battle adapter for heng long tanks - rc tanks australiabattle adapter for heng long tanks ......

Battle Adapter for Heng Long Tanks

Installation & Product Notes

RC Tanks AustraliaHenson Rd Salisbury QldAUSTRALIA 4107 Website: rctanksaustralia.comEmail: [email protected] MAKO Instructions V1.3

mailto:[email protected]

1.1 INTRODUCTION:

Thank you for choosing a MAKO. Please read the following guide to help you with your unit.

The MAKO was originally designed as a simple plug and play adapter for Heng Long tankers to allow them to battle with Tamiya equipped Tanks while RETAINING the ability to still fight with other Heng Long tanks. As of late March 2012, the ability to battle with WSN tanks was added to the MAKOs growing list of features.

It's design concept was to allow anyone with a Heng Long tank to show up at our club days and within seconds allow them to take their tank out onto the battlefield and have a FUN battle with anyone. Alone, the MAKO was never meant to strictly adhere to any particular battle system. To do so would increase both cost and complexity of installation. The MAKO can be installed in seconds and also removed in seconds meaning that our club can have a supply of MAKOs on hand for any new recruits. Hence we don't have to tell anyone that they can't put their tanks onto our battlefield because they don't have a $1000 plus tank setup. After all at the end of the day it is all about having a bit of fun. If your club or you personally have such an overwhelming desire to conform to a particular brands standard then there is only ONE option available to you – Buy it instead.

So if you are not hung up on rules and want more enjoyment from your hobby then read on...


The Panzer III chassis upon which so many variants were produced. A no go zone for those that stick to a particular brand only.


2.1 AT A GLANCE:

1. The input connector for the MAKO. Plug the extension cable into this connector (orientation pins up) and the other end into the IR port of the RX-18. This connector may be present on your board as either a JST or simple 5pin header.

2. The output connector for the Mako. The Heng Long 5 pin connector cable that attaches to the RX-18 IR connector is now attached here.

3. µController in socket: Early MAKOs are shipping with their micro-controllers present in an IC socket. The IC socket is there to speed up production of the MAKO and allows users to easily change chips. In the future additional MAKO options may become available. Users may simply purchase these newer chips from RCTA or can return the original chip to RCTA for re-programming.

4. AUX1 Output: On early versions of the MAKO board (such as in the picture above) this output was present as a 2-pin connector for a LED. This has now been upgraded to a 3-pin connector for an Anti-Track Recoil Circuit (ATRC) (sold separately). The ATRC removes all of the undesirable Heng Long track effects such as track recoil, hit shudders and the death spasm. (see Connecting an ATRC 3.1.1)

5. AUX2 Output: This output is for connection to either an LED driver board for the visual indication of IR hits and programming status or to an upcoming MAMBA board. The MAMBA board will control motor speed in relation to acquired 'battle damage'.

6. Service interface: For boards supplied without an IC socket a connector will be present at this point. This connector allows us at RCTA to interface with the MAKOs micro-controller. If no connector is present here your board will more than likely have a IC socket.



3.1 INSTALLING THE MAKO:

The MAKO was designed to install in seconds with no modification required of a factory fitted Heng Long IR Battle System. It is strongly suggested that the board is insulated in some way. Either by the addition of some foam tape on the underside of the board or by enclosing the entire board with the supplied shrink tube. The photos below show how to install the earliest version of the MAKO board. Installation of all MAKO boards is identical.

Step 1: Get to your RX18 board

Step 2: Unplug the 5 pin connector at the IR port



Step 3: Place the MAKO and plug in the extension cable.

Step 4: Plug the Heng Long 5 pin cable into the MAKO



3.1.1 Connecting an ATRC (sold separately):

The photo above shows the connection of an ATRC unit with the MAKO. The ATRC unit is connected to the AUX1 output of the MAKO via a 3 wire cable. Please note that the orange signal wire connects to the outermost of the three pins. The red wire to each motor needs to be cut and the ends attached to the screw terminals of the ATRC as shown. Once connected the ATRC board eliminates all of those undesirable track effects such as track recoil, hit shudders and the death spasm.

For further information on the ATRC unit please refer to its associated user instructions, the current version of which can be downloaded here:http://rctanksaustralia.com/manuals/ATRC_Manual.pdf

4.1 WHAT DOES IT DO? HOW DOES IT WORK?The rcTABU MAKO is best thought of as a form of infra-red translator that is proficient in Heng Long, Tamiya and WSN IR protocols. This allows a Heng Long tank fitted with a MAKO to battle it out with tanks possessing either of these three battle systems. It's primary function is translation of the IR codes. Because the system is design to work with the RX18 unit battle functions are ultimately handled and set by the RX18.



However, it is possible to 'trick' the RX18 in order to open up a few more possibilities and conform somewhat to existing battle standards. Some of these functions can be achieved with the MAKO alone and the remainder achieved with the new MAMBA add-on board. The functions that are achieved by the MAKO alone include Weight Class and associated Reload Time.

4.1.1 Weight Class:MAKOs are available in either Medium Tank or Heavy Tank versions.

Medium MAKO - 5 livesHeavy MAKO - 9 lives

This does not mean you are not able to change weight classes. A Medium Tank MAKO can be changed to a Heavy Tank MAKO and vice versa during setup (see MAKO Programming). The default setting is what your MAKO will operate as unless you tell it otherwise during setup. So if you plan to put your MAKO into a King Tiger then you should get a Heavy Tank MAKO. Then if the situation arises where you may wish to run your KT as a medium tank you can simply change the setting via IR during the startup programming period. Once your battle is over and you turn off your tank it will revert back to it's true Heavy Tank class.

NOTE: The MAKO operates in conjunction with the RX18. As such the MAKO cannot magically give the RX18 features that it does not possess. Thus to achieve 9 lives the RX18 has to be 'tricked' into thinking it has only been hit five times when in fact it has been hit 9 times. As a consequence every second IR hit will only produce flashing of the hit indicating LEDs, there will be no response from the RX18 itself.

4.1.2 Reload Period:The MAKO provides a reload period dependent on weight class. A standard RX18 permits almost continuous firing of the main gun. Not really fair against those units that have a reload time. Hence, the MAKO features a 5 or 9 second reload period during which the RX18 will still fire the cannon but no IR will be sent from the MAKO.

Medium MAKO – 5 secondsHeavy MAKO – 9 seconds

NOTE: The MAKO operates in conjunction with the RX18. As such the MAKO cannot magically give the RX18 features that it does not possess. Since the RX18 allows continuous firing of the main gun the reload feature ONLY applies to firing of the IR signal. Hence, during the reload period the RX18 will still fire the cannon but no IR will be sent from the MAKO until the reload period expires (you will be shooting blanks so to speak).

4.1.3 Battle Damage/Motor Speed:At present there is no support for this function. However, this will change with the release of the MAMBA board due mid 2012. A connection for this new board exists on all MAKOs sold after 17th March 2012. Like the ATRC the MAMBA board is an option (sold separately) and only required for use in tank club situations. The MAMBA will reduce tank speed in line with the popular battle rules.



After 1 hit: 50% speed (Heavy and Medium)After 3 hits 25% speed (Medium)After 5 hits 25% speed (Heavy)

5.1 MAKO PROGRAMMING:As of 17th March 2012 all MAKOs now feature a programming period during which flashing the sensor with an IR signal will change the Weight Class of the unit. When the MAKO system is properly connected and the Heng Long circuitry is turned on the hit indication LEDs will flash rapidly for approximately 3 seconds indicating the MAKO is in 'programming mode'. If an IR signal is flashed at the sensor mushroom (practically any 38 kHz IR signal will do) the MAKO will change from its default weight class. For example if you flash a Heavy MAKO with an IR signal during the programming period the LEDs will cease flashing rapidly and proceed to five slow flashes indicating that you now have the 5 lives setting for the medium weight class. Flash a Medium MAKO during the programming period and the LEDs will flash slowly for 9 times indicating the 9 lives for a Heavy Tank.

6.1 RoHS INFORMATION:As of 17th March 2012 all MAKOs are assembled using lead-free solder and as of April 2012 all PCBs manufactured and sold by RCTA will be finished using lead-free techniques.Wherever possible RoHS compliant components are used on all PCBs.

7.1 QUALITY ASSURANCE AND WARRANTY:Wherever possible every MAKO is fully tested after final assembly. This includes connecting to a working RX18 unit. Each unit is test fired and the results checked on an oscilloscope. However, due to an actual human assembling the boards and doing these tests mistakes will inevitably occur. As such all RCTA products are guaranteed for a period of 6 months against manufacturing defects. In such cases these units can be returned in an unmodified state to RCTA for refund or replacement.

8.1 SUPPORT:For support related issues please visit the RC Tanks Australia Forum first:

http://rctanksaustralia.com/forum

Otherwise send an email to:

[email protected]

That's about all there is to the MAKO for now.....




http://rctanksaustralia.com/forum

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:RC Tanks Australia would like to thank a number of people that have helped with the MAKO project. Firstly, to Dave, who when told his Heng Long tank cannot battle with the clubs Tamiya Brigade asked the simple question why? To all the other members of the Moreton Bay Remote Control Tank Club especially, Mark, Dave, Chris and Ken the original MAKO test pilot. Finally, a very big thanks to Ger Hanssen whose input has been invaluable and much appreciated.

DISCLAIMER:

This product is not a toy and is intended for use only by hobbyists over the age of 14 years for the building of detailed and faithful scale models. Installation of this product is at your own risk. No liability is accepted for any damage to existing circuitry during installation or use of this product.

RC TANKS AUSTRALIA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE TO ANY PRODUCTS HEREIN TO IMPROVE RELIABILITY, FUNCTION, OR DESIGN. RC TANKS AUSTRALIA DOES NOT ASSUME ANY LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF THE APPLICATION OR USE OF ANY PRODUCT OR CIRCUIT DESCRIBED HEREIN; NEITHER DOES IT CONVEY ANY LICENSE UNDER ITS PATENT RIGHTS, NOR THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS. THESE SPECIFICATIONS DO NOT EXPAND THE TERMS OF RC TANKS AUSTRALIA’S WORLDWIDE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, SPECIFICALLY THE WARRANTY THEREIN, WHICH COVERS THESE PRODUCTS.



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