Build your own remote control battle tank with a working gun

If the video player is not working, you can click on this alternative video link.

Fancy making a little RC tank that actually fires on command? Then follow this simple guide to find out how. 

As you can imagine, you'll need some tools and materials before you get started.

Materials and gear needed

• Plywood
• Metal sheeting
• Tire
• Safety matches
• uPVC piping (large and small)
• Two-way switches
• DC motors
• Nichrome wire
• Old DC motor or dynamo
• Basic tools (wrench, screwdrivers, etc)
• Various nuts and bolts

With all your gear in hand, it is time to get on with this great little build. 

Step 1: Make the body

The first step is to take your metal sheet and mark out the design of the tank. See the image below for more details. 

With that done, drill a series of holes through the design as needed and cut out the main shape using a pair of pliers or an angle grinder. Next, scour along some of the lines to fold the piece of the metal sheet as you would if it were made of paper. 

With that done, drill another series of holes on the track portions of the tank body. These will be used to mount the various track wheels. 

Step 2: Make the tank tracks

Next, take your DC motors and mount them in the larger holes on the side of the tank body - you'll need four in total. These will act as the main driving motors for the tank tracks. 

With that done, core out a series of wooden disks from a piece of wood and glue them to the main rotors of the motors. These will form the main drive wheels for the tank track.

With that done, make another series of wooden wheels to form the bogeys and return wheels of the tank tracks, and mount them into place on the main chassis. 

With that done, we can now make the actual track. Take an old rubber tire and cut it into long strips. Then chop one of the lengths into sorter trips of rubber. 

Glue these sorter strips to the main lengths of rubber to add grips to what will become the tank tracks. 

Next, add a fifth motor to the central hole in the top of the tank with the rotor pointing upwards. This will be used to mount the turret.

Step 3: Make the controller

Next, take your two-way switches, and wire up the terminals as shown in the video. With that done, take an old small plastic box, and melt a series of holes through one side to poke the switches through. 

Secure the switches and buttons into place as required. 

Wire up the switches and buttons as required too. With that done, extend the wires as needed to make the main RC remote control cable that will be connected to the tank. 

Wire up a battery connector to the circuit too. 

Step 4: Make the turret

With that done, take your spring and chop it up into small lengths. Then make an electrical terminal using two bolts and lengths of spring. Attach this to an old soda bottle cap. This will form the firing cap for the main gun.

Next, take another plastic container and cut/melt holes through it as shown. Make the main gun barrel using a length of steel pipe around 7 and 7/8 inches (20cm) long. Add a muzzle made from a sheath of plastic tubing too. 

Glue the barrel into the plastic box as needed. Add the firing cap you made earlier to the breach end of the barrel. With that done, feed the wiring through the base of the turret and into the body of the tank. 

With that done, rig up a way to securely mount the turret to the turret motor. 

Step 5: Finish the tank

With that done, wire up the control wires from the remote to the motors within the belly of the tank. 

With that done, paint the entire tank as needed, and then add the rubber track treads to the tread wheels. 

Next, load the barrel with oxidizing agents from several matches, add some ammo, and get your tank a' rollin'.

If you enjoyed this little build, then you might enjoy making another toy tank?