ALVIS FV 601 SALADIN MK 2 1/8 SCALE

     INTRO.

                This was my second radio controlled model "scratch built" over a period  of 

         5 years and  has taken  over 4000 hours  to plan, research, design, draw and develop  

         into this excellent model  which   was completed in June 1966.

     FACTS

                Made of Aluminium Alloy, weighing 44lbs (20kg) and measuring 26ins

        (654mm)  long,12.5ins  (318mm) wide and 11.6 (295mm) high. The model is powered

        by a modified OS 32  air-cooled piston  engine, originally designed for model

        helicopters, which develops 1.25 bhp at 16,000 rpm with a heavy  duty flywheel and

        centrifugal clutch. The oil-tight gearbox with 2 forward and 1 reverse gear is coupled by

        shaft to a forward mounted differential with a drop-down gearbox   driving 6 separate

        bevel boxes  which are driven by 4 driveshafts. Finally the drive is taken by 6 half-shafts

        to 6 fully independently  sprung road wheels fitted with oil-filled shock absorbers and

        coil springs. This gives the model a  maximum speed of 8 mph.

     ELECTRIC

                      FUTABA Challenger 6 channels, 6 volt vehicle electrics

     HISTORY

                     The FV601 Alvis Saladin Weighing 11.375 Tons (11,583 kg, had a

        long and protracted development taking 13 years before it went into production during

        late 1958.  It was first issued during late 1959 to the Reconnaissance Regiment of the

        Royal Armoured Corp and thereafter served  well in many  climates and terrains.

        Originally fitted with 1200x20 tyres later replaced with the much larger 1400x20 for

        better cross country perfomance,It has now been replaced in the British Army by the

        FV101 Scorpion. The  FV101 saladin recently  saw service in the  Gulf War with the

        Saudi  Army and was often used as a  "Wheeled Tank",a roll made possible by it's

        useful 76.2mm L5A1 gun, firing a HESH  (High  Explosive Squash Head) round which

        defeated Russian T72 tanks of the Iraqi Army.

         CONSTRUCTION

                                  Is  of  all welded aluminium, which can be obtained

       from David Preston of  Ace Engineers of Morley,who is a great help, with a special

       thanks to  Frank who  did all the welding for me. See links

2     Front  differential, gearbox, engine and the 6 bevel boxes can clealy be seen here. The

       engine shown here is in fact the one out of the Stalwart!

3                                             Wish-bones and Hubs carriers being fitted here.

4   Chassis being fitted into the all welded body plus the shock absorbers with coil springs.

6                      Note here the gearbox - differential coupling!

8                 Front glazier plate and Turret base being fitted to the upper-hull.

9                               Turret pattern being check for fit prior to welding.

10 This is the modified OS 32 Engine showing flywheel, clutch, manifold and fan. lower left

      picture is the all-welded turret, barrel with gun mantel and exhaust silencer.

11 Close up of the "Rocking-beam" and suspension arms with hubs.Note the weld seams.

12 Turret,  rack and pinion steering is now fitted. Note the drive pin through the driveshaft.

       Lower right picture shows the exposed drop-down gearbox and differential.

13             Engine Cowl, fuel tank and electric's fitted, including working lights.

14   Gun elevation motor just to the left of the breech and Browning machine gun 30 cal.

15 These next 14 pictures I like because the Saladin will never again  be seen, like this with

       no  paint!

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19              Primer and one  coat of green paint before a final matt coat.

20 Gearbox showing selector rod and hand disc-brake lower left picture is the gearbox

      dis-assembled, showing all the case harden gears.

21 The top right picture shows the differential and drop-down gearbox with the modified larger

       case-harden spur gears,with "chewed up gears" to the left of drop-down gearbox. The

       lower 2 pictures show the exposed differential, drop-down and bevel boxes with drive

       shafts.

22 These next 18 pictures all deserve merit, with final decals and detail painting.

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27 These are the design drawings  to resolve scale and other problems, scale was

      resolved  as with the Stalwart by the size of tyres commercially  available at the time

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