Build Instructions

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• 1

  The Game

  I would like to thank DFRobot for sponsoring this project. They provided the two MiniQ chassis kits for the tanks.

  The rules of the game are pretty simple. Just shoot your laser at the opposing tank and hit it on one of the 4 sensors. Each sensor corresponds to a crew member: gunner, driver, commander, and machine gunner. If 3/4 of the crew is hit, you lose. If a gunner or driver is hit they can be replaced if you have enough crew remaining. There are also penalties to getting hit. If the gunner is knocked out, the tank can't fire for 6 seconds and the reload time increases. Additionally, if the driver is knocked out it reduces the speed of the tank and prevents movement for 6 seconds. My tank tag game is based off of the video game War Thunder.

  
  
• 2

  The Tank Chassis

  DFRobot was generous enough to send me two of their MiniQ Robot chassis. The chassis have plenty of mounting holes that allow you to add brackets. They come with two motors and wheels, along with two sets of caster wheels to add strength. The assembly was easy and simple. All I had to do was attach 2 screws to each motor and caster ball.

  Next, I 3D printed 8 rod supporters, which screw into the chassis using a 3mm machine screw and nut. Each pair lines up across the chassis, allowing for a brass rod to span them.

  
  
• 3

  Designing the Tanks

  Fusion 360 is my CAD program of choice, so I used it to design the tank bodies. The Panther and Sherman are some of the most iconic tanks of WW2, but more importantly, they are simple to replicate and model. My friend Adam, who goes by “AceOfAces16”, designed a basic Panther hull and turret in Blender, which I then imported into Fusion 360. Next, I designed parts around the basic solid model. This was done once more to create the M4A3E8 Sherman.

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