BRDM-2 amphibious 4x4 project

[rpmtech1]

Hello,

I'm new here to RC4WD, and rock crawling arena. I thought I would share my latest model. I build models professionally, submarines, boats, dinosaurs, rockets etc. This is my first wheeled production vehicle.

The model is 1/8 scale Russian built BRDM-2 armored amphibious vehicle. These are used by lots of countries, they carry either gun turret, or missile launchers on the top.

These are the master parts for the composite tooling. It uses the "unibody" type of construction, and will be made from fiberglass, with cast detail parts. Any number of axles and compopnents could be used on this. I chose to use these parts for the prototype working model first:

So far I have these parts:
T-rex 60 axles
Tamiya 3-spd f-350 hilux trans
Tamiya leaf springs

Designed for 5" size tires.

Of course, it will be able to swim.:) That will probably be a Graupner jetpump, but early to tell, i might make my own scale ducted propeller unit.

First, I'll post some picts of a a real one. An interesting design thing, is the 4 small wheels in the center of the vehicle that raise and lower. these are actually powered, to get over high-centering obstacles. Pretty slick

[rpmtech1]

Here are the first set for the model. at 1/8 scale it's about 27" long x 11.5 wide. Not too big or too small. I was going to do 1/6 at first, but just too big, no real choice of running gear with that size.

http://rpmtech.smugmug.com/photos/508587910_R3YAc-M.jpg

http://rpmtech.smugmug.com/photos/508588961_7Mgnz-M.jpg

http://rpmtech.smugmug.com/photos/508589404_HcBJY-M.jpg

http://rpmtech.smugmug.com/photos/508589834_ymQb3-M.jpg

http://rpmtech.smugmug.com/photos/508589738_ThiMY-M.jpg


http://rpmtech.smugmug.com/photos/508589364_BUKys-M.jpg

http://rpmtech.smugmug.com/photos/508591766_5WzMX-M.jpg

http://rpmtech.smugmug.com/photos/508590131_rogs7-M.jpg

http://rpmtech.smugmug.com/photos/508592966_3aQBA-M.jpg

http://rpmtech.smugmug.com/photos/508591079_vBPSB-M.jpg

http://rpmtech.smugmug.com/photos/508590936_a6gQB-M.jpg

http://rpmtech.smugmug.com/photos/508592197_9zaBD-M.jpg

http://rpmtech.smugmug.com/photos/508592833_P4urK-M.jpg

http://rpmtech.smugmug.com/photos/508592572_cYQpo-M.jpg

[rpmtech1]

Thats it for now, I am now molding everything, stay tuned for more.

Rick

www.rpmtech1.com

[rc4wd]

Amazing, cant wait to see when its done. Make sure post some cool video too.

[AsylumDriver]

That is sick, id kill for some of your know how in modeling. i spose i should start practicing. There are more than a few vehicals i opperated in the army that i would liketo model. Just as an aside, i had a chance to drive a few brdms and a few other russian tracks and vehicals while in iraq. Ill tell ya, they built their vehicals for punishment and neglect. basically the coolest bumper cars ever.

[rpmtech1]

Hi,

Thanks,

Yeah, the russians do build some down to earth tough stuff. Interesting you drove them. i would imagine driving a BRDM would be , well... akward, uncomfortable, hot:p

[AsylumDriver]

this would be the first one, now i just gotta get four of the new blackwell axles. I drove these for four years, they are pretty awesome vehicals, i actally had one of these touching just the front and rear axles in hohnfells germany. anyway awesom brdm, great, great inspiration!

[rpmtech1]

You know, my next vehicle was going to be an 8x8. I like that one, do you have good pictures of it?

Problem is, Blackwells, unless RC4wd makes plastic versions, the model would be pretty expensive.

I like the crane too, that would be cool.

I was thinking before of a SCUD 8x8, but this one i like, whats it called?

[AsylumDriver]

Hi,

Thanks,

Yeah, the russians do build some down to earth tough stuff. Interesting you drove them. i would imagine driving a BRDM would be , well... akward, uncomfortable, hot:p

they were cramped, i dont know about awkward, they only thing you really had to worry about was hitting your head...constantly. I think they basically built them for a smaller average person. Or it could be that we americans are even a bit spoiled as to the amount of space we had in our armored vehicals. You definatlly had alot more space in a bradley. (everything was hot in iraq:D) we had a few captured vehicals after the war ended and the occupation began, untill they took em away. i even managed to have an old russian motorcycle for a week or so.

[AsylumDriver]

It is a heavy expanded mobility multi-wheeled vehical, or hemmt. 14 ton load for the flat bed, 4k capaccity crane that folded to the rear of the truck, transformer style. ill get some pics to ya friday. im headed to moab early tomorow so ill be away all day. it has a both turbo and supercharged v8 detriot deisel, which i always dug. A little factiod, the small window on the driver side of the trucks floor pan is the fording window, there is a bar that crosses it that gives you an idea of where the ford hieght is. another factoid is it never worked because you have wave push that always went over it if you got within two feet of the max ford depth.

[rpmtech1]

Cool. Funny, that window. No rush on the picts, great whenever you can. I have never seen one of those, or at least paid attention to it. Is it a strictly military, or is there a commercial version?

[scubadaveojr]

that is awesome!!!! nice work, i dont think i have ever seen a scaled version of these.... good work

[AsylumDriver]

Cool. Funny, that window. No rush on the picts, great whenever you can. I have never seen one of those, or at least paid attention to it. Is it a strictly military, or is there a commercial version?

As far as i know its mil only. Oshkosh makes them in various different configurations. The marines have a version that articulates in the middle, there is a five axled version that has pallet beds that slide on and off. They make about fifty or sixty different types, from tow/recovery vehicles, to fuel tankers, to tractor trailers. Just do a google image search for hemtt.
Oh and i mixed my acronyms up, hemtt stands for heavy expanded mobility tactical truck. i threw in a bit of the hummers acronym in the first one.(high mobility multi-wheeled vehical, or hmmwv)

[rpmtech1]

Got all the molds made. Here is the lower hull "tub" or chassis. This is the femail mold of the underside of the vehicle. The actual part will be layed up inside this mold.

The white pieces are templates for the fiberglass cloth to be cut.

[scubadaveojr]

nice work!!! thanks for showing it to us!!

[roborg5000]

Love to see the different builds.

Thanks for posting this ;)

Im looking forward to seeing it run.

Any plans on installing an MFU ?

Keep up the good work!

[rpmtech1]

Hi,

I made the first "hull" from the molds.

now i am working on outfitting it with the suspension and running gear

The bare lower hull pictured here weighs 4lbs, so i estimate that a finished vehicle will weigh about 10#

I'm trying to do an estimate of for the leaf springs, what to start out with.

You can see the Tamiya 3 speed in place

I have a Benedini sound module for engine sounds, if you havent herd one of these, you would be amazed! They make the tamiya stuff sound like crap. And you can choose from a list of special engine sounds, recordings from actual vehicles.

[rpmtech1]

Here is the new scale wheel prototype. These fit the Traxxas 2.2 $3 wheel:)

Also some preliminary rear suspension mountings.

[smm_cbf]

perfect detail,awesome work

[roborg5000]

Great progress!

You may have better luck with these leaf mounts

http://rc4wdstore.com/product_info.php?cPath=57&products_id=884 ;)

[rpmtech1]

Hi everyone,

I moved this build over to:

http://www.scale4x4rc.org/forums/showthread.php?t=33606

Of course, this vehicle is fitted with mostly RC4WD running parts, but I need it to get more exposure. I will certianly tell and recommend the RC4WD parts I use on the other forum;)

I hate to bail on this forum, but after all i am doing this to sell these:o

Please refer to the above link to follow he build!

Thanks much,

Rick

[scubadaveojr]

it is getting better and better every time i see it!! keep up the good work!