First Gen Sherman (rt1601)- Advice?

[Dmon1996]

I have just lucked into a "new" but assembled M4 Sherman 105mm Howitzer (part# RT1601) off eBay and am trying to detrmine the best course of action. It is assembled, functional (I believe- it has not yet arrived) and is currently unpainted with the original decal sheet intact. I am into the whole R/C 1/16 scale tank thing, but have bought Heng Long up to now. What with this Sherman being 40 years old, I believe it deserves better than just hacking ito it and modifying it without a plan. I would like to add turret and cannon elevation to the r/c control, modify it slightly and paint it to better reflect a specific tank from WWII (I have not decided on the tank, but this is the idea). However, I'd like feedback from you more experienced Tamiya-ists as to what is acceptable modification and what is blasphemy. I do not want to corrupt this beautiful antique. Heng Long will be releasing a Sherman in 2009, and I can hack one of those with a clear concience to do an aquatic, bulldozer, bridge layer, etc. This gem will be a fighting Sherman!

Thanks for any advice given.

D'mon1996

Subaru Brat, Frog, Hornet, now Sherman Tamiya enthusiast

[Bluefoot]

Hi.

These tanks have a very rudimentary level of control. Pretty much "go" and "Stop", foward and reverse, and steering is achieved using a clutch setup. There was never any means of moving the turret or cannon. If you want to preserve it as a piece of Tamiya history - it was their first ever RC vehicle - then I'd leave it as it is. However they are great to drive if you install an ESC - lovely slow crawl. You can install an ESC without removing the original electrics (just disconnect the speed 'switch' )

I have an original Sherman set up with an ESC that I run, but I also have a full-option Sherm which has all the movement, sound and light which the original will never have:

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.a...=02112008093109

[Dmon1996]

Thanks for the info and especially the pics! I can see how the ESC is a low impact change, while giving far more control and lessening the stress of use. I assume that with the Sherman running on two RS380 motors, a standard ESC should be fine for the current flow needed. Off to eBay I go!