Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more...

[Jerry Carducci]

As if I didn't have enough projects I've added another. From another member I've acquired up a built Famo,,, this in addition to the kit of that name residing in my pile of kits- the very first which got me hooked into 1/6 scale at some years back...

I believe this was originally well-built by the redoubtable Mr Ostlind.

Steering seems to be seriously amiss at the moment so that needs attention plus in my usual habit I will rearrange things to suit my unique
'vision' of such things....

Siiiiiigh.

Jerry

[Mark Weiss]

Oh Jerry my friend there is help available, you just need to reach out, there's others afflicted who have been where you are, well maybe not as bad as you, but help is available. I'll be waiting by the phone, if you want to talk... LOL

[Jerry Carducci]

Oh Jerry my friend there is help available, you just need to reach out, there's others afflicted who have been where you are, well maybe not as bad as you, but help is available. I'll be waiting by the phone, if you want to talk... LOL

I am beyond help I'm sure. I keep telling myself I'm going to thin out my collection however I keep doing the opposite.

I'll say it the same way I did to a modeling chum:

"I still remember people in my office looking at me as if I was awaiting execution when I'd announced I was retiring after 45+ years at BofA: "Oh jeeze what are you going to do??" I always smiled a secret smile when I said:

"The same thing I've been doing for the last 46 years!" knowing full well my hobby began just before I started my career.... "

I also keep telling myself 'there are far worse ways' to spend one's time, money and creativity...!

This is the last one I promise...

Jerry

[Jerry Carducci]

After wrangling this beast of a model I was able to remove the linear steering servo and examine it.

After careful consideration and detailed examination I came to the conclusion: "It's broken Jim".

Yes indeed the aluminum arm busted clean off where the connector is screwed into the end.

I decided I'll make a new one. From steel.

• chopped off length of 10mm shaft rod

• Trimmed and faced ends of shaft rod length

• bored out rod to 6.85mm

• threaded ends to 8mm x 1.25

• reduced outer diameter to 9mm leaving 5+mm on the outer end at 10mm.

• polished arm body

• Installed new arm in servo and test

Seems to work. to be continued.

Jerry

[Jerry Carducci]

I see the Famo is going to be quite challenging for me to maneuver in a confined space!

Having repaired the linear servo I'm not sure I like it. It is slow acting (although I did implement a 1 second delay as well) and if I read the specifications sheet on it it was originally intended to be operated at a somewhat higher voltage than that available on a normal radio's power bus. I might look into changing this to a more powerful, somewhat faster traditional servo though I can see that the control arm on the steering knuckle is going to be a weak link. It doesn't seem much heavier that that on my Sd.Kfz. 7 and that one has been reported as breaking under use. It serems like it's already been bent. Moving those gigantic wheels under all the weight that is a Famo can't be easy...

To keep myself from relearning another RC system I've converted the Famo to the same Taranis that I'm using for my Sd.Kfz.7. I was able to clone the model profile with a few tweaks and it's off and running.

I've read that neither Armortek themselves nor other owners like mixing tracks and front wheels. When I was operating the model on smoother cement I noticed that like the 7 it is easy for the tracks, even more so with the rubber pads, to overpower the front tires and make them skid.... unless care is taken to match the apparent steering radius of the front wheels with the turning rate of the tracks. Sounds logical and common sense_ish but is tricky to do in practice and no doubt is affected by terrain. I will be setting aside this model now that I've addressed a few things but I will be experimenting with applying curves to the front wheel turn rate. Also alternative servos, perhaps ones that can take additional power directly from and external source.

Time to get back to my other projects of the M2 and my King Tiger!

Jerry