Do you ever find you need a third hand while working on your tank ?

When we were at the last tank battle, I was watching a KV being worked on (problem with one motor not working). As I was watching, I noticed something that happens to me also...not enough hands to hold this or that. Who holds the lid open while your working on the tank because the MFR does not make the wires long enough to sit the top of the tank beside the body.

It had me thinking that I needed to build a test stand that would allow me to run the tanks tracks, Test motors, Lubricate motors and inspect electronics without sticking a block of wood on the underside...(risky at best). So my thoughts were, I need elevate the tank and have the top of the tank held beside the tank, leaving my hands free to do what I want. Below are pics of my one hour tank cradle build. It's a bit crude, but totally functional and does exactly what I want it to do, with a minimal cost of less than $20.00.

It has been tested on the M41, Tiger 1, King Tiger and Pz III and works fine.

nice job Ian i like that just have to camo it...lol

i know i had the top hull slip before and a wire pull of sometimes not fun trying to find where the darn wire came off from

your stand eliminates this from happening

Camo....hahaha, I was just thinking the same thing. I already have the scotchbrite on it and will paint it with a standard green tan paint job...

one more thing you need a tray to put the screws and other little parts in so we don't lose them

or even to store our little screwdrivers

Good idea, on both counts, I'm on it...

hehehe excellent i just don't know what you would use for them

if you are into airsoft ever wonder where to store your bb's now you can store them in your stand ...lol

Not into airsoft, but if you are, I have a pile of BB's for you...free for the asking to a Can-Am member.

no not me i have a bunch still from original packages...lol we should find someone to give them to or auction off all what we gather to someone that is into that on RCU and put the money towards our battle day lunch fund...lol

Very creative, sure looks like it will keep the "bit and pieces" from flailing around and getting damaged.

Airbrushler wrote:

no not me i have a bunch still from original packages...lol we should find someone to give them to or auction off all what we gather to someone that is into that on RCU and put the money towards our battle day lunch fund...lol

Yeah, once I perform the next two conversions, I won't have anything to shoot the BB's from, either.

Hey, now your talkin. Thats a great idea .I think that will even work for my storage / transport case. Thx

Just as everything that is custom built, you make changes. After I mounted the tank on the stand, I realized I had no way to carry/move the tank around or from one work bench to another. Version 2 of the stand. Incorporate carry handles and I also realized one of my King Tigers has extra wide tracks and would hit the tank lid holder. So, Version 3 has it so the back stand could swing back or forward, to accomadate any width of 1/16 scale tank, big or small. I have included a new Picture of Version 3 in hope it will help you build yours. I'm now going to build a second one...these are awesome..lol I'm still working on ideas for small part holders / screwdriver mounts. V4 ? lol

It also should be noted, that if you don't glue the 90 deg. elbows as show, the Tank Lid stand portion also will swing around completly so that it is inside the main frame, making it very easy to transport.

Would you happen to have a parts list?

I have thought of making a parts list for this but have recently come up with a new design.  If you're going to the Feb meet, you will be able to see it there.   Once I get some feedback on the new design and people's opinion on preference between the two designs, I can make the plans and parts  list available to any who wish it.

I also make these for people at pretty much cost.  Actually, I was making them below cost...lol
I think I was selling them at $25.00 (bad math on my part)

Here's the break down.

T pipe                                    12  x    $0.57 $6.84
elbow pipe                              12  x   $0.79 $9.48
long  pipe   $1.00 per foot x     12  x   $12.00 $12.00

Sub Total $28.32
Tax $3.68
Total $32.00

If you want one made, let me know and I can make you one.  If not, wait until you see the new design next week and see if you want one made that way.

Either way, I can provide a parts list for anyone next week if they wish to make their own.  it takes about an hour to cut and assemble.

Stinger

nice idea stinger.

I will take any unwanted bb's as I still have a couple of air soft tanks. THANK YOU for the pics and plans.

Sorry, I just looked at the dates.

what colour bb's would you like

It does not matter. I am not picky.

Mine is easy.



I would be tempted to reduce the width between the 2x4s and the 2x6 To 6.5 or 7 inches. At 7.5 inches the wires on the upper hull have little play for the panther.

kwa, your drawing is crap but writing is perfect.......  :-)

Lol my freehand is horrible. I couldn't draw freehand to save my life! I used to be good with autocad and manual drafting though.

Stinger said that he had redesigned the tank stand. What did he change?

That is version 2 improved. KWA looks like Stonehenge... just saying.... :-)

Standhenge ...