Crap Tank!
I decided to scratch build an RC vehicle and am part way through, three weekends in and it's getting there.
It's made from kitchen chopping board, two electric drills and a couple of hundred bolts. I cut all the cogs myself (Mainly through luck than judgement) and plan to weaponise it and put the wireless camera on this weekend for remote shooting fun.
It's good for about 10 miles an hour and goes pretty much anywhere. all in all I'm not too disappointed with it! ;-)


( JamHamster My eyes, my beautiful eyes!, Fri 18 Nov 2011, 21:35, 18 replies)

I have to say, that looks pretty fucking awesome.

( 2 Can Chunder Word to your mums, I came to prod bums, Fri 18 Nov 2011, 22:32, closed)

Thank you!
It's getting there - I'll YouTube it when it's done! ;-)
( JamHamster My eyes, my beautiful eyes!, Fri 18 Nov 2011, 22:38, closed)

that tank is far from crap

( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Fri 18 Nov 2011, 22:38, closed)

It surprised me too...
I literally threw it together from a bunch of old crap hence the name Crap Tank, I was shocked to find that it actually worked almost as well as I'd pictured it in my head, it didn't even catch fire! ;-)
( JamHamster My eyes, my beautiful eyes!, Fri 18 Nov 2011, 22:45, closed)

*walks away in disgust shackeing head and muttering wheres the fire*

( fluffybunnykiller Is feasting on the clitoris of life, Sat 19 Nov 2011, 9:43, closed)

i like it
but the mythbusters would be disappointed
( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Sat 19 Nov 2011, 18:09, closed)

When does production start?

(yourmumonastickwithmintsauce, Fri 18 Nov 2011, 22:57, closed)

I was trying to get some idea of the scale but then I spotted what I assume is your head sticking out from the side of the rear far-side axle just under the orange wire. Which means this is huge.
(strongp, Sat 19 Nov 2011, 10:53, closed)

Looking superb!
What did you cut the cogs from?

Have you considered using a pic or Arduino (or similar) with a GPS shield and proximity sensors to make it semi-autonomous?

Also, where does the power come from?
(dchurch bah, Sat 19 Nov 2011, 12:02, closed)

I cut the cogs from chopping board, it's great stuff!
I drilled a daisy pattern in the board and then pushed out the middle, which formed a rather handy cog. I sandwiched four of them together with a bearing in the middle to make each gear.
The motors and planetary gearbox come from ultra cheap Tesco 9.6v drills, it's basically a complete unit in itself, just stick a gear on it and you're good to go. They're powered by a Novak M2 Dig speed controller which is more than it needs but I might put larger motors in later on. I really can't overstate how good chopping board is for prototyping, it's strong for its weight, easy to cut, you can even heat and reform it. Oh, and it's cheap too! ;-)
( JamHamster My eyes, my beautiful eyes!, Sun 20 Nov 2011, 20:00, closed)

Fantastic
So, and sorry to keep asking questions, did you cut everything that is white from the chopping board? The stuff in between the tracks I mean. What are the tracks made from?
(dchurch bah, Mon 21 Nov 2011, 11:44, closed)

No worries!
Everything that's white is chopping board and the tracks are made from bike chain and aluminium pipe bolted together at every other chain link. ;-)
( JamHamster My eyes, my beautiful eyes!, Mon 21 Nov 2011, 12:53, closed)

You should invent some sort of TV program...
...where your robot fights other robots similar to yours.
( Turquoise Hexagon Sun has just dropped acid on, Sat 19 Nov 2011, 12:30, closed)

"Robot whores"

( Extinct Jesus Dossier "...I think it counteracts Hitler's magic...", Sat 19 Nov 2011, 14:23, closed)

It could be called Real Steel
And they could make a film about it.
(TheManWithThePlan cussed your mum on, Mon 21 Nov 2011, 10:41, closed)

This is bloody awesome!
But when it's finished and functioning, I have to says it's video, tits or GTFO.
( Extinct Jesus Dossier "...I think it counteracts Hitler's magic...", Sat 19 Nov 2011, 14:26, closed)

I keep running out of time!
LOL! I've got the wireless camera and guns mounted now (Cheap electric BB guns) I just need to fit the servos and wire it up. Once I tweak it I'll film it and stick it up YouPube. I'll try and make it exciting! ;-)
( JamHamster My eyes, my beautiful eyes!, Sun 20 Nov 2011, 20:07, closed)

I fucking love...
...gadgets like that! Can't wait for you to put your camera on it - TANKCAM will rock!
(Harry Webshiter Spiggley biggley bog., Sat 19 Nov 2011, 23:47, closed)