Gun Flash unit

[Derek Attree]

Hello all
I would like to see Armortek do an option for a gun flash unit
that works like the Tamiya main gun flash, There has been a thread on this type of unit on the Comet section.
I for one do not want to go the Black powder route.

Could this be somthing for the future

Derek

[Fabrice Le Roux]

Derek,

Second that.

Letting off shotgun blanks outside in built-up areas is at best anti-social. Indoors, it is plain dangerous. Given the jumpiness of the armed police units in London and elsewhere, its a no-no for me.

Definately would buy two, one for my stripped down Tiger 1 and the other for my un-built Panther.

Based on what others have come up with I reckon a modular solution, ie self contained, with own power, servo, sound sample, amp and timing adjustments would have merit. The whole firing simulation Flash-Bang-Recoil-Reset could be triggered by a single micro switch. Speaker positioning is a moot point but the option of putting the speaker in the turret would be nice. Frankly if the hatches rattle when it goes bang all the better- at least all that cleaning up would be a thing of the past.

Question is, can it be done at a price that makes it worthwhile for Mark and Gill? Say it was the same price as the blank firer, £499, which is not unreasonable, would it sell?

I remember Vince showing me the mechanism he had devised for his Tiger 1, one of the key components was a brass sleeve that centred the gun tube and reduce the friction of the recoil action. So there might be more engineering involved than just the "son et lumiere" electro-mechanical package.

Will start saving now...

cheers, Fabrice

[Robin Ellis]

You can see here that I have machined a PTFE bush that allows a smooth movement of the barrel. The black bush acts as a 'cushion' for the returning recoil!

[Jim Fowler]

My article covered the constrctuin of a Xenon flash unit - for those wanting to make one. And,, I think it is a great idea for an alternate offering to the blank fire for AT to investigate as well.

But, it is a High-Voltage device and needs to be treated with some caution. And, the unit in my article is actually the same rated voltage as the Tamiya units.... Its a common voltage level for Xenon tubes.

Anyway, that is my 2 cents,

Jim

[Dennis Jones]

Hi Jim,
Just to let you know that I used your idea and bits for my xenon flash assy. I triggered it via a relay from the led outputs of the the TBS5 with a little mod and Thomas's guidance. The kit I got from the UK (quasar electronics agents for kits r us) unfortunately had to get the the tube from the States which was a bit expensive £12 for transit but only £3 for the tube. Put a 5 uF cap in which improved the brightness, didn't need to alter the timing. Wrapped the tube in some orange cellophane instaed of painting it. You can see it on U tube although not a very good video as my camera is not fast enough to catch the flash plus you have to play it several times to see it. Thanks again. Articles on Comet.

http://s1041.photobucket.com/albums/b41 ... 000187.mp4

Dennis.

[Derek Attree]

Hi Denis
Your idea was the one that I saw. I recon that if Armortek did the same idea they could get a good price and I am sure Thomas could help with getting it to work with the sound card.
I am not worried about recoil so I would like just a flash unit.

Thanks

Derek

[Graham Ord]

Hi All
I too would be interested in a electronic gun flash/recoil/smoke/loud bang kit for the range of tanks produced by Armortek.

I have thought of fitting a blank firer but am put off by the regulation? extra insurance? alledged mess? storage of blank cartridges? etc.

As I see it the flash, recoil and noise seem to have been covered in the various sections but I have not seen anything on the gun smoke

If Mark could put together such a kit I would buy it for my P IV even if I had to modify the parts to make it fit as obviously each tank type is different in the turret/gun configuration.

.

[John Clarke]

Why not have it all?
I have been following this subject and simular though the Comet Topic's pages and am a little suprised at some of the entries.
I have not built an Armortek tank from scratch, but while helping Joe put his Comet together I know some skills are needed to complete the task.. Phil and Denis have done a wonderful job putting their tanks together and Joe and I have been avid followers their progress.
Phil and Denis decribe their experiments with flash and have had excellent results. From this information an inpulse generated from the Amortek sound amp can easly operate a relay to sync the main gun sound to flash,
This mod can be made for less than a tenner with the parts easly sourced,.together with a couple of hours work for the novice.
This is the system I'm building into my KT and the parts used. The flash unit for indoors and the blankfirer for outdoors. Just a case of removing the magazine and threading the flash cable up the barrel with the flash tube in the muzzle brake.
Simples
Joe wants more in his Comet, it will need more thought but it's do-able.
Joe and I had the Comet less turret running round today. Wow is it fast!
But then,when it comes to trading shot with the KT, You can run but you car'nt hide.

[Fabrice Le Roux]

Graham,

Just to be clear, Armortek's proprietary blank firing system is completely legal, Home Office approved, and complies with the Firearms Act. Mark went to considerable trouble and expense attain this approval when he designed the original system.

Personally, I would like a workable factory-approved alternative more akin to the Tamiya effects box for the reasons I outlined in my original post.

I have no idea if there is an "insurance" issue associated with the use of blank firer's at public events. Based on what I have heard and read, the blank firer does require cleaning after use due to the corrosive nature of the residues.

Blanks, like fireworks and airguns, should be kept locked away from children and moronic Premier League footballers.

As for getting a puff of smoke; stick a josstick down the barrel, put a vet's big syringe in line with the recoil travel, use the recoil to compress the syringe, pushing a puff of air up the barrel, you get a small puff of smoke (and a little "love n'peace, man") out of the end.

cheers, Fabrice

[Graham Ord]

Thats why I put a question mark after each observation/problem???
For a non electronics person like me who really struggled with the wiring of the tank (thanks to Mark for his assistance) a "ready to fit unit" would be a better proposition.

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi John
Thats a good Idea with your King Tiger having the best of both,
Blank firer and the option of just the Flash and sounds.
Bit like Jeckle and Hyde
I was just telling Mick that I had found a nice aluminium pillow
block with a 20mm linear Frelon bearing,and a fella who will
turn and bore a part with the threadded end to suit the Comet
barrel,20mm O/D to slide in the bearing and bored out to give
plenty of room for my Halogen cables and a tube for the smoke.
I tried a Piezo and my Armortek smoker just up a peice of 8mm
tube and the Armortek was the better option with the elements
cooking up a chunk of smoke to blast through,just like an exhaust
start up when the smoker has well warmed up.
This was prior to Marks new bigger Exhaust Fan vidio.
So I am continuing now with my recoil.
Cheers
Phil

[John Clarke]

I love the joss stick idea.or could we get Dot off Eastenders to do the same trick.. Peace man.
Every time I take out my Tyhoon Sub down the model boat club pond, I always get the same questions from observers, "does it submerge?" "yes" is the answer. Next is "Does it fire torpedoes?" "No" I have to reply with a sigh
But with the KT, I just answer "yes" to all the quesion's.
It's an accurate model, not a plug and play thing.
Something that has to be cared for and looked after and used with thought.
I love the blank firer not for what it does do, but for what it can do. A lot of thought has gone into it's design to make it safe to use. Other mods can be easly made for indoor stuff. Thats what model makings all about.
Show me an outdoor re-anactment event where they use flashlights and electroic sound effects and I'll show you a bunch of kids running around with ray guns.
Now stoke up the Merlin and start running!

[Jim Fowler]

Hi guys!

First, want to apologize for not replying sooner, work has been rearing its ugly head....

Dennis, glad to hear and see about your efforts, and that I could help. (Will take your cap mod suggestion too!)

I have read all the posts; and, I have a suggestion thay may be a better way....

Maybe we should keep asking Mark and Gill (Armortek) for a recoil option. That being a barrel capable of moving to simulate recoil - maybe with standard control method like a servo (the control method can vary, as we have seen).

But, maybe the flash unit would be something better looked into by Thomas Benedini as an augmentation to the sound systems?

The smoke, I have not gotten a good solid handle on, so I can't say at this point.

Now, I know we would all like a little black box that does it all solution....but, maybe that is not the best or probably step from where we are now?

Well, that is one outlook for the day.

Best Wishes to all,

Jim

[John Clarke]

Work,
scourge of the working classes.
Look forward to the smoking gun idea that you have a handle on.
I'm sure Mark and Gill would love to market a universal recoil system but you'ed have chucked away the blank firer, as there's barely enough room for it when depressed or elevated
Thomas Benendini could produce a cheap black box housing a triggered flash unit and a pass though connection to the machine gun LED, which could be connected to the three pin output point F, Machine gun/ Cannon on the Armourtek amp module.

[Robin Ellis]

Hi John, can you explain how you wired up your gun flash setup?