Grandad M

Challeger Videos

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Here are some videos of the tank doing it’s thing.

First engine start up.

Moving the turret.

Firing two shells, note the tank recoil. The shells go a long way but leave the gun too fast to see on this video.

Challenger 2 Finished

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The model is now complete and ready for testing. Videos of the testing will follow.

The front view showing lots of the details including wing mirrors that are folded down, mortars (or maybe grenade launchers), and various towing points.

I think this is a demountable Bren Gun, but it could be a machine gun. The hatches can be opened and one is used to load the BBs.

The rear of the tank has lots of things mounted including fuel cans and lots of shackles.

The side view shows the tank tracks and suspension.

Challenger 2 Tank

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My first true radio controlled model build.

After lots of hints from B-I-L John, I finally decided to build a proper radio controlled model. The first one is a one sixteenth scale model of the Challenger Tank. This photo shows it about 3/4s built, with lots of small fiddly bits still to fit.

The ruler shows the rough size of the model and the controller is just visible under the glass work bench, right at the front of the model.

Once complete it should be very impressive, as the gun fires BBs with a range of 25 to 30 metres. The engine makes a huge noise and chucks lots of smoke out of the exhaust! Once it is complete I will post videos of the test runs, so watch this space.

Project 2 Finished

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The excavator is finished and all seven motors work properly!

This model is huge as can be seen from this photo of me holding it.

The model is standing on a table that is 60 centimetres (nearly 2 feet) wide. This side view shows the complexity of the model.

Here is another photograph, but with the stairway up to the driver’s cab lowered.

The model has two tank tracks with a motor each so the excavator can move forward and backwards. It turns by moving one track forwards and the other backwards. The main body rotates 360 degrees above the tracked base.

The Boom, Jib, Bucket and Scoop are each driven by a motor and Rams. This photo shows the main three pairs of Rams clearly. The fourth pair are the small ones in the lower left of the photo.

This photo shows all the dummy hydraulic pipes on the Boom and Jib.

Rather than film my own video on how the model works and how it can be programmed or controlled from a tablet or phone I have embedded this Lego product video.

Notice how the very simple programming blocks are very similar to those used to program the Lego robots.

Project 2 – Stage 3

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The most difficult stages are now complete.

All 7 motors are installed together with the 2 control hubs. So the most complicated stages of the build are complete and everything can be controlled from my mobile phone.

A view from the front showing the various motor driven pistons that move the arm, jib, and bucket platform.

And from the rear. The next three stages should be just adding all the pretty stuff, like cowls, ladders, etc..

Project 2 – Stage 2

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Stage 2 added the main cab structure. It’s getting big now.

Here is the side view.

And here the rear showing the internals more clearly.

Project 2 – Stage 1

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The first stage, of 6, is complete with the main carriage section finished.

There are three motors and a control hub in this build. The control hub is the box with the green button at the top, centre of the image. One motor controls the turntable and there is one per side for the track drives.

The model is currently 28 centimetres long and 27 wide.

Big Project 2

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I have started a new Lego model and it’s even bigger than the crane!

Here are all the components stacked on my work table. There are over 4100 pieces and 7 motors. It has a small computer that enables the model to be controlled from a smart phone.

Granny’s First Lego

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Granny has got interested in Lego and this is her first try. This is a model of Trafalgar Square in London.

Trying Out New Aeroplane

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I’m thinking of getting a new aeroplane, so I have gone to America to look at planes that will be suitable for exploring all over the world.

First Plane

This is the plane I have decided to test fly first and in the two videos below you can see my first flight.

Preparing for take off.

Flying over the mountains at about 10,000 feet.