Famo 18 tonner.

[Phil Woollard]

Any chance of some answers please guys? even if it's to tell me to shut up!

[Dennis Jones]

Sounds like a good idea to me Phil.

[Phil Woollard]

Which bit Mr Jones, the answers or me shutting up?

[Dennis Jones]

It's not Denny and only Armortek can provide the info you want.

[Phil Woollard]

Sorry about that slip, I will edit that bit out then, don't want to upset anyone on our friendly forum.

[Armortek]

As per our last posting on this topic we are only just starting the design process. Details will become clearer over the next few weeks.

The version that we are making is the cargo version/ transport version.
We will not be providing a spade.
We will provide the canopy as part of the kit.
The winch will also be part of the kit.

The rubber pads may be an issue. With the scale and the amount of stress that will be put through these in normal running it is likely that they will break with regular frequency .... much like the real things. We will know more in the next few weeks.

Kian

[Chang]

Hi Monique and Kian,
My thinking is to make the "rubber pad" as a part of each track link, then simply painted as a rubber pad .
No need to make it separately. There will be no worry on loosen or damaged then.

If I remember correctly, the Sherman's track link was so-made.

Cheers,
Lerh Chang

[John Clarke]

I'm sure you'll have no trouble keeping the rubber on the road.

[Stephen White]

Will the model come with a year’s free membership of the Road Haulage Association and an HGV licence? S

[Phil Woollard]

Very witty Stephen , with reference to the rubber track blocks, I feel without the rubber there will be little traction on hard surfaces ( like the tank hall at Bovi) the model would skid about, make a clatter and look rediculous !
Although it will be a big heavy model the ground contact area would be small, and so the ground pressure would be high increasing wear, if the link had an integral metal block this would wear very very quickly and so not only look rediculous but the tracks will soon need replacing or the link itself would become damaged and break, the rubber blocks would be sacrificial , and like the real thing (Say, ref an APC ) they could be changed out when worn. They may last years they may need replacing sooner , this depending on the amount of use and the amount of towing ( which is what the vehicle was designed for) and the surface it's driving over, mud or grass being the most forgiving. The odd block missing would look like the original and not affect performance and could be replaced as soon as is convenient.

I'm sure the guys at Armortek want this impressive model to not only look good but functional when towing as well, I certainly do!

I'm sure that Armortek will find a way to mount the rubber blocks, it's very very important indeed!
Let's not spoil the ship for a hapeth of Tar! ....Phil.

[michael haerle]

Hello everybody,

my opinion is like that of Phil. Please the chain only with rubber, as it was in the original.

Personally, I would be happy about a version with a spade.

We ordered 2 models ...

Many greetings to all
Michael

[Phil Woollard]

Michael, I may, if Armortek don't mind that is, offer a spade kit for the Famo. Do you have any detailed photos or drawings of the spade and the mounting points on the vehicle, the towing version in my "nuts and bolts" Famo reference book looks very similar to the spade recovery/towing version, so it may be quite simple to attach the spade, especially if Armortek would provide the "eye lugs" on the rear chassis rails?
As the winch will be included we have the lifting and lowering method already in place!

I do feel for Armortek regarding the customer production imput requests with this Famo kit, but as it is quite a unique and ground breaking approach to a design process ( thats having us sticking our noses in all the time ) it makes for a very exciting model and may well pave the way forward!

Regards Phil.

[Simon Peck]

The Transport/cargo version is a good compromise for all. Looking at the ‘spade’ it looks like it’d be a piece of cake to scratch build, shame to impose it on everyone at what maybe the expense of the rest of the vehicle? My wish would be for a protypocal running gear/suspension/operation, a high quality building block onto which individuals can customise. Perhaps the track links could be machined from steel, with rubber inserts?

[Phil Woollard]

Simon, I do like the idea of steel tracks with the rubber inserts, and i agree with the "high quality building block for all" , all I am asking for is two tiny lugs of little cost to be provided in the kit, it's already been said that we are not getting a spade.
Going back to those steel tracks that opens a whole can of worms, with casting/machining issues, as the prototypical tracks would be quite skinny like the full size version, steel could be more prototypical than the ali equivalent due to it's higher strength but would be more expensive to produce, quid pro quo and all that

See useful chassis eye lugs in the photo below, good for towing armour with double heavy towing arms, and somewhere for your towing shackles to hang from. Oh before anyone points it out, I can see the central towing pintle

Regards Phil

[Chang]

Found some sixties 1/6 FAMO photos from FOA (Field of Armor) on FB:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Field-of-Ar ... 9540837672

The big spade included (Click on the photo to enlarge it):