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Building a Tank??

Matt Kahle

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Well then Patracy what would you do for tracks? I'm a big fan of t-34 tracks I like tracks that can be repaired unlike the rubber tracks from a cat equipment.
 

SilverCat

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I have the location to use it. Many of the construction items listed above are owned by a buddy of mine and shouldn't be an issue. I'm not going to be doing any casting probably.

Has as anyone checked out that DARPA vehicle forge program??
 

Another Ahab

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Here were a Chinese man build his own home made tank .

And one of a Russian that does the same thing.
Both nice items, though the Chinese version looks like it might involve fiberglass (which just isn't real armor), BUT still that's a nice machine.

And I'm loving the Russian program of trading "Track for Crack": building armor to get the local kids off drugs. How great is that?!
 

m16ty

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I'll admit I haven't paid any close attention to tank tracks but I've never seen a piece of construction equipment with casted tracks. All I've ever seen were forged. I wouldn't think cast tracks would be strong enough.

I'm good friends with a guy that owns a forging company but I still think it would be much cheaper just to buy tracks than it would be to either build or buy a mold and forge them yourself. Molds are usually very expensive. I talked to him one time about forging towbar parts and he knew a guy that had the milspec molds but it was still going to be very expensive unless you did a very large run. He used to have the government contract to make front shackles for deuces and 5-tons.
 

datadawg

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Is it possible to find an old Soviet tank and buy it for scrap and a few bottles of Smirnoff? I can't imagine it makes sense to build a tank, unless your time is worthless (or valueless) OR you simply enjoy doing this kind of "work" so much that rational/economic calculus is irrelevant. I am sure some Soviet tanks are sitting in fields now, waiting. I shudder to think of logistics though in importing something like that.
 
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SilverCat

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I know for a fact that it's a bit under $4000 to ship a BRDM-2 sized vehicle from The Czech Republic to Houston Texas. Also, don't you just need to fill out forms or whatnot and be approved to have one shipped in??
 

m16ty

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Everybody wants a tank from the time they are old enough to talk. The reality is that they are very expensive to own and operate though and their use is very limited.

I would imagine building one would be equally expensive (if not more), not counting all the man hours you'll have involved. Sure, I could build something out of plywood that would look pretty good at 100' but to build one that is remotely identical to a real tank is going to take some major cash.
 

doghead

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Get a 3d printer.
 

Another Ahab

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Just get yourself a big air compressor and one of these - fake as you can get: l
Kind of like the "Quaker Guns" used to fool McClellan by General Johnston in 1861.

Or one of these, which I think was from Operation Fortitude (prior to the Normandy Landings).

Guaranteed rust free!


m4 Inflatable.jpg
 
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SilverCat

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Haha, I think I'll go a little bit more real than a blow up tank. I have read about those fortitude tanks though.

I am more of a Civil War kinda guy though.
 

Another Ahab

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Haha, I think I'll go a little bit more real than a blow up tank. I have read about those fortitude tanks though.

I am more of a Civil War kinda guy though.
I hear you. And I think there were other Quaker Gun stories besides Johnston's but I can't recall any others right now.

Anyway, rooting for you strong on your tank idea. It's hard not to like armor. How about tackling something like a 3/4 or 1/2 scale reproduction of something historic?

Maybe something like a British Mark V (see attached). It's kind of fundamental, which might make the work easier:


305px-British_Mark_V_(male)_tank.jpg
 

vettes

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The panzer 1 is a smallish tank. I have seen guys take a bren gun carrier and convert it using 1/4 inch plate. Brens are pretty easy to find. Also if a high speed tractor (m4-5) is too costly what about a regular bull dozer? after all, all you want is the lower half anyway and im sure there out there cheap
 

SilverCat

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My only concern about tackling something historic is accuracy. In doing something real, I'd want to be as accurate as possible. Where do I find plans and outlines and whatnot for tanks?? In the cabin and externally??
 
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