M3 Prototype Build

[Mark Heaps]

Just my thoughts. Taking a 6 Channel system as the basic.
2 Channels - Left & right track
1 Channel - gun elevation - for both 75mm & 37mm
1 Channel - gun traverse - for both 75mm and turret.
1 Channel - sound / recoil
1 Channel - extras ie lighting, hull MGs etc

[Armortek]

1 Channel - gun elevation - for both 75mm & 37mm
1 Channel - gun traverse - for both 75mm and turret.

Interesting.
Not thought about that one - I wonder if it would make the guns look like a pair of synchronised swimmers!

[Mike Conley]

That does sound interesting in that I could use a 4 channel system: two channels for the drive/steering, one for traverse (of both guns as you explained), and one for both gun elevations. That would be very preferable to me because I do NOT know anything about electronics.

I only use 4 channels on all my Armortek tanks: two channels for drive/steering, and one channel for traverse, and one for elevation. I am in to the basics, not in to all the smoke, sounds, recoil, etc. I'm very good at mechanical stuff but know NOTHING about electronic wiring. What you told about would be GREAT, and if anyone wanted to expand with more channels could do all the those things if they wanted to.

Before I was even going to order I was going to ask Armortek if I could just get the basic motors/gears, and turret drive/elevation motors and use Sabertooth ESCs because I know how to hook those up for the basic stuff up. The rest of the 'frills' I don't want. I just like to build and drive my tanks (usually while drank'in beeer!). Us 'old' (60+) Armortek tankers need simple electronic plug ins.

Mike in Kentucky

[Pete Nash]

I am using this transmitter on my Panzer III for a couple of reasons.
It is reasonably priced (i.e. cheap enough to buy multiple times for multiple tanks)
It has a 'mix' function so that I can use the right stick to control both tracks, thus I am able to steer my tanks on the right stick and use the left stich to control the turret and gun elevation 'naturally'.
It has a three position switch for selecting sounds
It also has a two position switch
and another two position 'Dual rate' switch that controls the three position switch in High or Low rate, which, according to the instructions can give you an additional three functions (how I don't know).

https://howesmodels.co.uk/product/volan ... nel-radio/

Pete

[Adrian Harris]

As might be expected, I'm planning on using a little electrickery

The plan is to drive the tank on the right hand stick, as per my other models, with the turret and sponson on the left hand stick, but using one of the three position switches on the transmitter so that I can switch between sponson, turret, or neither.

It all works well in my head, I just need to get it wired and programmed

Adrian.

[Mark Heaps]

Interesting.
Not thought about that one - I wonder if it would make the guns look like a pair of synchronised swimmers!

Maybe couple it to the audio module so that depending on the last sound played, even if not an audible one, the stick only controls one of them at a time. Possibly best to have it as sound one and silent to switch between them to make it easier for those using a 3 position toggle switch rather than a rotary switch for the sounds.

[Andy Walker]

I'm very interested in buying the Grant version of the M3. However, after a bit of research it seems that the Grant had a different track rubber to the Lee. It appears the Armortek model is coming with the T41 track rubbers which were used on the Lee. I wondered if Armortek would be providing the WE210 track rubbers for the Grant version?

[Chris Hall]

Andy -

I've been having an interesting debate with Adrian Harris about M3 track patterns - a complete gap in my knowledge !

It turns out that there are plenty of examples of both T41 and WE210 on both Lees and Grants in a range of theatres. So I don't think your assertion that Grants only used T41 is correct, although I stand to be corrected myself .

Personally, I'd prefer WE210's on my Lee, as they do seem the most common type in Burma. But, if it's right that there are examples of both on both types of tank all over the place, I'm happy to go with what Armortek decide to do. There are, after all, economic considerations as well as historical ones.

All the best,

Chris

[Andy Walker]

Useful to know Chris. I wasn't absolutely sure which tracks the Grant used. I can imagine economically it wouldn't be viable to do two different types anyway.

[Chris Hall]

Andy -

I didn't know myself until a few weeks ago - Adrian is the guru on this topic.

Incidentally, the Grant at Bovington is wearing WE210's:

Bovington Grant

And so is this Lee, which is still on display at Kohima, Burma (now Myanmar):

Kohima Lee

All the best,

Chris

[Adrian Harris]

Pretty sure that M3 at Kohima is a Grant...

This is apparently a Burma M3 Lee.

Which is wearing T41 tracks.

Adrian.

[Chris Hall]

Pretty sure that M3 at Kohima is a Grant...

Adrian.

Looking closer, I think you're right . The signs alongside it call it a 'Lee / Grant' and I jumped the wrong way. Some Grants did survive the Desert War to end up in Burma, where they tended to be used as Command tanks.

A shamefaced,

Chris

[Pete Nash]

I can't remember where I found it on the web, but I do recall seeing a post that said that the WE210 tread was designed with a deeper rubber tread to take into account the softer conditions found in the sands of the western desert.
It also suggested some Shermans may have used in Italy with tracks stripped from Grants and Lees with the WE210 treads because of the muddier conditions found there.

Well, at least that's what I remember, but again, I could be wrong.

[chris fry]

I wonder if you are getting the rivet snaps with the kits

220px-M3_tank_riveting_LOC_fsa_8e10699.jpg (11.34 KiB) Viewed 13217 times