BRDM Driver Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Spent the last few days putting the turret back on BRDM2. It's been off since I bought it. As getting my hands on deact 9M113 Spandrel tubes has proved impossible or ridiculously expensive, I fashioned some dummy tubes! They load/unload just like the real thing! I'd really like to try launching a cardboard replica rocket, powered by a Estes motor, but not sure of the legal ins and outs of doing that. I think that as long as it's a cardboard model, it's ok. Come and say hello at Bovy this weekend if you're at the show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRDM Driver Posted September 18, 2012 Author Share Posted September 18, 2012 And here it is on... I have yet to test the electric drives so it's all manual for now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handler 69 Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 WOW! :wow: I thought a FOX turret would be bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulob1 Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 And here it is on... I have yet to test the electric drives so it's all manual for now... superb if a bit scary with that scafolding pole bending like that..I want one of these models too.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRDM Driver Posted September 18, 2012 Author Share Posted September 18, 2012 There were actually two poles there and we stayed well away once the turret was airborne! The turret is not particularly heavy, but if you're on your lonesome, you have to improvise. I would guess it's probably 150 to 200kg. I took the tilt axis gearbox off as it had seized, to make it a little lighter to lift. Only problem was getting the gearbox back into the underside of the turret once it was mounted. The gearbox assembly weighs about 20-30kg and has three bolts holding it in place. It has no flat surfaces and is top heavy so it was a right bugger to get up into place... Once I got it to within 4 or 5 inches I used long coach bolts to draw it up into place and get the splines to align - sort of like fitting a car gearbox but turned 90 degrees. If I get time before Saturday, I might connect up the turret/guidance batteries and see what happens! I've never tried running any of that stuff before and I don't have operators instructions - only a book on diagnostics - in Russian! In theory the turret should track movements of the gunsight and the load/unload should be automatic, but I would assume it needs to be calibrated so it knows where the turret is in relation to the vehicle so that it can slew and lower the launcher in the right place. There are numerous microswitches about and a lot of very big multipin connectors that would all need to work 100%. I made the launch tubes from 110mm soil pipe and screwed on metal cross brackets that engage with the launcher rails. The cocking mechanism is very clever. As the turret retracts into the vehicle, the rams on the launch rails are reset ready for loading. Once fired, a solenoid releases the trigger on the ram and the empty tube gets fired out backwards. I tried it manually and the tube flies off backwards quite rapidly. I also have the reloader which is also automatic. It carries 5 tubes and is spring loaded like a row of scissor jacks. Once retracted and empty, the loader is operated and all 5 new tubes get thrust into place by the loader jacks. It's all very sophisticated compared to a CVRT Striker! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRDM Driver Posted September 30, 2012 Author Share Posted September 30, 2012 Powered up turret and missile control gear today after rebuilding one of the control boxes that had filled itself with water. Quite exciting! There's a 36v 400hz generator that spins up, then all the lights come on, the loading hatch closes and the turret lurches into life. The gunsight also twitched, so I tried a waggle of the guidance joystick and it worked! The sight can be traversed and elevated and the turret tacks it! I have found a problem with the turret elevation drive though. It's binding up and the drive motor is overheating. Turns out there are two electromagnetic powder clutches in there and they are binding. That aside, it was pretty cool watching the turret track the sight. None of this gear has been powered for years and years so I'm amazed anything worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 Brilliant - I love it! Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handler 69 Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 Good work mate.....have you been in touch with Jarek yet? Cheers Troy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRDM Driver Posted October 1, 2012 Author Share Posted October 1, 2012 Hi Troy, I did email them a while back but no answer. Do you have a direct email address? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRDM Driver Posted October 4, 2012 Author Share Posted October 4, 2012 It lives! (excuse dodgy phone cam video - will record something decent soon!) I put the powder back in the clutches, re-assembled the elevation servo and installed it today. Last link in the chain was to trick out the reloading tray with a wire link, which I haven't fitted inside, as it won't retract if the reloader is not ready. It's quite noisy when working at the servos run at full speed even when stationary and I need to fine tune the turret-sight alignment. It seems to need to have the turret located in the exact 'home' position before retracting, but I think it sound home the turret automatically. The main operation is full automatic once the turret is in place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chevpol Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 very nice, slightly frightening tho, dont know why!!!! Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handler 69 Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 Congrats! Looks like something out of mech warrior now . LOve the way everything folds away like that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRDM Driver Posted October 5, 2012 Author Share Posted October 5, 2012 Yes it's cool to watch, but you do need to keep clear of it as the motors are really powerful and there are no 'dead mans handle' type safety switches, only interlocks to make sure hatches are shut etc. The way the servos work is quite spooky as the turret looks like it's possessed - it follows the gunsight even if you move the gunsight by hand and if you try and shove the turret, it resists and pushes you back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handler 69 Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 It is all those politically incorrect people comrade.....the party had to put them some where....Sibera was getting full! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRDM Driver Posted October 7, 2012 Author Share Posted October 7, 2012 And now in beautiful High Rez! Spent today getting the automatic homing when you activate the 'turret stow' function working and fitted a lug to the launch tubes so the control system 'knows' they are fitted. This in turn allows them to be selected 'fired' and ejected! A couple of ejector solenoids seem to be stuck, but not bad for a days work! I'll get them sorted shortly... All systems nearly 100% working now. All fully automatic, simply select a rocket and it goes into launch mode and tracks the gunsight, select 'stow' and it returns to the 'home' position and stows itself. Even the reload of the next 5 tubes is automated. There's a great video here of the Romanian army BRDM2 firing live rockets. It's amazing how fast they fly and how the blast from the 'gas generator' that gets the rocket out of the tube makes the engine air vent hatches fly up. Those hatches are bloody heavy... I think you'd be a brave man to fire one from the portable launcher... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chevpol Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 brilliant, wasnt expecting the tubes to eject tho!!! :wow: mind you, I was waiting for a reloaded launcher to reappear!! Well done Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRDM Driver Posted October 7, 2012 Author Share Posted October 7, 2012 Hi Mark, I have the reloader, but it's not in the vehicle at the moment and I need to get down to Screwfix for some more rockets!!!:-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texas pete Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Hey Buddy! That looks absolutely amazing! Well done! Would be awesome to see it again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRDM Driver Posted November 22, 2012 Author Share Posted November 22, 2012 No problem, pop down any time. You can check out the Scorpion and Abbot too! That's assuming we don't get washed away.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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