Chieftain ARRV - Armoured Recovery Vehicle - rc conversion 1/35 scale

[@emilchocoball7742]

I'm smiling while watching this. Amazing! You've got to show how you make these.

[@gonzomechanic7196]

Thank you! Trouble is that all these models involve a lot of experients - many of which fail. This ARV, for example, has had three entire sets of internals. So quite hard to make into a workable video. Might try with one of the rocket launchers I have coming up...

[@kingdomoflaramidia8476]

Beautiful! Outstanding amount of work fellow, I applaud!

[@weddellseal8414]

really impressed with the 1/35 hydraulics while using a standard set. I just 3d printed mine and shoved bunch of geared motors in it

[@gonzomechanic7196]

Thank you. Not all that easy to do as it turns out. Might have another go at the crane one day. Figure I could make it work better.

[@weddellseal8414]

@@gonzomechanic7196 is it possible to see how you made the hydraulics? would love to learn but it looks really painful and messy at this scale.

[@richard29415]

Whoa! Those models are amazing!!

[@gonzomechanic7196]

Glad you like them!

[@coast219]

The ultimate urban assault vehicle😎. Too bad about the failed micro hydraulics, atleast you got true to scale oil leaks 😆

[@gonzomechanic7196]

Yes, and apparently leaks were pretty familiar to the REME troops who used these things. I'll do a video about the hydraulic parts I made because someone else may be able to do a better job and - when they work - they look so much more realistic than the alternatives.

[@daibuckler6180]

As with many of the comments below, brilliant build along with the others you've done. Surprised it's taken me this long to find your video.s though I've only recently started gathering more information on the Chieftain and Challenger ARRV's. Being former REME and also a model maker (statics only so far) this is of special interest. Thanks muchly for sharing. I've several questions and probably way too many for this forum. Starting at the bottom so to speak I noted that both the ARV and Cr2 had working suspension, could you explain how you did that? Next looking at your notes and the comments you seem to use RC kits for drive components for the drives, do you have a list and links for these? You also mention much experimentation for the hydraulics, etc, again any information on these would be greatly appreciated. I've a contact here in south Wales that does Micro Led type lighting but all information greatly appreciated. I've some reference information on other REME type vehicles if you're planning on any more give me a shout, Hopefully it'll be of use for the detail work. Regards DB

[@gonzomechanic7196]

Hello Dai, Very glad you liked the vid and always pleased to hear back from someone who knows about the vehicle concerned. To begin with some of the information you need is on the intro page if you open the video on computer - rather than phone. The second thing I should say is that this is the most complex object - of any kind - that I have ever made. So not for the faint hearted! But to take a couple of points. The suspension is different on both. The Cr2 has a really complex system involving individual springs that I came up with myself and I would not repeat. A better and simpler way is to use actual torsion bars made from 0.8 ss rod. There are lots of videos on youtube where people show how this is done. On the Arv I adapted the suspension found on the old tamiya Cheiftain hull by cutting off the plastic molded spring and replacing it with an appropriately sized steel one. Still quite fiddly to get it all to hold together but effective when it does. Some more modern kits have better or even working supension so look at some 'in box reviews' to see which do. The upper hull is by the great Accurate Armour of Scotland. The winch was just a gear motor driving a cable drum. The crane was all done by servos but not very well and I'd design it differently if I were to takle this again. The dozer blade is a cheat. It is spring loaded down but lifted by by a thin fishing line that is attached to the piston rods and pulled through the piston by a servo in the hull. I keep meaning to do a video on mini hydraulics as I made a number of pistons and tiny pumps. But, to sum up my findings: to get them to work properly at this scale would require tolerances and specifications that would make them all but unnaffordable - and way beyond my limited machining skills. What was tantalising was how powerful they were. But mine always leaked and found bubbles from somewhere!

[@daibuckler6180]

@@gonzomechanic7196 Many thanks for the fantastic reply, some interesting solutions to the suspension systems, I've seen some of the demonstrations you mention and am thinking of doing similar for a few Chieftain variants, though the CR1 and CR2 s may also be improved. I've a Cromwell ARV that I'm adapting to give partial working suspension and the ideas have given me some fresh impetus! Like the idea of the sprung dozer blade and the servo operated crane, as you say a nightmare with micro hydraulics, definitely powerful even small cylinders can move a huge amount, "long enough lever and all that!" If you'd PM me I may have some more info for future builds. Regards Dai