Building a tank...maybe.

[JesterTLS]

Hey guys, just to get some talking going on in here, cause it's kind of quiet.


Anyway, Team O.D.X. has two pieces of armor. Our tank and APC. Phots in the picture thread. They are starting construction on a third vehicle this week. It's a 95 Chevy Astro Van that will become a Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

Well, now a few other team memebrs myself included are thinking about building tanks of our own. One guy is wanting to do a Scout/recon car. I do actually like the German Schwimmerwagon. I thought about doing something to look like that. It wont be amphibious of course. But not sure what I want to do.

I am also thinking about trying to find an old small 4x4, like a Chevy Luv or old Toyota 4x4. Something that will be able to get around rougher terrain.

Thoughts??? We might end up with more armor then infantry memebers. We can always get more ground pounders.

[JesterTLS]

In theroy, this is what I would like to build. Looks like something I may be able to actually get close to recreating. Probally not.



These Recon cars are pretty sweet. Not saying I could or would be able ot build one, but this is what I am thinking on.

[USArmyManOfWar]

That would be a sweet looking tank. Hmmmm, gives me some ideas.

[Brain]

My personal favorite vehicle to use as a base is a Suzuki Samurai or Geo tracker, of course 4x4. The 4x4 is handy in rough terrain but also in 4 wheel low allows very low speed which can be a problem with the crunchies. Do you think you guys are going to make it to PBC in November? It would be great to have 10+ tanks on the field.

[Bobio]

Originally Posted by Brain

My personal favorite vehicle to use as a base is a Suzuki Samurai or Geo tracker, of course 4x4. The 4x4 is handy in rough terrain but also in 4 wheel low allows very low speed which can be a problem with the crunchies. Do you think you guys are going to make it to PBC in November? It would be great to have 10+ tanks on the field.

You are right Brain. It really would be a lot of fun with that many tanks on your field. Your field offers the most variety when it comes to terrain for tanks I have seen to date.

[Bobio]

The first thing you should consider is how are you going to get your tank from game to game. We literally had to give up on the Big Tiger because it became cost prohibitive to transport it from field to field. ATV's and golf carts aren't as big and offer limited design options, but a smaller vehicle and less expensive trailers can be used to transport.

Not that I'm bragging, but our tanks are golf carts, lawn mowers and ATV's. We have found golf carts for as little as $100.00. And they perform quite well in most situations. Just my two cents.

[USArmyManOfWar]

Good advice, thanks Bobio.
A wise man doesn't learn from his mistakes, he learns from others.

[JesterTLS]

I posted the info on PBC on teamODX's forums. If I can get some others interested, I will take off that weekend. It's a heck of a drive, but you know, I havent been out of town for more than a day trip since before I could drive. Not including two training/conferences I have went to in the past nine year. I never travel, and to be honest, I thinks it time I did a bit more.

Towwing is an issue of course, and gas prices. But our two main tanks live at the field, or the property owners house which is beside the field. The Bradley will live there also. If I build one, I can probally store it at my friends house, where most of the construction will take place anyway. He lives closer to the field, and has the trucks and trailers to haul it.

As far as transporting to other fields, I have not considered it that far. Our Tank and APC have went to D-Day and will probally start doing some other events. For the field the tanks are more than just a tank, they are an advertisment for the field, team, and sponsors. So there are always other motives for taking a tank some where.

Size: well, yeah I agree. I want to keep it small. The Suzuki type 4x4's are pretty good. You know the rock crawling society love the Samurai. And the Tracker or Sidekick may be easier to find. Cost is a question, but then again, I havent started to check and figure what I can find one for. I am wanting to use light weight material to form the body. Plastic sheets perhapse... NOt sure what I can find yet.

I originally wanted something like the Yamaha Rhino. But you can find an old road vehicle cheaper than you can a new 4 wheeler. I am still considering what to get.

[Bobio]

Sounds like you are thinking it through. We have to tow ours where ever we play, so that became a major consideration.

[Brain]

Budget. It is one word that means the most when doing a project like this. Get one, then start shopping. I have a friend that owns a towing company. He is a great contact for picking up cheap 4x4s. Body condition means nothing as long as the frame is in decent shape, the only concern is mechanics ( make sure it runs). My next tank will be based on the frame of a trac hoe I am trying to aquire. It will be pretty expensive but will be my "masterpiece". I wish you luck with your project and don't hesitate to ask anyone here about the process as well as your teammates. I hope you guys can make it here (we do have incentives for tanks to come), I promise it will be worth the trip!