RC Tanks Australia Forum

Hey Team,

I understand that the Bradley is clearly not an Abrams - but, as it is the closest category I could find to slot this project in.

I currently have a 1/18 Bravo Team, US M3A2 on order from the US and am getting together the other pieces of kit to make this go from a GIJOE-esque child's toy to a remote controlled, IR battling, sound emitting big child's toy. ahem.

The pieces I have in mind (and please offer advice where relevant as I am flying totally blind) are as follows:

Model and mechanics:
HL Panzer III - to salvage the lower hull and internal electrics, engines, wheels and arms to provide the RC platform.
M4A1 Sherman sprockets and tracks - I plan to use 4 of the rear sprockets as they are the closest resemblance I can find to the Bradley's. That and the tracks are nice and low profile.

Electrics and Controller:
Mako2 - This unit seems to be for me as it closes some of the gaps the TK20 and DBC3 leave open.
TBS Benedini - I want the specific sounds that the main weapon, TOW and engine emit - no idea how this interfaces with the Mako2, but nothing ventured nothing earnt.
Turnigy9x - As far as I know this is the tankers weapon of choice due a customised firmware that allows greater control of the unit.

As stated before if anyone can offer some advice, or trades on some of these units to keep cost down I would be most appreciative.

Pictures and updates to follow when the unit arrives - should be around Feb 6th.

Thanks for reading.

HI Patton

Just quickly the MAKO2 is such an awesome unit that most people forget what it actually is

The MAKO is simply an IR interpreter. That really is it's main function. It doesn't exert any control over the motors or other aspects of control. So it doesn't/won't interface with the Benedini sound unit.

What can interface with the Benedini sound unit is the RC2HL board. Channel 1-4 from your receiver is sent to the RC2HL board and here the signals are split with one line going the the RC2HL processor and the other line to a separate 1-4 AUX output. You connect the Benedini unit to the AUX outs on the RC2HL.

So in your case you could look at:

Heng Long RX18 - as the main control for the drive/turret system and IR battle
RC2HL - to allow use of the Turnigy 9X 2.4 ghz radio
6 channel HKT6A receiver

Now your biggest cost is the Benedini - probably as much as the 9X and RX18. You would then connect Aux 1-4 from the RC2HL to CH 1-4 in on the Benedini

Cheers
Kevin G

_________________

rctanksaustralia.com

Damn, I was hoping to capitalise on the feature set the Mako2 delivered (i.e. Tamiya Battle/class programming/) being it the Bradley is a light tank and all.

Admittedly, I have done no research on the RC2HL but would 4 channels be enough to cover the following?

Engine sounds (start, idle, load)
Cannon (TOW)
MG (Main Cannon)
Turret sound (elevation, movement)

I was running on the assumption that the newer Heng Longs would have the RX18 in them so was obviously fixing on using that with the Mako2 - however that plan has been shifted somewhat.

Am I reading you right in that there is no application for the Mako2 in a RX18/TBS Benedini/RC2HL config?

Thanks for the information Phyre, you have given me some things to ponder on that old drawing board.

Hey Patton

Of course you can use the MAKO2 with the setup I suggested. You just can't connect a Benedini sound card to it. The Benedini connects to the RC2HL or receiver not the MAKO or RX18.

My point was that the MAKO is the master of IR battle - it does IR, not sound.

Your sytem will work as planned with each board doing what it is best at

RC2HL - converts your 2.4 GHz receiver signals to what the RX18 understands
RX-18 - drives your tank, turns turret and elevates guns,...
MAKO2 - looks after the IR battle functions
Benedini - does all of your custom sounds.

With regards to the Benedini - I have not used one so ..... BUT no you are not limited to 4 channels you can run as many channels as your receiver has into the Benedini. All that has to happen is 1-4 have to also go to the RC2HL

For Example

Receiver - CH1 - RC2HL 1 - Benedini
Receiver - CH2 - RC2HL 2 - Benedini
Receiver - CH3 - RC2HL 3 - Benedini
Receiver - CH4 - RC2HL 4 - Benedini
Receiver - CH5 - Benedini
Receiver - CH6 - Benedini

Also regarding the Benedini - the RC2HL, MAKO, RX18 will all have ZERO effect on the Benedini - It will only react to the DIRECT signals from the receiver. The RC2HL doesn't affect the signal to the Benedini it simply acts as a 'Y' lead.

Cheers
Kevin G

_________________

rctanksaustralia.com

Hey Kevin,

Thanks for much for clearing that up for me, you will need to pardon me if I appear ignorant - RC is not my background, so am very new to controllers, receivers, signal splicing and what not.

Given that the project has scaled up in cost significantly I will be approaching it in stages. I will get the RX18, RC2HL and 9x and 6 Channel receiver up and running initially, and then as I settle in to the soldering biz will add the Mako and finally the TBS Benedini to complete the model.

The hardest part I think will be cutting up the Panzer for the lower hull, from what I have seen its a great little model. Especially when it is contrasted against the M2A3 build - there is going to be some serious sanding, rebuilding and styrene plating required to get it up to a resemblance of whats currently rolling around the Middle East.

Thanks again.