My Senior design project - a "Swamp Thing" tracked vehicle clone

[ArlyA]

gee Garauld, you sure don't got no snow there!

 

[Garauld]

you sure don't got no snow there!

Yup, you got that right. Notice that it has no tracks either! It should be ready for first snow in the fall.

 

[aczlan]

It is a nice day here in upstate NY so I rolled Snowzer out of the shop in an attempt to see if it would run. After putting a couple gallons in the fuel tank and a bit of cranking, viola - it actually ran! I moved the shifter arm through its paces and the axle CV housings moved appropriately. I do have a small atf drip leak that is probably located where I split the diff housing to I weld it up. This will need to be addressed at some point.

View attachment 595976

That picture looks like you need more triangulation across the back so it doesn't fold up if you roll over...

Aaron Z

 

[ArlyA]

I'd agree but without knowing what he's covering the cab with, it would be had to complain about his design. Seems most people use pretty light material for that.

That picture looks like you need more triangulation across the back so it doesn't fold up if you roll over...

Aaron Z

 

[Garauld]

I will add some X-bracing to the rear car wall - NBD. As far as wall covering, I've been turning this around in my brain for a while. I'm leaning towards Formica? Just glue it on and it's relatively cheap / easy to replace if it got damaged. Your thoughts?

 

[ArlyA]

I will add some X-bracing to the rear car wall - NBD. As far as wall covering, I've been turning this around in my brain for a while. I'm leaning towards Formica? Just glue it on and it's relatively cheap / easy to replace if it got damaged. Your thoughts?

I'd go with 1/8 black abs that's rough or textured on one side and smooth on its other. ABS can be glued but for your cab, I don't see any reason to need that. HDPE is a tougher materiel but doesn't like to be glued. Formica is good for something, but I sure wouldn't use it on a cab.

 

[jmc]

I'd go with 1/8 black abs that's rough or textured on one side and smooth on its other. ABS can be glued but for your cab, I'm not see any reason to need that. HDPE is a tougher materiel but doesn't like to be glued.

I like the idea of a flexible plastic too. IIRC, Formica breaks up into shards.

 

[ArlyA]

Here some abs on Amazon. This example is just 12x12 but you can get any size your heart desires. I've used ABS and HDPE much and this stuff rocks!

Garauld, Did you plan to pop rivet whatever siding on?

https://www.amazon.com/Small-Parts-...50&s=gateway&sprefix=abs+sheet,aps,190&sr=8-3

 

[Garauld]

Did you plan to pop rivet whatever siding on?

Not if I can help it. I plan to use glue or double-sided mounting tape for plastic siding and plug welds for metal.

 

[ArlyA]

Not if I can help it. I plan to use glue or double-sided mounting tape for plastic siding and plug welds for metal.

Double-sided tape won't go it. Why not do something like pop-rivets?