FAQ

Components and Kits for the R/C Tank Combat Enthusiast

What is R/C Tank Combat? R/C Tank Combat is a tactical combat game utilizing paintball marker equipped remote controlled scale models of tanks and armored cars. Artillery pieces and unarmed support vehicles are also utilized in the game to support the tanks and their missions.

Where can I find out more about R/C tank Combat? At the source http://www.RCTankCombat.com

Do these models really shoot paintballs and can you get hit? Yes to both. Combatants battle on the field alongside their models and often do get hit. All safety gear and procedures that are commonly used in the game of paintball are required in R/C Tank Combat to minimize injury.

Does it hurt when your hit? It can to some degree. It depends on the amount of clothing and range of the shot. If you play in shorts be prepared for a few welts by the end of the day.

These tanks are the coolest thing I’ve ever seen, are kits available? That’s what TyngTech is working towards and will hopefully have kits available soon. Other modelers in the hobby are also working on kits of their designs.

What powers these models? All models in R/C Tank Combat use electric motors and batteries for power. Other forms of power are not allowed for safety reasons.

I’ve heard of EV Warriors, what are they? EV Warriors, or EVW for short, are very high power electric motors that have achieved the “gold standard” in the hobby. EVW’s were originally produced for the now defunct EV Warrior electric bike company. They became very popular in the Battlebot world and of course R/C Tank Combat. EVW’s were once commonly available at many surplus sources but few remain and those that do show up for sale often go for high prices.

If I can’t get any EVW’s what do I use then? Check out Subsystems and Components.

I don’t want to buy motors from you, can I use something else? Sure, motors from cordless drills have been used successfully. Scooter motors work very well also. You want to look for brushed DC motors with a wattage rating of at least 250 for decent performance. Something else to consider is that TyngTech motors have an integrated gear reduction. With other motors this will have to be fabricated by the builder.

I see that some tanks run on 12 volts and other on 24, what’s the difference? Mainly speed and price. A 12 volt tank will be slower and less costly to build. The 24 volt tank will be faster and much more costly to build. It is generally recommended that the first time builder stick with 12 volts for their first vehicle.

What kinds of batteries are used? Deep cycle sealed lead acid batteries (SLA’s) that are in the 12 to 24AH (amp hour) range are the norm. These types of batteries are marketed for use in scooters and computer backup power supplies (UPS’s). Automotive and motorcycle starter batteries are not appropriate for electric model operation.

What is a motor controller? A motor controller is the device that “reads” the signal from the R/C receiver and controls the speed and direction of the drive motor or motors. There are two basic types that are used in the hobby. These are a simple on-off controller and the more advanced Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) controllers that provide proportional speed control.

I’m into electric R/C car and truck models, can I use brand “X” motor controller rated at “a zillion amps” to control a tank motor? In a word no. Most motor controllers built for R/C cars and truck cannot operate above 9 volts. As to the high amps these controllers are usually rated at. These ratings are typically the maximum peak rating for the MOSFETS used in their designs as stated by the MOSFET manufacturer and are totally unrealistic for everyday use. A motor controller that can power a 5 pound model around the track for 3 minutes will fail when attempting to power a 120 pound tank model around the battlefield for an hour.

What kinds of paintball markers are used? Any semi-automatic paintball marker can generally be used. Most models in the hobby use the lower end “Spyder” type markers commonly available at Walmart. Other builders have used higher end electronically triggered markers. It all depends on your budget and what your willing to modify to make work.

How are these models controlled? You can use very basic home grown tether based systems all the way up to high end computer based R/C radio control systems. Some modelers have built control systems based on wireless network technology and even Sony Playstation gamepads.

What does “TTS” mean? TTS is an acronym for Tyng Track System. It is a method of building tank tracks using treadmill belting and cleats attached to the inner and outer surfaces. Though labor intensive to assemble, a TTS track is one of the lightest and best performing designs in the hobby.

What does “KCM” mean? The earliest vehicles in the hobby used motors scavenged from electric kiddie cars, hence KCM for Kiddie Car Motor. Though appropriate for lighter weight slower vehicles, KCM’s are rarely used today in front line combat models.

[Home] [Vehicle Kits] [Componets] [Plans] [Services] [Vehicles for Sale] [Manufacturing] [TeamTyng] [FAQ] [About]