RichJohnson

The long wait is over and short wait has begun. Production has started of the 3d printed HVSS kit.
Kit consists of 3d printed parts, tires printed in black, ball bearings in all wheels and rollers, mato metal adjustable idler and henglong pershing track.
Also includes M4a3 fender kit.
First production batch is 10 kits. Submit your reservation now I think they will go fast.
Target price is $200 US but that is not firm, it may have to change depending on some supplier costs.

GTORA2

This looks pretty awesome! I watched your testing videos on Youtube. Good stuff.

Crius

That looks great, Rich, what did you use for the black tires, something flexible like TPU? Or are they just pla?

RichJohnson

Black PLA. That way we know it wont come apart or fail.

RichJohnson

I have started packing kits for the preorders.
Retail price is now $235 plus tax and shipping.
The listing is up on my website rc tank parts page RC Tank Products

the t23 turrets are nearly ready and I am preparing to evaluate the prototype run of the A1 cast hull.

Ziptar

Rich,
Just now replied to your PM, in for one.
Thanks!

Fsttanks

I just got mine in. WOW it has a lot of parts all nicely packaged. I can't wait to start building it. Will post some photo of the all the kit parts later. So far very impressed!!

RiskyR

Please do! I'll be very interested to see others opinion about the set

Fsttanks

Basic photos of the EZ8 parts kit.


Packaging.

Part assemblies are all individual packed.

Metal idlers adjuster. They look like MATO one that have been modified to work with a larger idler wheel.

RichJohnson

A customer sent me a video of his completed tank running.
note he has a prototype of my T23 turret , that will soon be available, on his tank completing the EZ8 kit that I market.

RiskyR

That looks so cool. Can't describe how rewarding it feels for me, seeing someone else with the finished product. Awesome!

bowlman

Rich are you doing the cast upper hull to with fenders also in 3d printed .
Thanks
Jimmy

RichJohnson

Its coming. We have to get to it. Im trying to get the turret finalized and ready to go right now. My printers doing the resin work are backed up with big orders that were in before some of my stuff. Since my projects are smaller they tend to do them in between the bigger paying jobs, it keeps my costs down so I can sell stuff at a decent price.

Ziptar

I received my kit last week. Awesome work Rich, really detailed and so many pieces, my mind boggled! It' really nice stuff! I'm trying to track down a lower hull or whole tank so I can get started on it, preference is a lower hull as I've a bunch of other parts already. matomart.com shows lower hull is in stock, anyone purchased from them before?

RichJohnson

Rick and I appreciate your applause. An enormous amount of work went into designing developing and producing these kits.

tankme

Matomart is a decent shop. Most of their inventory is in Canada so shipping times might be long.

RichJohnson

You could try the cheap static Sherman version that people were buying from toucan I think or aliexpress. They were old stripped 5.3 with no systems in them.

RMS IN SD

Ziptar, the video above is mine. I started with a static Heng Long Sherman: motors, gearboxes, smoker, traverse and elevation motors were all included. Just no electronics, radio or battery. However, in eBay I just saw a full RTR HL 7.0 Sherman for $134, US stiock, no shipping or make offer. Kinda hard to beat that by buying parts.

As far as Rich's kit goes, my only advice is to FOLLOW HIS INSTRUCTIONS! The only times I got in trouble was when I didn't! Even then those were minor.

I took out three track links and adjusted the idlers. Literally, no detracking! Have fun, it's worth every penny.

Ziptar

Thanks for the advice on the instructions and tracks! Much appreciate it. I've actually ordered 2 hulls and they're on the way, very s-l-o-w-l-y on the way. Having ordered from China before I was prepared to be patient but, I just checked tracking and nothing has left mainland China yet. Ordered the one from Mato-Mart and threw in a bunch of stuff in to make the $20 shipping worthwhile. Found another on aliexpress from Reachon Model Store $27.80 shipped which is a great price I thought.

I'd been keeping my mind off it with a couple of old Radio Shack RC Sherman "M4A2"s I found at a garage sale for $15 that needed some love. Finished last week, made both into one that runs like new. It was fun to get one working and running it around but it's 3 functions (left, right, and stop) can only captivate for so long. So now I'm periodically opening up the box from Rich, reading through the instructions and looking all the parts over (as I resist the urge to open up all those bags), my mind boggles, it's just such an awesome kit.

Getting impatient I just made a lowball offer on a open box US stock 7.0 RTR on eBay. It wasn't accepted automatically so I guess we'll see. Not worried about the extra lowers I've ideas for a couple of other Sherman variants so they'll get put to use, actually I may order a couple more from aliexpress given the price (and because there are so many Sherman variants).

Question for you guys where are you finding the cheap plastic static Shermans? I've looked all over and only found one on aliexpress it was priced at $42 but shipping was $125 and there's 3 on ebay but they are priced higher than the plastic RTRs. Maybe they're all gone now, I missed out? That'd be about my luck.

RMS IN SD

Interesting. I just did a search and didn't see any static Shermans. looks like they really are gone, for now at least. Those basic RTR tanks are still there. Look for Shermans that ship from Cranbury, NJ. They're from a bunch of sellers, but they are all agents for Toucan Hobby. Typically they accept offers. If you make an offer for about 10 to 15 % less, they usually accept. Remember, Cranbury NJ! They ship quickly. I usually get mine in California in about 5-7 days.

Ziptar

You were right on the money RMS IN SD! My first offer was rejected, it was a real lowball so not surprised but hey, if you don't ask... Toucan Hobby countered and we haggled a bit and now I've got an RTR Sherman shipping out Cranbury, NJ. for $120 + $20.99 shipping. eBay says it'll be on my doorstep on Tuesday. So it looks like I'll be able to get to work on my HVSS kit next week. I didn't need another complete setup at the moment as I've got a couple other Sherman variants in mind it's not like the parts will go to waste.

RMS IN SD

Congratulations! Toucan has been a very reliable source. Also, if you feel adventurous and have PayPal, you can email them directly and ask about an item. I bought a custom dark green “red eye” T-90 from them that way.

RichJohnson

Since I cant load pictures from my PC or phone I have a video posted on youtube for the turret operation demo.

The turret kit is available now. I have a limited stock at the moment since this is the first run.
The turret is made to fit the henglong sherman. It is made in a high quality model grade 3d resin and engineering tappable resin depending on the parts.
I perform the servo install and zero the servos and attach them and perform a function test with a henglong 7.1 system to control the two servos.
The customer will have to perform the light sanding of the finish and model work to complete the assembly and pin the hatches.
The cost is $145

RichJohnson

I thought I would bump this thread with a notice that I have upgraded my hvss kit in the second run by contracting out the bogie arm to my resin printer JVM3DConcepts. Assembling the bogie arm halves square and true is the most difficult and important assembly in the hvss kit so I am having them now made for me as one piece unfits in high strength engineering resin. A great improvement for assembly of the kit.

Also here are some pics of the T23 turret. Operation is with servos included. I’m gearing up for the second run now.