank commander supplied with the tank. The old commander was a half figure that should be used with WWII tanks as well as those well into the 1960's. This was replaced with the Verlinden no. 659 desert storm tank commander. It is a multiple piece kit which also needed assembly and painting.
The figure was left in two pieces (upper and lower body) with a magnet and two pins to mate the pieces so that it could be placed in the turret or together for a standing position. A 3/8-inch spacer was added to the commander's hatch opening to raise the figure to the right height.
The figure was left in two pieces (upper and lower body) with a magnet and two pins to mate the pieces so that it could be placed in the turret or together for a standing position. A 3/8-inch spacer was added to the commander's hatch opening to raise the figure to the right height.
I created a new turret "bustle rack" (center and right) in 3D iand printed by Shapeways. This new rack adds to the rear of the existing rack. Parts (spare road wheels, track, Jerry cans, thermal chest, thermal jug, and ammo boxes) were also made by me using the 3D process. This adds a lot of detail to the tank.
I replaced the existing gearboxes and motors in order to increase the speed of the tank and eliminate the possible trouble with the original plastic gears.
This is the Heng Long "Ultimate Edition II" drive gearbox and will probably work in other Heng Long tanks. It features high speed carbon brushed motors, thick aluminum sheet frames, steel gears., and copper sleeved adapters for the flanged bearings. A test run of the existing (as purchased tank) motors, gears, and using the existing 7.2 volt - 1800 ma batteries was as follows:
Track: indoors, vinyl flooring Distance: 24 feet Time: 12 seconds Speed: 2 feet per second
A test run of the tank with the new gearboxes and motors (same battery) yielded the following results.: Track: indoors, vinyl flooring (same as above) Distance: 24 feet Time: 6 seconds Speed: 4 feet per second
This is the Heng Long "Ultimate Edition II" drive gearbox and will probably work in other Heng Long tanks. It features high speed carbon brushed motors, thick aluminum sheet frames, steel gears., and copper sleeved adapters for the flanged bearings. A test run of the existing (as purchased tank) motors, gears, and using the existing 7.2 volt - 1800 ma batteries was as follows:
Track: indoors, vinyl flooring Distance: 24 feet Time: 12 seconds Speed: 2 feet per second
A test run of the tank with the new gearboxes and motors (same battery) yielded the following results.: Track: indoors, vinyl flooring (same as above) Distance: 24 feet Time: 6 seconds Speed: 4 feet per second
Below are more 3D printed parts that I made.
