Panzer III FPV (2 min 45 sec)

The actual video is actually very, very good, but it gets compressed when you save it, and then again when you post it to YouTube.

I have wanted an RC tank for as long as I have been into RC, but they were pretty cost prohibitive or shelf queens. I was so glad that Taigen Tanks came along. I purchased a Panzer III and immediately went to town rebuilding the electronics so that I could control it from my DX8. I found a new camera that just came on the market that is the size of my pinky finger (Fatshark TVL600 for scale):
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psjxb1sy7s.jpg

I had to cut quite a bit out of the bullet trap to install the camera, but it fits nicely:
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psbvyyejvt.jpg
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psssixbhyg.jpg

So next I installed the video transmitter and the elevation servo:
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psm0sohoim.jpg
To fit the antenna inside the turret, I just used the basic bipolar antenna and cut all of the plastic off of it. I was AMAZED at the video quality and range. I have $40 antennas on my aircraft that arguably do no better than this tiny thing.

The cutout for the microphone:
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psaxhatadf.jpg

The finished turret; not too shabby!
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psmxmmcx2u.jpg

Hobbyking Donkey brushless motors with 25A ESCs (I had to do a little cutting to the mounting holes on the gear boxes to allow for 12T pinion gears):
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psn5cw9qjm.jpg

Here is the spaghetti. I have a LOT of work to do simplifying the wiring, but I am just glad that it all works. I apologize if this cause anyone to get hives.
-I used an Emax Skyline32 (advanced) flight controller for the data (battery voltage, artificial horizon, timer, compass, and barometer). It is piped through a Micro MinimOSD from ReadymadeRC.com to add the on-screen display info. The OSD and power distribution board are located below the flight controller. The brushed ESCs are $10 beauties I found on ebay that I used to control turret transverse and to fire the airsoft gun.
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psoylpijdv.jpg

Here it is in all of its' hidden, sleeper FPV glory!
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4krtnuzr.jpg

So, what's next?
1. Organize the wiring. I will probably us the big stock connector mounted to the bottom of the upper hull and run one bunch of cables to it.
2. Use a Spektrum satellite instead of the standard receiver. I will need to route all of the channels through the flight controller, and I may run out of channels.
3. Sound! This is going to take me a very long time. I ripped files from a video game that will do. But, I have to learn how to program Arduino in order to do it. I need to run the receiver signal through the Arduino and use it to call the sounds, light the LEDS for the machine gun, turn on the smoke generator, etc.
4. Mount a GPS/compass in an ammo box or timber bundle on the back of the tank. There is too much EM interference where the flight controller is mounted, and the compass is all over the place.

Thanks, and I hope you enjoy my project!

P.S. I would like to thank Shikra (the minimOSD master), ReadymadeRC, Airbot, and Oscar Liang (for his blog on minimOSD) for their help directly or indirectly with this project.

Flight controller: https://hobbyking.com/en_us/skyline3...eanflight.html
Brushless ESCs: https://hobbyking.com/en_us/turnigy-...s-car-esc.html
Battery: http://www.buddyrc.com/glacier-30c-2200mah-2s1p.html
Camera: http://www.buddyrc.com/600tvl-1-4-cm...pv-camera.html
OSD: https://www.readymaderc.com/store/in...oducts_id=5327
Brushed ESCs: https://www.amazon.com/RioRand-Busto...ustophedon+esc

Nice Job! And thanks for posting the links to where you can get the equipment

Originally Posted by CaliforniaDan

Nice Job! And thanks for posting the links to where you can get the equipment

Thank you! I must have 50 hours in this thing so far. The OSD was by far the biggest headache. Minimosd are very glitchy with the slightest voltage fluctuations. And by glitchy, I mean that at the least, they reboot, or at the worst, stop altogether. I ended up installing a dedicated BEC just to stop the glitchiness.

I am looking forward to learning Arduino and programming the sound board.

Ha – that’s brill. It bounces around far less than I would have expected.

As probably not using any of the FC modes – could probably amend some of the OSD font data to display more tank specific text. I don’t know what that would be though. Even just “Fire” or something when you full the trigger!

GPS would be good addition– will give you a bit more info. With a bit of repositioning of data it could look quiet cool.

Let me know if need any little tweaks

Originally Posted by Shikra

Ha – that’s brill. It bounces around far less than I would have expected.

As probably not using any of the FC modes – could probably amend some of the OSD font data to display more tank specific text. I don’t know what that would be though. Even just “Fire” or something when you full the trigger!

GPS would be good addition– will give you a bit more info. With a bit of repositioning of data it could look quiet cool.

Let me know if need any little tweaks

Ha! That would be awesome. My plan is to feed some of the PWM signals through the Arduino, which will call sounds when the throttle hits certain points, the motor cranks over, guns fire, etc.

Thank you so much for your help. You are the best!