[Joecollection18]

Thanks!
I am glad I finally got it on tape to show the fun I have been having so selfishly !

There are 1/24 scale tank with gearboxes fitting the mauler width wise: Hen Long and VS tanks. These are closed gearboxes but they will require cutting the mauler hull to install. The drive sprocket may or may not work with the mauler tracks & more work is needed there.
Tamiya way back in the 70s made 1/25 scale motorized tanks the size of mobats and maulers.
My setup is similar to their latest reissue ( like kit 56604) by using a Kit twin gearbox.
The tamiya 1/25 are great but are lumbering around while I wanted the excitement shown in the Gijoe mauler Tv commercial
Without the heft of the 4 C Cells batteries. A 2s Lipo with 1/16 scale electronics and radio provides just that!

Beware, the tamiya gearbox is open and the slightest dirt intrusion will have consequences. Hence why I used blue tape on top of gearbox. A proper cover would be ideal..
Dirt makes it way inside from the hull floor holes, rear hull junction gap and from the rear sides under the engine details. Picking up the mauler upside down will drop debris from the tracks into the inside as well.
You can spend time sealing the hull with plasticard, silicone and tape. Dirt wreaks havoc on the drive wheel large bearing surface. I chose to avoid dirt play for now until I have a dedicated sealed Mauler ready for that. Closing The floor holes, tapping the top of the Tamiya gearbox and running dry gears Is what I did in the videos. Running on astroturf with minimal dirt intrusion inside the hull with no consequences.

I am choosing to keep the mauler light to lessen stress on components. I don't want a WWII behemoth experience. The mauler hull can be cracked! Reinforcing everything would end up with a heavy vehicle that is not what the agile mauler pertains to be.
Weight wise, each joe with gear is about 25 grams, so it ads up fast. The motors have no issue but the suspension responds differently with the weight difference.
I am making a Warthog Amphibious RC next, fun challenge with the heavier weight there!

Back to tamiya gearbox, Be weary of the tamiya set screw securing the final drive gear, Driving back and forth will loosen it and tooth salad will be served!
I file a small flat recess on the Tamiya hex shaft and use loctite/thread lock on the set screw.
Also, the tamiya stock motors will not like operating under load back and forth at 7.4V
Expect them to burn since they are non carbon brushed. The beauty of the tamiya gearbox is that you can simply plug and play different 130 motors and experiment.
I used these motors in the videos :
https://outofdarts.com/collections/m...-nerf-blasters
Beware, these are not really meant for RC vehicle, just cheap and running fun.
These motors draw a lot of current & will strain your electronics...
I just ABHOR the jerkiness of most RC motors where the vehicle stops on a dime when you let go off the throttle.
These let the mauler carry some momentum and slow down to a stop in a more realistic way.
I know the jerkiness behavior could be tuned from the electronics, I am no expert, and still looking for a better setup ( speed controller/ motors ) , but see the videos for yourself... this is as good as I got for now and very happy with the smoothness of the drive.
The speed controller board I am using was made for a 1/16 scale leopard 1 and is no longer been made.
Suggestions for a replacement are welcome.

I seem to have maxxed out my picture quota here.

[Techmonkey]

Any plans to upload the other parts as well?

[Joecollection18]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Techmonkey

Any plans to upload the other parts as well?

Will do around the holidays... Once I retrieve all the files, A big dump, promised!

[Joecollection18]

I am struggling to upload files on thingiverse.
That site is buggy... Or is it just me?
Any other alternatives to upload files?