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Build Your Own Sherman Tank

absolut.evil writes "OK, so admittedly it is only 1/5th scale, but still pretty cool.. especially if you're a kid. The thing comes complete with working suspension, meticulously built wooden tank treads and X-Arcade controls. Check out the pics and construction timeline."

240 comments

  1. Build your own Bradley Fighting Vehicle by Marijuana+al-Shehi · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    and die like a sucker.

    --
    "I think all foreigners should stop interfering in the internal affairs of Iraq"
    -- Paul Wolfowitz, 7/21/2003
    1. Re:Build your own Bradley Fighting Vehicle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All I can say is awesome! And to all you wimps who keep complaining this is a bad idea!!!GET A LIFE!!!!! And to any one whining about people growing up to be soldiers all I can say is your freedom came at the price of the lives of little children who grew up became soldiers and gave up their rights and life for your freedom.

  2. This is a dupe by Crazieeman · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I know its a dupe, I remember seeing it, I just can't find the damn article in the archives [yet].

    1. Re:This is a dupe by Crazieeman · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Guess not. Maybe I should RTFA. I was thinking of another tank thingie. I didn't want that karma anyway.

    2. Re:This is a dupe by 10Ghz · · Score: 1

      According tp Netcraft:

      www.gizmology.net

      Linux Apache/1.3.26 (Unix)

      Linux Apache/1.3.19 (Unix)

      Linux Apache/1.3.4 (Unix)

      --
      Lesbian Nazi Hookers Abducted by UFOs and Forced Into Weight Loss Programs - -all next week on Town Talk.
  3. Heh by w.p.richardson · · Score: 3, Funny
    I like the pictures of lil' Rambo rolling along there in the panzer. Reminds me of my youth.

    I can hear the shrieks of the gun control activists now!

    --

    Curb CO2 emissions: Kill yourself today!

    1. Re:Heh by sczimme · · Score: 4, Funny


      I like the pictures of lil' Rambo rolling along there in the panzer. Reminds me of my youth.

      Where the heck did you grow up???

      --
      I want to drag this out as long as possible. Bring me my protractor.
    2. Re:Heh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's much cuter than this.

    3. Re:Heh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This guy looks like a faggot. If he was ever to point his rifle at me while yelling "DON'T MOVE A MUSCLE!" I would start laughing.

    4. Re:Heh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thank God this guy didn't build an Airplane for his kid, and then discover the motors had strippable plastic gears . (cut to scenes from "Flight of the Phoenix".)

    5. Re:Heh by JonTurner · · Score: 1

      >>I like the pictures of lil' Rambo rolling along there in the panzer. Reminds me of my youth.

      >Where the heck did you grow up???


      France.

  4. Uh, can you get me out, now? by soloport · · Score: 3, Funny

    Anyone els think the kid in the tank looks like he's got to take a leak?

    1. Re:Uh, can you get me out, now? by pergamon · · Score: 2, Funny

      What is it you think the gun fires?

    2. Re:Uh, can you get me out, now? by Herr_Nightingale · · Score: 1
      Just imagine the looks on your neighbors faces when you rumble into the midst of their barbecue in a Panzer, and paste the beer cooler with your 37mm potato cannon. That'll teach 'em to drink imported beer on the 4th of July.
      that poor kid probably had too much watery American "beer," but I'll bet he's not even half feeling it.
      If this guy wandered into my party on July 1st (Canada Day) with that potato cannon he'd be pelted back pretty quick with dried squirrel meat and chunks of my melting igloo, that's for damned sure. I pity the fool.
    3. Re:Uh, can you get me out, now? by sdamberger · · Score: 1

      No, he looks like a kid who thinks he has the best dad in the whole wide world. That is one happy kid!

    4. Re:Uh, can you get me out, now? by Mysticalfruit · · Score: 1

      Lets think about this for a second...

      The guy rolls into a 4th of July party in a 1/5th scale german tank (Panzer) because their not drinking American beer...

      That makes tons of sense...

      --
      Yes Francis, the world has gone crazy.
  5. What they failed to mention.... by telstar · · Score: 5, Funny

    What they failed to mention was that the Sherman tank was built AROUND the small child ...
    Kindergarten is going to be rough for that little one.

    1. Re:What they failed to mention.... by Angry+White+Guy · · Score: 5, Funny

      Kindergarten won't be so bad. Have you ever picked on a guy in a tank?

      Although 5th grade might be rough. Reminds me of Bonzai Kitty.

      --
      You think that I'm crazy, you should see this guy!
    2. Re:What they failed to mention.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who would bully someone in a sherman?

    3. Re:What they failed to mention.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I used to bully a guy named Sherman, but the guy that was in him was a famous pop-star with his own amusement park, so I got sued.

    4. Re:What they failed to mention.... by SpectreGadget · · Score: 1

      Maybe, but I coulda used a tank in 7th grade!

      --
      Jim Harry
    5. Re:What they failed to mention.... by JPriest · · Score: 3, Funny

      Yes, bet there is a kid who will never come up short on lunch money.

      --
      Saying Java is nice because it works on all OS's is like saying that anal sex is nice because it works on all genders.
    6. Re:What they failed to mention.... by Deadstick · · Score: 1

      A kid in a King Tiger.

      rj

    7. Re:What they failed to mention.... by jonerik · · Score: 1

      Kindergarten is going to be rough for that little one.

      Are you kidding? Who's going to pick on a kid who drives around in a tank?

    8. Re:What they failed to mention.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry, did you say you were sucked, or sued?

    9. Re:What they failed to mention.... by Wolfrider · · Score: 1

      Couldn't we all, couldn't we all... Actually it would have come in handy all the way up to senior year in h.s.

      --
      .
      == WolfriderV6 == I'm willing to admit that *I just might* be wrong... Are you??
    10. Re:What they failed to mention.... by SpectreGadget · · Score: 1

      Ain't that the truth. My trombone just didn't cut it as a defensive weapon! :0)

      --
      Jim Harry
  6. Cannon? by ReidMaynard · · Score: 4, Funny

    Man it looks like a Estes(sp?) model rocket motor would fit right in the canon. Look out neighbourhood cats!

    --
    -- www.globaltics.net

    Political discussion for a new world

    1. Re:Cannon? by jpsst34 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Yeah, that would be great, if only certain major shipping companies didn't refuse to ship model rocket engines! Link

      --
      How are you going to keep them down on the farm once they've seen Karl Hungus?
    2. Re:Cannon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...I never would have made it through college.
      --
      Don't panic.

    3. Re:Cannon? by nerdguy0 · · Score: 2, Funny

      The top parent is one of the reasons why.

      --
      "In /dev/null no one can hear you stream."
    4. Re:Cannon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wouldn't it set the tank on fire?

  7. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  8. Americans DO like war by Cyb3r · · Score: 5, Funny

    No wonder Bush is looking for every last reason to attack Iraq...

    Hey that big war budget HAS to be spent doing something "constructive" right?

    1. Re:Americans DO like war by ELCarlsson · · Score: 2, Offtopic

      This reminds me of a great quote "we like war. we're a warlike people. we like war because we're good at it. you know why we're good at it? cause we get a lot of practice. this country is only 200 years old and already we've had 10 major wars. we average a major war every 20 years in this country, so we're good at it. and it's a good thing we are, we're not good at anything else anymore. can't build a decent car, cant make a tv set or a vcr worth a f*ck, got no steel industry left can't educate our young people, cant get health care for our old people, but we bomb the sh*t out of your country alright... especially if your country is full of brown people... oh we like that don't we, thats our hobby... thats our new job in the world... bombing brown people... can you remember the last white people... can you remember ANY white people we've ever bombed? the germans, they're the only ones... and thats because they were trying to cut in on our action... they wanted to take over the world... bullsh*t... thats our job!" -George Carlin

    2. Re:Americans DO like war by Dallascaper · · Score: 1

      Building a VCR is the sign of a great people, but defending freedom, not to mention your family and values, is not? George Carlin is an idiot. The rest of his historically inaccurate drivel isn't even worth responding to.

    3. Re:Americans DO like war by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      defending freedom?
      If you are afraid of a fucked up nation like iraq taking away your freedom, you are a nation of whining girls.
      you mean the freedom to worship Bush and his falcons?
      In this moment your so-called freedom is taken away by Ashcroft.

    4. Re:Americans DO like war by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey fuckshit, do you remember a little place called Serbia, where we bobmed white people in deffense of brown people?

      Then again, half a decade afterwards?

    5. Re:Americans DO like war by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ah, hem, what "brown people"? Albanians are just as white as Serbs. No, we bombed the Serbs because they refused to become a docile serf of the New World Order, and we did it on behalf of moslem fundamentalists crazies and drug dealing, white slaving, ethnic cleansing, Albanian terrorists such as the KLA. We bombed Serbia so that "our" terrorists could continue to ethnically cleanse Serbians out of Kosovo, which is what has happened. The alleged massacres of Albanians by Serbs were almost wholly ficticious.

  9. this sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    That kid is going to outgrow that tank in 1 week. He shoulda made the tank slightly bigger. maybe a 1:3 model instead of 1:5.

    1. Re:this sucks by Slashdot+Junky · · Score: 1

      We would then have to park it in the driveway!

      -Slashdot Junky

      --
      .
      Landfill Mining Co.
      Managing the (Un)natural Resources of Tomorrow
    2. Re:this sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nah, he should just move up a rank, and bring in a new recruit. Most generals couldn't fit in a real tank either.

    3. Re:this sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree. He shoulda built it 1:1, and with 1/2" titanium plate instead of plywood. Also should have it fire DU rounds instead of potatos.
      Should also use it on a civilian population here in the states like we did before and will do again in iraq so that the sheeple understand what effects we're really having over there. Haha, just kidding. C'mon, can't y'all take a joke?

  10. planning for the american century ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I guess you have to train your cannon food
    as soon as possible.

    The american dream !

  11. potential GWB jokes... by buzban · · Score: 2, Funny
    • every man, woman, and child against terrorism...
    • look, they make it into Iraq virtually undetected...
    • one for saddam, one for dubya, let 'em duke it out...
    • (okay, i'm lost, but this seems ripe for the picking to me... ;)
    1. Re:potential GWB jokes... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      Isn't GWB the greatest potential GWB joke?

    2. Re:potential GWB jokes... by Openadvocate · · Score: 1

      Hey he is just following up on GWB's state of the union speech:
      http://www.asu.net/bsh/union.wmv

      --
      my sig
  12. Hovercraft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Kids! You can build your own hovercraft with our new easy-to-assemble kit. Just send us $60 and we'll rush you a plastic toy that looks nothing like the item pictured.

    Why buy it?

    It really works!*

    It's Fun!

    It's Educational!

    It'll Make Your Child The Coolest On The Street!

    *kids must have an imagination OR you must be very strong...

    1. Re:Hovercraft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >Just send us $60 and we'll rush you a plastic toy
      >that looks nothing like the item pictured.

      Note: S&H charge of $10000 required, as the items are locked up in Nigeria. We'll refund the money once the hovercraft and our money out...

  13. From userfriendly.org by cheezycrust · · Score: 1

    It is todays UF Link of the Day.

    --
    Teenagers these days don't have as much sex as they want each other to think they do.
  14. War machinery is great by Einherjer · · Score: 0, Flamebait


    Oh yes.
    That'll show friends that dad is supercool.
    I got me own panzer.
    When I grow old i wanna have a real panzer too.

    Truly a heroic deed for someone who wants his son grow up a soldier.
    It almost seems familiarization with war machinery in youth is common practice.
    He should go climbing, diving, biking with him instead of letting him control a weapon.

    1. Re:War machinery is great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And the irony is, that climbing, diving, and biking would actually prepare him more for being a soldier.

    2. Re:War machinery is great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, smashing little kids heads in with rifle butts would have prepared him to be a soldier. So wold have raping all the girls in his class, getting drunk and obnoxious, and stealing. And if he lied to his parents, he could grow up to be President!

      I love this country!

    3. Re:War machinery is great by DanDwig · · Score: 0

      You know, when I was a kid I played with cap pistols, squirt guns (some of them suprisingly realistic) and the like. Yet suprisingle I have no plans to pick up a gun and shoot someone. I'm not quite sure where the connection is being drawn from.

    4. Re:War machinery is great by Slashdot+Junky · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Dear World,

      Yeah, I play "guns" all the time as a kid, and have never wanted to buy a real one, nor have I ever wanted to use one for anything. Man, those were the days!

      Today's kids play with real guns, because their parents were to damn scared of hurting their feelings by saying no and setting real rules!

      -Slashdot Junky

      --
      .
      Landfill Mining Co.
      Managing the (Un)natural Resources of Tomorrow
    5. Re:War machinery is great by mt_nixnut · · Score: 5, Insightful
      It's actally far more likely that the kid will grow up to be a model making nutlike his Dad. Since he will remember the project as much as the finished product that allowed him to actually climb inside and drive around the yard.

      Who knows he may even grow up to be an engineer.

      I worked in prisons for quite a few years and believe me, kids with dads that spend this kind of time with them don't typically grow up to be dangerous and violent.

    6. Re:War machinery is great by Night+War · · Score: 1

      Well, there's a little difference between a plastic toy gun and a tank, don't you think? But on the other hand, the kid probably won't ever come into the situation to actually buy a tank. But I really wonder what he'll do once the cannon's finished...

    7. Re:War machinery is great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      By "this country", I take it you mean France?

    8. Re:War machinery is great by Slashdot+Junky · · Score: 1

      Both the plastic guns I had and this tank simulate actual real life devices, so they are the same in my mind. They are both intended for pretending in play.

      As a kid, I learned that real guns were not for play and when used can result in serious injury and death. With this, I CHOOSE to not use them in a hazardous way. It's all about the choices we make in life.

      -Slashdot Junky

      --
      .
      Landfill Mining Co.
      Managing the (Un)natural Resources of Tomorrow
    9. Re:War machinery is great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is amazing what the propoganda has taught you.

      Viet Nam, Korea ring a bell.

      Let's do it! Let's do the whole Fucking Villiage!

    10. Re:War machinery is great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's no kid in prisons, dipshit!

    11. Re:War machinery is great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, they're in the military.

    12. Re:War machinery is great by mt_nixnut · · Score: 1
      can you read?

      I said they don't usually *grow up* to be violent.

      I base that on my experience and conversations with actual violent people.

      Exactly what did you base your amazing insight on?

      disagree == dipshit ???

      Sounds like a rough attitude. Maybe you played with too many guns as a child. ;)

      Do not give up hope. There is a lot of room in this world for people that think like that. Actually that attitude sadly seems to be the majority view from what I can tell.

      Ever wonder why the UN does not work? Hmmmm....

      Have a good one.

  15. The best part by photonrider · · Score: 2, Funny

    is that the kid will outgrow it in a year and dad will have to think up a new project, maybe a bigger tank or an airplane. "But honey, it's for the kid!"

  16. hey look by Spicy+Bisquit · · Score: 5, Funny

    its elian gonzalez. see what the little punk has gotten into in cuba? it is only a matter of time until he invades again.

  17. Completely Stupid by wiZd0m · · Score: 0, Troll

    If all you can teach your kid is to destroy things/people in your tank when he is this young, your as stupid as they they come.

    1. Re:Completely Stupid by Night+War · · Score: 1

      yeah, and how about new year's firework? The various things you can use baseball bats for? and ice hockey? He'll probably destroy a lot more people by playing ice hockey than by driving around in a wooden tank his dad built him. There is no devil, it's just God when He's drunk.

  18. Builld your own Tank by rodney+dill · · Score: 5, Funny

    Cool.

    Now I want to sell the instructions to Build your own mine field to this guy's neigbors.

    Where was cool stuff like this when I was a kid, or at least when I was small enough to fit inside one of these. I was impressed that the treads were make out of wood, I would've guessed that you would've need an expensive trip too the hardware store to do treads.

    --

    Use your head, can't you, use your head,
    You're on earth, there's no cure for that
    - S. Beckett
    1. Re:Builld your own Tank by GlassUser · · Score: 1

      He's still concerned about their strength. And it's a PITA even making the ones in wood. But they look cool.

  19. Give it a rest you anti-war hippies by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Studies have proven that it's NATURAL for kids to play with toy guns and the like. Children who do are not any more prone to shooting someone later in life than kids who merely play with dolls. I'm tired of pop psychologists/Oprah Winfrey telling us how to raise children/live our lives. I'm so pissed I'm going outside to shoot something!!!

    1. Re:Give it a rest you anti-war hippies by cyberlotnet · · Score: 4, Interesting

      No kidding, Children are a lot like computer programs, Input affects output, but in the end its the programmer ( parents ) that direct the nature out the output,

      Just as a programmer can filter out certain inputs, a parents raising of a child filters there inputs,

      You want a program to ignore a certain command you program it to, You want a child to not smoke you talk to them about it, now just like programming, there may be some bugs and it may not work but the parent has to try.

      Im tired of listening to parents complain, when its a fact that parents spend less and less time with there children.

      Before a parent can even begin to open there mouth they should look at themselves and answer some very simple questions.
      1. Do I spend at least a hour of quality time a day with my child.
      2. Do I know the names of my childs friends? Where does his best friend live?
      3. Has my child every had sex? Do I know this for sure?
      4. What is my kids favorite color

      Some of the questions may seem stupid but come on, its your child.

      Lets stop spending all our time blaming others and spend more time with our children, that is the only sure way to improve things.

    2. Re:Give it a rest you anti-war hippies by xanadu-xtroot.com · · Score: 4, Funny

      No kidding, Children are a lot like computer programs, Input affects output, but in the end its the programmer ( parents ) that direct the nature out the output

      Oh, you don't need to tell me about that stuff, man. My son is still in diapers.

      --
      I'm not a prophet or a stone-age man,
      I'm just a mortal with potential of a super man.
    3. Re:Give it a rest you anti-war hippies by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm all for things that go BOOM, but what the fuck is your point? Peeing in your pants, eating your own snot, and having temper tantrums are also natual.

    4. Re:Give it a rest you anti-war hippies by cyberlotnet · · Score: 1

      Oh "crap" I wish I could karma you up to funny that got me rolling

    5. Re:Give it a rest you anti-war hippies by thurs · · Score: 1

      thats funny

    6. Re:Give it a rest you anti-war hippies by HappyHour · · Score: 0

      'nuff said. When we were kids, toys were "dangerous". Tonka trucks were made of metal, toy guns looked like real guns, and legos were small enough to swallow. Now it's lawyers, not natural selection. Sheesh!!!

    7. Re:Give it a rest you anti-war hippies by Phishpin · · Score: 1

      Only on Slashdot will you ever see children refered to as a programs. And what language would you advise I write a son that makes $10 million a year? COBOL?

      --
      -phish
    8. Re:Give it a rest you anti-war hippies by michiel.h · · Score: 1

      No kidding, Children are a lot like computer programs, Input affects output, but in the end its the programmer ( parents ) that direct the nature out the output,

      For the ones who need a visual to understand such complex ideas.

    9. Re:Give it a rest you anti-war hippies by caferace · · Score: 1
      Only on Slashdot will you ever see children refered to as a programs. And what language would you advise I write a son that makes $10 million a year? COBOL?

      Tcl (just pronounce it right, and they'll be rolling on the floor, peeing their pants).

    10. Re:Give it a rest you anti-war hippies by einhverfr · · Score: 1

      Only on Slashdot will you ever see children refered to as a programs. And what language would you advise I write a son that makes $10 million a year? COBOL?

      unfortuately if we assume that the language is similar the grade point we have a problem-- languages are getting worse. So C is out... As is C++, but B might be OK. Algol is out because the name in Arabic means "The Ghoul" and we don't want to give the little monster any ideas....

      Cobol is subversive (ever heard of cobols of plotters) although it is also sort of occult (cobolists).

      There is one language that would be extremely good for making money-- Perl. Especially since everybody else uses C, you could write the interpreter in C and then the program in Perl and you would have him as a Perl of the C.....

      --

      LedgerSMB: Open source Accounting/ERP
    11. Re:Give it a rest you anti-war hippies by Rigor+Morty · · Score: 1

      >3. Has my child every had sex? Do I know this for sure?

      Are you catholic?

      --
      Remove the spamfreak to speak.
  20. Re:WMD are not something to play with by Jeb3diah · · Score: 3, Insightful

    A tank is not a weapon of mass destruction.

  21. Bowling for Columbine by dalibor · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Visit clips , click on "A brief history of America". THINK!

    1. Re:Bowling for Columbine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Think about all the AOL/Time Warner film/TV/book connections...

  22. Re: Jesus Saves! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    >The ONLY Way, Truth and Life!

    >Ask Jesus into your heart today!


    Statements like this shouldn't be made without factual backup. If you want to persuade people: 1. don't post flamebaits - this will make people NOT want to believe what you say. 2. Evidence! 3. get your readers' attention - don't just jump into radical-sounding statements.

  23. Grass, gas, ass or WAR... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...nobody rides for free :))))

  24. Hmmm... by WegianWarrior · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...would a 1/3rd scale model be large enought for a grown man? Or should I try for a 1/2 scale?


    I mean, this would be one hell of a toy to scare the neightbours with... *smiles*

    --
    Everything in the world is controlled by a small, evil group to which, unfortunately, no one you know belongs.
    1. Re:Hmmm... by Rolo+Tomasi · · Score: 1

      Think about it, your neighbors will call the police, telling them "the freak next door has gotten hold of a tank", and with the imminent war and all those terrorism alerts, they'll bring in some serious artillery, which your (presumably) wooden tank sadly will be no match for.

      --
      Did you know you can fertilize your lawn with used motor oil?
    2. Re:Hmmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      A Sherman tank is around 20 feet long, almost 9 feet wide, and 11 (?) feet tall.

      I would suggest using a tubular or box (easier to work with) steel frame. If you want to go cheap then use plywood for the exterior (bolted to the frame). Sheet metal would also work, and probably be lighter, but not as easy to work with.

      Grab an old motorcycle or subcompact engine and bolt it in. Creating a tank-like transmission might be hard. I've haven't thought too much about it but you would need some way to direct power to each track seperately. Two engines might work but I've found that the less mechanical parts, the better.

      I don't know of a really cheap way to make the tracks. They do make commercial rubber tracks for snowmobiles and other vehicles that you could use.

    3. Re:Hmmm... by dillon_rinker · · Score: 1

      Creating a tank-like transmission might be hard.

      Au contraire! (Pardon my French).
      I took look around the guy's web site; he's got a page on tracked vehicle transmissions here.

  25. News Flash: by Sayten241 · · Score: 4, Funny

    7 year old child with 1/5th scale tank conquers Iraqi military through sheer cuteness.

    1. Re:News Flash: by JDWTopGuy · · Score: 3, Funny

      7 year old kills Michael Jackson with 1/5th scale tank after Jackson tries to get in tank with kid. World rejoices, film at 11.

      --
      Ron Paul 2012
    2. Re:News Flash: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No no. You got it all wrong. You mean:

      7 year old child with 1/5th scale tank conquers France. Period.

  26. How are you Gentlemen!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    In pre-WW2 Germany, dressing kids like soldiers and playing with army toys was very popular, too.

    Americans: All your cannon fodder are belong to us. You are on the way to destruction.

    1. Re:How are you Gentlemen!! by The+AtomicPunk · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Which countries was this not popular in?

    2. Re:How are you Gentlemen!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      France, definitely not France.

    3. Re:How are you Gentlemen!! by azav · · Score: 1

      For great justice!!!

      --
      - Zav - Imagine a Beowulf cluster of insensitive clods...
    4. Re:How are you Gentlemen!! by Tingler · · Score: 1

      That isn't how I remember it.

      www.foxhome.com/soundofmusic/

    5. Re:How are you Gentlemen!! by argStyopa · · Score: 1

      In France, instead of playing with guns, all the little boys practice waving white sheets, making doo-doo in their pants, and running screaming like a girl instead.

      It's seemed to work out pretty well for them, they've been playing these games for the last 185 years.

      --
      -Styopa
  27. I submitted this story 2-3 months ago by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll


    And it was rejected. That's the last time I'll
    ever submit a story here - it's a waste of time.

    -Chris

  28. you'll put your eye out with that thing! by ethanms · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Any one else think of that Christmas Story movie where they keep telling the kid "You'll put your eye out with that thing!" referring to the Red Ryder BB gun?

    Forget equipping the cannon w/ live fire action... all he needs is for some kid to put his eye up real close to that barrel to look inside; then have the driver accidentally hit forward and jam the barrel into his skull.

    I'd also be a bit leery about having those tank treds last very long... wood isn't designed to do that sort of thing... and certainly not after a few seasons of hot/cold-wet/dry...

    And how about fire control? Motor's get hot and wood burns... small fire could start inside the tank and the kid might not even know...

    Plus my mom never even let me have a power wheels!

    1. Re:you'll put your eye out with that thing! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Does it really matter if the fucking kid burns down in his wooden tank, in some pathetic desert war or in the next fucking skyscraper that's getting blowed up?

    2. Re:you'll put your eye out with that thing! by morgajel · · Score: 3, Funny

      ...wood isn't exactly "designed" for chairs either:)

      --
      Looking for Book Reviews? Check out Literary Escapism.
    3. Re:you'll put your eye out with that thing! by c_oflynn · · Score: 1

      At 1 mph you would never get your head out of the way....

    4. Re:you'll put your eye out with that thing! by Tingler · · Score: 1

      wood isn't designed to do that sort of thing... and certainly not after a few seasons of hot/cold-wet/dry...

      That kid fitting in that tank won't last one season.

      all he needs is for some kid to put his eye up real close to that barrel to look inside;

      Uh, someone should tell you (and everyone else) not to do that.

      Plus my mom never even let me have a power wheels!

      This would explain the rest of your post. :)

    5. Re:you'll put your eye out with that thing! by ethanms · · Score: 1

      Update 12/21/2002 - After wasting two weeks trying to get replacement metal gears cut for less than $300 each, I gave up and ordered some MONSTERUS motors from botparts.com. Brock Schippers, who runs the show over there, was very helpful in recommending AM Equipment 265-1002 motors: 48 ft-lbs of torque at stall, and 82 free rpm! That's a scary amount of torque.

      we're talking about a 4-8 year old kid who is going to puts their head head/face against the barrel because they want to see what's in there...

      these are the same kids who get hit in the face with a foam football when you toss it at them... not exactly cat-like reflexes...

  29. ok, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think we've reached the point where 'geek' turns into 'sad'

  30. SWEEEEEET by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    All I can say is awesome! And to all you wimps who keep complaining this is a bad idea!!!GET A LIFE!!!!! And to any one whining about people growing up to be soldiers all I can say is your freedom came at the price of the lives of little children who grew up became soldiers and gave up their rights and life for your freedom.

    1. Re:SWEEEEEET by Night+War · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Whose freedom? The Blacks, too? If I remember my history classes correctly there was this thing about the British banning slavery a couple years before the Americans. yep, those kids fought for freedom, but not everyone's freedom.

    2. Re:SWEEEEEET by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What? A little off topic and not a very good example at that.

    3. Re:SWEEEEEET by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If I remember my history classes correctly there was this thing about the British banning slavery a couple years before the Americans.

      If you had better history classes you would remember that the British contined dealing in the slave trade long after they had "banned" slavery in Britain.

    4. Re:SWEEEEEET by Night+War · · Score: 0

      Ooops, sorry. I checked up on this and concluded I was wrong. Although I still think the American government tends to be a little military-minded, but without always paying respect to the reasons for a war.

  31. Next thing we'll here by sielwolf · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is that it was made for 300 million dollars as a part of some Homeland Security/NSF grant. Tom Ridge: "We need to arm and armor our children. Otherwise the terrorists have won!"

    --
    What is music when you despise all sound?
    1. Re:Next thing we'll here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You know, every time I hear this sentence, my sympathy for the terrorists grows.

  32. Kid Stuck in Tank by pHsHsTK · · Score: 1

    As with all presents for children, he's probably been in the tank for a total of 5 mins,,, spending more time in some cardboard boxes that were in the garage.

    1. Re:Kid Stuck in Tank by xanadu-xtroot.com · · Score: 1

      As with all presents for children, he's probably been in the tank for a total of 5 mins,,, spending more time in some cardboard boxes that were in the garage.

      I'll have to second this. My son's been really into Star Wars the past 5 or 6 months (He'll be 4 in a few months). He wanted Obi-Wan's ship. OK, cool. Then he wanted Zam-Wellel's ship, and Jango's ship, and yes damn near everything from Eps 4 -6 (my Mom had kept a lot of that stuff from I was a kid, so it was just hitting ebay for a few things).
      Point of this small rant is to say: Recently I had to get him a new (bigger) car seat. Guess what his favorite toy was for a good little while; the box the seat came in... He won't let me get rid of it still. That was about a month ago... :-)

      --
      I'm not a prophet or a stone-age man,
      I'm just a mortal with potential of a super man.
    2. Re:Kid Stuck in Tank by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Q: What's more embarrassing than a dead baby playing with your penis.

      A: A dead baby starting to play with your penis in front of your wife.

    3. Re:Kid Stuck in Tank by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Q: What's more embarrassing than a dead baby playing with your penis.

      How is a baby that's dead going to be able to play with my penis?

  33. Not so fast buddy by scotay · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just imagine the looks on your neighbors faces when you rumble into the midst of their barbecue in a Panzer, and paste the beer cooler with your 37mm potato cannon. That'll teach 'em to drink imported beer on the 4th of July.

    The response from my Guinness keg launcher promises to teach your 5-year-old a valuable lesson on the perils of unilateralism.

    1. Re:Not so fast buddy by Night+War · · Score: 1

      Is there any good American Beer? Drink real beer! Drink Imported beer!

    2. Re:Not so fast buddy by Leto-II · · Score: 1

      Pacific Northwest microbrews. Yummy!

      Sorry if you're stuck somewhere without any good local breweries... Then you're just outta luck.

      --
      Do not anger the worm.
    3. Re:Not so fast buddy by Fishstick · · Score: 1

      Red Hook, yum.

      I did a tour in Kirkland for a couple months a few years back. Got really hooked on the stuff. Not a whole lot around the midwest to compare. Ah, memories.

      --

      There is much cruelty in the universe, John.
      Yeah, we seem to have the tour map.

    4. Re:Not so fast buddy by dillon_rinker · · Score: 2, Funny

      The CEOs of Miller, Budweiser, and Guiness meet for lunch. The first CEO orders a Miller; the second, a Budweiser. The Guiness CEO, however, orders a Coke. "Why didn't you order a Guiness?" the first two ask. "I thought that if you weren't drinking beer, I shouldn't either."

    5. Re:Not so fast buddy by the+uNF+cola · · Score: 1

      If you are in the North East, Brooklyn Brewery makes some kick ass beer.

      --

      --
      "I'm not bright. Big words confuse me. But Wanda loves me and that should be enough for you." - Cosmo

    6. Re:Not so fast buddy by Night+War · · Score: 0

      Well, I was talking about European beer. I dunno about the various breweries you named, but the next time I'm in the states I'll try them. But so far, I didn't drink any American beer that wasn't much more than colored water.

  34. Oops. by Jerky+McNaughty · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    "Your as stupid as they they come." Two problems with that sentence, jackass. That should be "you're" (a contraction for "you are"), not your. Also, you said "they they".

  35. Re:WMD are not something to play with by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I see you need to pratice more young jedi.

  36. Re:WMD are not something to play with by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Tell that to the people from Tieneman Square.
    Fuck, if you had a slingshot and a pile of rocks, it would be a WOMD, but only if you were in Iraq.

    Come on jerk-off, the whole fucking thing is relative. Why else would GW get his knickers in a knot over a 'Drone Plane' that was made out of balsa wood, weed whacker motors and duct tape, and controlled by a man on the ground at MOST 5 miles away? It's a fucking hobby plane that millions of americans have built for fun, but in Iraq, it's a restricted weapon!

  37. Hobby? by dnoyeb · · Score: 4, Interesting

    At first it looked interesting. Then he starts running into problem after problem and I'm thinking, Does he want a job at General Dynamics? Because he is doing a ton of engineering. He put some real thought into that thing. I can't blame him at all for the $10-$25 fee for instructions.

    Of course he will soon find that the instructions are equally as hard to make as the tank...

  38. Just what I've always wanted to see. . . by fr2asbury · · Score: 4, Funny

    Pictures from the childhood of Davros.
    "Father" of the Daleks.

    Cheers,
    Jonathan

  39. Cisco by azav · · Score: 1

    What's super cool (or super crazy) is that the guy who started Cisco has a real one that he runs around the woods near his house. Read this in an angel investor article somewhere. Heard he even knocked one of his teeth out, trying to run over trees.

    Trees one, Cisco nothing.

    --
    - Zav - Imagine a Beowulf cluster of insensitive clods...
    1. Re:Cisco by B0mbtruck · · Score: 1

      Just wait until I get my ammo for my german engineered Königstiger tank.

      Like a Sherman will hold up to that.

  40. Re:Great for kids? by timeOday · · Score: 4, Funny
    Why not give them a mock up of a chemical warfare agent? "Hey, kids, it looks and smells like real sarin gas!
    Gimme a break! Look, if you ever become dad enough to pull something like this off you can make a VW bus, ok?
  41. Re:tasteless! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Then ignore the fact that it was a tank, and focus on the fact that a dad spent a lot of time, effort, and money on a very unique toy for his son. I wish my dad had spent that kind of time with me.

    The article wasn't tasteless, but your comment was.

  42. Oh Boy!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    i want Santa Clause to bring me one for Christmas...

  43. Coolest Dad by sysadmn · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Well, he's got my vote for coolest dad of the year!

    --
    Envy my 5 digit Slashdot User ID!
  44. Awsome model.. by Hans+Lehmann · · Score: 1

    and it looks like an awful lot of hours went into it. Unfortunately, in less than one year the boy will have grown too big to fit inside anymore.

    --
    09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
    1. Re:Awsome model.. by phillymjs · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Unfortunately, in less than one year the boy will have grown too big to fit inside anymore.

      At which point the guy could:

      a) have another kid
      b) sell it on eBay for $$$
      c) tinker with it and make it remote-controlled
      d) c, then b

      If it were me, I'd add remote control along with a motor for turret-rotation, put a wireless cam or two on it and enjoy it for a long time to come.

      If his dad does that, I'd hate to live on that kid's block on Mischief Night in 11 or 12 years, if the tank lasts that long. :-)

      ~Philly

    2. Re:Awsome model.. by DJPenguin · · Score: 2, Funny

      a) have another kid
      b) sell it on eBay for $$$

      Sweet! That's one way to deal with unwanted pregnancies!

  45. Bah! Who needs a tank by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    .. when you can have your own BattleMech!

  46. Re:Great for kids? by IICV · · Score: 0

    "Hey, kids, it looks and smells like real sarin gas! ... And because it's colorless and odorless, Mom will never know!" So... how will the kids tell?

  47. Re:Just what the world needs... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A tank is not a "weapon of mass destruction". A missile or drone with a payload of anthrax, smallpox, nerve gas, or other chemical or biological weapon, on the other hand, is.

  48. Re:WMD are not something to play with by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Read this.

  49. Re: Jesus Saves! by Drago451 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    acually it dont matter

    the word will not go with out touching someone, says in the bible

    and tabacco companys get people to smoke by putting lame signs up .

  50. What I don't get is... by EvilFrog · · Score: 1

    ...why use X-Arcade controls? The only part used was the Joystick, which can be bought directly from Happ (the manufacturer) for much cheaper.

    1. Re:What I don't get is... by mabinogi · · Score: 1

      The link he gave in the artical itself points to a joystick replacement part, not the whole board

      --
      Advanced users are users too!
    2. Re:What I don't get is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      X-Arcade joystick is cheaper than HAPP also, and better quality.

  51. Re: Jesus Saves! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes, I agree. However, if you post a flamebait, people won't even listen. You can't spread the word if people don't listen.

  52. Re:Great for kids? by iggymanz · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Giving a kid a model of a vehicle that inflicted death and mayhem on the Nazis is a Good Thing. Teaching that freedom comes at a great price is a Good Thing.

  53. Re:WMD are not something to play with by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    lol... so in other words, if we slap some duct tape on the Predator drone, it will magically become a nice friendly toy instead of an evil tool of assassination?

  54. This guy does not like import beer by DJ+FirBee · · Score: 0, Troll

    //Just imagine the looks on your neighbors faces when you rumble into the midst of their barbecue in a Panzer, and paste the beer cooler with your 37mm potato cannon. That'll teach 'em to drink imported beer on the 4th of July. //

    That's where I stopped reading. If that guy trys to in any way separate me from my heinekens on the fourth of July, I will put a serious beat down upon him.

    Some of us have more firepower than a potato cannon. Regardless, this type of intrusion into my festivities would warrant a beat down with a stick or just a manual beatdown.

    As if I am less American because I drink better beer ...

    That guy deserves a bitchslap ...*BAP*!

    1. Re:This guy does not like import beer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If that guy trys to in any way separate me from my heinekens on the fourth of July, I will put a serious beat down upon him.

      Heineken is bitter shite. If anyone deserves a beatdown, sir, it is you!

    2. Re:This guy does not like import beer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


      You drink *Heineken*? If anyone is generous enough to run over your supply of weak German dishwater with a tank, I expect you, sir, to weep *tears* of gratitude.

      Seriously, it's just amazing what people can be proud of when they don't have anything else.

    3. Re:This guy does not like import beer by mrscorpio · · Score: 1

      Heineken is not German.

      Chris

    4. Re:This guy does not like import beer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just like Budweiser is not Czech. Real Czech beer is at least 20 proof.

  55. nitpicking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Without too many exceptions, this guy did a fairly good job. The suspension and hull shape are spot on. But I have to point out that the original Shermans used 1/8" plywood on the hull, not 1/4".

    1. Re:nitpicking by rossifer · · Score: 1
      Without too many exceptions, this guy did a fairly good job. The suspension and hull shape are spot on. But I have to point out that the original Shermans used 1/8" plywood on the hull, not 1/4".

      Oh. My. God.

      That is hilarious. I just scared my roommate by spontaneously falling out of my chair laughing!

      (For those who don't get it, read up on the relative armor thickness of various tanks in WWII.)

      Regards,
      Ross
  56. Easy as 1-2-3 ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    1. Design and build 1/5 scale tank for your child.

    2. Child uses tank to collect underwear from weaker children that don't have a personal tank.

    3. Profit!

    (the guy should charge more for the instructions)

  57. Tank speed worries me a little.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Scale speed was designed to be 2 mph, or 3 fps"

    3 fps!? That's gonna be one jerky ride and one sick kid...

  58. Re:WMD are not something to play with by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "A tank is not a weapon of mass destruction."

    It is if you have a Beowolf cluster of them...

  59. Re:tasteless! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    considering the current political events, i find this story quite tasteless, to say the least

    I find your lack of knowledge of how and when to use the SHIFT key and your apperent lack of any shred of grammatical skills to be to be a sign of your mental capacity... I sugjest that you just back away from the keyboard and not look back.

  60. This kid is lucky by abigor · · Score: 2, Interesting

    When I was a kid, I would have KILLED for something like this. We actually did end up building vehicles as we got older - using salvaged lawnmower engines, generally. To this day, my dad bugs me about the disassembled engine in his garage, which I left there 15 years ago.

    The big problem was, none of us had access to a welder. The fact that we couldn't actually weld would have proven no obstacle. Eventually, we took to building boats instead, and ended up in a series of harrowing pellet gun wars with the other gang of boat-building kids.

    Ah, life in a small town, eh?

    1. Re:This kid is lucky by JDWTopGuy · · Score: 1

      When I was a kid, I would have KILLED with, uh I mean for, something like this.

      (Laugh, you inconsiderate clod!)

      --
      Ron Paul 2012
  61. Re:tasteless! by SegaVegas · · Score: 1

    i suggest that you get permabanned from /. for wasting bandwith

  62. Tank by hoagieslapper · · Score: 1

    I just hope his son doesn't break a rib trying to put the track back on if it were to slip off.

  63. Misread by einhverfr · · Score: 2, Funny

    From the article:
    The power source in this model is two 12v 75Ah deep-cycle Autocraft batteries driving two 24v 1/5 hp electric gear motors (see the bottom of this page for more on these motors). emphasis mine

    Anyone else read this "antiaircraft batteries?"

    --

    LedgerSMB: Open source Accounting/ERP
  64. Gotta love this picture by Sgs-Cruz · · Score: 1

    The tank treads are apparently modeled after his watch band... as seen here... my question: couldn't he find a better picture than him picking up some like crap or something? Green sand, my ass... (Okay, bad expression).

    --

    Karma: pi (Mostly due to circular reasoning in posts).

    1. Re:Gotta love this picture by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He could have, but the reason he didn't can be attributed as pure laziness.. rather than take a NEW picture of his watch, he reused one that was already on his site.

  65. Re:Not so fast buddy ob:Beer by mako · · Score: 2, Informative
    You're kidding right? Both North Coast and Sierra Nevada make beers which blow away most anything imported.

    North Coast makes their Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout which makes me laugh and chuckle at the thought of ever drinking Guiness again unless I had to. Don't even get me started about the Old Stock Ale which is devine. Every day beers like Red Seal and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale are also usually in the fridge.

    No, I'm afraid imports just can't cut it. So until I take a trip to Europe to see what they have for themselves I am sticking with good ole American beer.

  66. Military Vehicle Technology Foundation by Animats · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Oh, that guy. He has 35 medium/heavy tanks, and a few hundred other large items. He acquired some SCUD missiles after the Gulf War, and there was something of a flap when they arrived in operating condition.

    He's into detailed restoration, like an auto collector; he doesn't operate the tanks much.

    1. Re:Military Vehicle Technology Foundation by coneal · · Score: 1

      Is this for real?

      His inventory list includes a T34, M26 Pershing, T72, Chieftain - that's an impressive list. And the one I really can't believe: an "IS-3M" - that's gotta be a Joseph Stalin 3, no? Those things were monsters.

      I wonder if this guys gives tours...

    2. Re:Military Vehicle Technology Foundation by Animats · · Score: 1

      It's for real. I live nearby, and friends of mine know him.

  67. Re:tasteless! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hey dude, the GET-A-FUCKING-LIFE store called. They're completely out of you. Chop chop!

  68. Kid looks kinda dorky by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    n/t

  69. Hmmm... Botparts.com is down now... by mesach · · Score: 1

    botparts is this the first /.ing of a link from within an article?

    Or has it happened before... If it has I bet it never hapened with the main article withstanding the /.ing

    --
    moo.
    1. Re:Hmmm... Botparts.com is down now... by Uart · · Score: 1

      this link made Fark.com too.

      --

      Opinionated Law Student Strikes Again!
  70. Abrams, anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who's up for a 1/4 scale Abrams tank? Or a 1/50 scale Spruce Goose?

  71. ++Moderation; by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That, sir, was humourous in an intelligent and historical way. If I could, I would make this post more visible by conferring positive moderation points onto it.

  72. Re:tasteless! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A.C.! A.C.! Come over here! You gotta test your tank!

    No dad! I wanna play nintendo, okay? Okay please?

    WHAT!?! I've spent all this time and money on this spcial little tank for you and this is what I get? NOW GET YOUR LITTLE ASS OVER HERE I WANNA FINISH THIS TURRET TONIGHT AND YOUR HELPING ME 'TILL MIDNIGHT AT LEAST!

  73. Put an old 286 in it... by Cyno01 · · Score: 1

    and a display and you could have an battlezone simulator. :)

    --
    "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
  74. Finland by Suomalaanen+hjy · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    We've had those smart cards in use in Finland for many years now. Most are city-specific, so you can't use them outside that particular city they are for.
    The uses for those smartcards are in electrical identification, so you don't need usernames and passwords, only a card and a pin number (and a cardreader), and mass transportation. You can also pay your purchases in some shops with those cards.

    1. Re:Finland by Suomalaanen+hjy · · Score: 1

      Damn, wrong topic. Note to self: read more, click less.

  75. That kid has got.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    more fire power than the Canadian military. (but we do have more canoes)

  76. Sherman Tank by JWSmythe · · Score: 1

    Damn, that's a cool project.. The kid looks just like one of my friend's sons.. And he'd definately be the type to drive it around the neighborhood, and terrorize anything he could with a pneumatic cannon.. :)

    My only real suggestion would have been to make at least the drivetrain and suspension out of metal.. Ya, it'd take a bit of extra work, and may need to invest in some new tools (but possibly not), but it would have definately been worth it..

    Personally, if I had the space and time, I would have gone for something a bit bigger. Maybe 1:2 scale, and probably used metal instead of wood.

    I've seen quite a few 50cc motorcycles and mopeds with automatic clutches and one speed, that can get someone my size on a small frame going about 30mph. A pair of 50cc motorcycle engine/transmission combo's would make a pretty cool tank that wouldn't be too loud, and still get like 40mpg. :) From the sounds of it, these would be about as expensive as the motor and batteries that he used.. Of course, I have no idea what he'd need to use to make the drive reverse.. Using either track in forward is easy. putting one in reverse to spin the tank would take an extra transmission piece..

    Oh, I got it.. Put the drive in a slot. If it's in one position, it moves forward. If it's in the other, it hits the other side of the inside of the tracks, and pushes back.. That would only require a solinoid, like the electric locks in a car use.

    Tee-hee..

    I need to move into a house with space, so I can build one for myself.. Hehe..

    I guess it's a good thing this guy isn't my neighbor.. We'd probably have a full fledged tank built by now (minus armour to save weight), with a working pneumatic gun.. :) Imagine chasing each other around a yard with potato's in the cannon.. Muhahahaaaaaa..

    I really should have applied for junkyard wars.

    --
    Serious? Seriousness is well above my pay grade.
    1. Re:Sherman Tank by phavens · · Score: 1
      How about aromoured cars with water cannons? The only draw back? My friend and I had to struggle with this length of hose dragging after them. Add in a empty lot. :-)

      Yes... we had an arms race with both of us ending up with water cannons powered by city pressure.

      Ahhh the simple days...

      --
      Patrick Havens (Mr. 573333 to you.) Graphic Artist / Coder / Father / Journeler
  77. Re:Heh tsarkon reports - this is faggot shit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    this is a gay fag story. this piece of shit is wood first of all. haventyou all seen battle bots? there is no fucking reason besides being a shylock shyster cheap niggard bitch not to use metal. what a fag.

    and a sherman, what a piece of shit. make an M1A1 or something useful. what a pieceof shit

    aqnd 1/5 scale sucks shit. and why not put a potato gun for a fucking cannon. this guy is a shit father, and his little fucking tank is for pussies and fags.

    meticulous. slashdot FUCKING SUCKS shit. this is so not fucking newsworthy. go find some battle bots or some interesting amatuer rocket links, this is fuckig gay, it looks like shit and its build like shit form a fag loser.

  78. Re:Great for kids? by Jamesie · · Score: 1

    On one hand a great little motorised tank and on the other an empty can. Which is more fun?

    You can stop beung a dickhead now.

  79. hmm... this sounds like a good opensource project by sharrestom · · Score: 1

    Surely there would be enough interest to come up with specs for mock armor warfare equipment based on various (as yet undefined) paintball guns. My proposal follows: For the "medium" tank, a 25 mm gas propelled smoothbore round with a 50/35 yard m/h (medium/heavy) maximum kill range , 75/50 yard m/h disable range, 60 rounds maximum at 12 rounds per minute. For the "heavy" tank, a 35 mm gas propelled sabot round with a 75/50 yard m/h maximum kill range and 100/75 yard m/h disable range, 40 rounds max at 8 rounds per minute. Medium tank max speed of 5 mph with the heavy tank at 3 mph. All vehicle skins minimum of .188 6061-t6, otherwise, no restrictions. The rounds themselves would be composed of the external shell, a primary color and a internal pellet with a secondary color. On a disable impact, the external shell would fracture, creating a primary color impact on the armor. On a kill impact, the primary shell would fracture, and the secondary pellet would fracture creating a kill impact color on the armor. To kill a vehicle, it would be necessary to either to get a kill shot or to disable both carriage and gun with independent impacts. Like the old arcade tank game, the tanks movements would be bounded, though opposing forces could communicate via a "secure" (I joke!) wifi network. 2 on 2 and 4 on 4 would be about right, and there's lots of desert here in Nevada to play.

  80. I�m confused by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    With Volkswagon's history of forced labor during the Nazi period, I wonder if building the "people's car" has inflicted more death and mayhem than the Sherman.

  81. That things only going to take... by deathcloset · · Score: 2, Funny


    like two panzershrecks, three max.

  82. My son's first halloween by Chairboy · · Score: 1

    Last Halloween, my wife wanted to dress our 6 month old son as a fox. She got the costume and everything, and it was a cute little outfit. I started wondering what I could contribute...

    Inspiration struck, and I built this:

    http://hallert.net/images/marcustank1-med.jpg

    http://hallert.net/images/marcustank2-med.jpg

    It's mounted on caster wheels and has a handle on the back that I used to push it down the street.

    Now I wonder if anyone can guess what I was trying for..... ?

  83. Re:WMD are not something to play with by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Tell that to the people from Tieneman Square.

    Sure. The Square is still there, is it not? Then the tanks wern't fucking Weapons of Mass Destruction, were they? Dipshit.

  84. Nothing like building your child's favorite toy... by SensitiveMale · · Score: 1

    just big enough so that he outgrows it in SIX WEEKS.

    Did he forget how fast kids grow?

    I can just see this kid refusing to eat and crying his eyes out in June.

  85. Um... by 0xdeadbeef · · Score: 1

    To make your son into a murderous Nazi tank commander for Halloween?

    1. Re:Um... by Chairboy · · Score: 1

      Nope, if you knew your history, Rommel wasn't a Nazi. In fact, Hitler had him executed because Rommel was connected to a plot to assassinate him.

    2. Re:Um... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      that's one of the myths ranking around Rommel and his fellow army generals. They were loyal followers of Hitler until they recognized the war was lost. Then they tried to save their asses.
      Every general knew what was happening a few kilometers behind the frontline.

    3. Re:Um... by opeuga · · Score: 0

      Except he wasn't executed. Hitler gave Rommel the oppurtunity to kill himself which he took advantage of.

      --
      ---- http://www.opedog.com/
  86. Re:Just what the world needs... by f0dder · · Score: 1

    They didn't play with weapons... they went to church.. remember.

  87. Ween by Satan's+Minion+666 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I GUARANTEE you the neighborhood children beat up that kid the second he gets out of that thing. Hell, I knew kids who got jacked for their Power Wheels jeeps, and this is fifty times cooler. PS - Sarin doesn't have any smell, or color. All the better to terrorize the Japanese subway system.

    --
    I am Law! You are Crime!
  88. You still don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Learn to use the fucking "shift" key, dumbass. Can you please try to stop making words up, too. "permabanned"? Is that like permafrost or something?

  89. Rough for who? by mikosullivan · · Score: 3, Funny
    Kindergarten is going to be rough for that little one.



    The kid's got his own Sherman Tank. Kindergarten's going to rough for the other kids.

    --
    Miko O'Sullivan
  90. Poor kid by Edmund+Blackadder · · Score: 1

    Poor kid will be blown to shreds the moment the neighbor's kid comes out with his new panther or tiger.

    1. Re:Poor kid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      psycho americans

  91. Must be his first kid. by dameron · · Score: 1

    Cause at the rate they grow that boy'll be way too big to play in that thing in about six months. He better get to work on a backup kid if he wants his toy to see any real action.

    -dameron

  92. Thank you, Mr. Vet! by Marijuana+al-Shehi · · Score: 1

    If it wasn't for you I would be speaking Vietnamese, Iraqi-style Arabic, Panamanian Spanish, or that horrible patois they speak in Grenada.

    --
    "I think all foreigners should stop interfering in the internal affairs of Iraq"
    -- Paul Wolfowitz, 7/21/2003
    1. Re:Thank you, Mr. Vet! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... & if it wasn't for George Washington, you might be speaking English.

  93. congrats, babykillers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    babykillers

  94. The German Kid Down the Street... by vudufixit · · Score: 2, Funny

    Had a pair of 1/4 scale 88mm AA guns pointed right down the street. His son didn't make it past the cul de sac.

  95. Re:Heh tsarkon reports - this is faggot shit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    hehahuaesuhuhwuuhwhushuuhhu oww amn u amde smoe raelly oggd poinst tehre

  96. The Sherman Was a Piece of Crap by cjsnell · · Score: 3, Informative


    If I ever build my child a tank, it will be something other than the M4 Sherman. That tank should have never been put in service. Prior to the Normandy invasion in 1944, GEN George S. Patton made the decision to concentrate production on the M4 Sherman instead of the M26 Pershing. The Pershing, according to Patton, was much too heavy. Patton, being a cavalry man, saw tanks as tools of the infantry. Tanks were to be used in conjunction with assaults by foot soldiers and were not intended to fight other tanks. Patton's choice of the lighter, faster Sherman turned out to be a huge mistake. The high-velocity guns of the German Tiger and Panther tanks penetrated the Shermans like a fork through a slice of bread. According to Belton Y. Cooper (whose book you should read...more on that in a bit), the Army began the Normandy campaign with 232 M4 tanks. In eleven months of service, 648 were completely destroyed and 700 were knocked out but later prepared. This comes out to roughly 580% losses in less than a year. These incredible losses resulted in the deaths of thousands of highly (and expensively) trained tank crew members.

    As if the M4's crappy armor wasn't bad enough, the Army equipped it with rotary aircraft engines, which it apparently had in surplus. These engines constantly fouled spark plugs (of which they had around 18, if I am remembering Cooper's book correctly). The engines did not like to idle at low RPMs and this created constant problems when travelling in convoys. On top of that, the tanks would let out an extremely un-tactical backfire when they were started, which often drew German artillery fire upon their positions. The M4s also had very narrow tracks. Your son's model tank looks to be fairly accurate as far as the dimensions of the tracks. When these narrow tracks encountered freshly-plowed farmland, they got stuck and it took incredible effort to free them.

    But wait, it gets even worse... The M4's main gun (75mm or 76mm, depending) was almost useless when up against German armor. When that gun hit the hardened armor (rolled, if my memory serves me) of the Tiger tanks, it merely bounced off, leaving a scratch or pockmark on the surface.

    So, all you Slashdotters...if you're going to build your kid a tank, do them a favor and build them an M26!

    -Chris

    PS - I got most of this information from reading Belton Y. Cooper's incredible book, "Death Traps", which follows the 3rd Armored Divison ("Spearhead") from Normandy to the heart of Germany. I'm not sure if it is still available--it was out-of-print for a while...

    1. Re:The Sherman Was a Piece of Crap by kevcol · · Score: 1

      That is indeed a good book; I read it a few months ago. The other nickname given to Shermans by the British were Ronsons, as they flamed up like a cigarette lighter when hit just so. One top of being built shitty, the Sherman was just lame looking. I'd make a model of a German tank of almost any variety from WW2 before I'd make one that was manufactured by the US or UK.

  97. Re:WMD are not something to play with by cjsnell · · Score: 1

    The M4 Sherman tank is especially not a weapon of mass destruction. The M4's crappy medium velocity 76mm gun was no match for the German Panther and Tiger tanks. See the comment that I just posted for more info.

    Chris

  98. Re:WMD are not something to play with by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No, the preadator drone is EXACTLY what it GW called the Iraqi hobby plane. A RESTRICTED Weapon.
    Duct Tape would only make certain that the preadator drone didn't fall apart, as it was built by Americans, the second laziest group of people in the world. And now the mexicans are even getting a work ethic.

    You want fries with that you fucking American sold your country to the jewish banks for a trillion dollar debt that you spend on oppression and hatred, cum-guzzling motherfuck! You make me want to vomit you war-for-oil never learn from your fucking mistakes, let's pick a fight with someone when we already made him destroy all of his weapons when you were the ones who made the fuckers in the first place, Amerikan. You gave the Iraqis the weapons to fight the Iranians, and when that was done you up and fucked off without defending them in any way. You gave weapons to the Taliban to oust the russians. That bit you in the ass, so what do you do? You give weapons to the locals trying to oust the taliban so you don't have to risk your own ground troops, then leave Afghanistan to the fucking street gangs!

    Your foreign policy sucks, and you don't seem to understand that the more you use people in the world, the more hated you become. That's why your economy fell, that's why your towers fell, and that's why the Chinese are poised to walk all over you as a superpower. And that's why you can lick my ass clean!

  99. Re:WMD are not something to play with by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Predators are made out of balsa wood and weed wacker motors?

  100. All is well untill. . . by cra · · Score: 1

    . . . Someone thinks of putting a spud gun on that one and rant around the neighbourhood. . .

    --
    This message has been ROT-13 encrypted twice for higher security.
  101. Building a working tank for a kid is sick by AmoHongos · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    War isn't fun and games. It involves murder, torture, rape. It's a horrible, horrible thing that will never go away. Kids will find out about it soooner or later, but why not allow them a few years of innocence?

  102. Tanks aren't generally made like this by SyFryer · · Score: 1

    So what makes this coffin on wheels news for nerds, or stuff that matters?

    I could understand ir if it utilised chobham platelet armour, super nailguns and motorised sharks, but as it stands, its shit.

    Tanks rock, but this story is a night-fighting shit-kicker.

    I mean, who would be scared of a little boy in a tank? Priests?

  103. Wonderfull project - Build turret higher over head by lukme · · Score: 1

    This looks like a great project, dispite what anyone thinks. I would suggest that the turret is built a bit higher in case the tank rolls over, the kids head is not injured. I wish I had as much time as this guy does.

  104. POTATO Gun! by cybercomm · · Score: 1

    I can just see it now, the kids, being sick of having to drag their gear can just build a panzer, complete with a potato gun!

    --
    Live for the present, learn from the past, and dream of the future!
  105. What I want to know is... by Black+Rabbit · · Score: 1

    ...will this little beast fit on either the backyard rollercoaster or the backyard monorail track?

  106. Re:Jesus Saves! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You use Ninnle Linux, don't you!

  107. ASCII Tank Project by pipingguy · · Score: 1

    Who knows he may even grow up to be an engineer.

    If he grows up to be a software engineer, the same project will likely end up looking something like this

  108. The gun sounds like a Bad Idea... by johnnys · · Score: 1

    "The trick will be to fit all the necessary components into the available space between my son's nose and the front of the turret!" I hope he REALLY gets that breech to be solid. If the projectile gets jammed and the breech breaks, the child is going to get a heck of a punch in the nose!

    --
    Sometimes the "writing on the wall" is blood spatter...
  109. Re:Wonderfull project - Build turret higher over h by einhverfr · · Score: 1

    This looks like a great project, dispite what anyone thinks. I would suggest that the turret is built a bit higher in case the tank rolls over, the kids head is not injured. I wish I had as much time as this guy does.

    Good idea-- but one would need a good vision solution in that case... If you think that tank could be dangerous, try limiting its vision ;)

    --

    LedgerSMB: Open source Accounting/ERP
  110. Re:hmm... this sounds like a good opensource proje by anakin876 · · Score: 1

    My friend and I here in California are actually talking about this....the problem arises in that where does one acquire such amunition? I do believe no one makes such a specialized round as yet.

  111. It's a JagdPanther by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And not bad at all, I should say.

  112. Re:Heh tsarkon reports - this is faggot shit by HighWizard · · Score: 0, Troll

    You sure said Fag a lot. I think someone is a little homosexual repressed. Maybe you should come out of the closet, I think it would make you feel better. By the way, have some guts and don't post Anonymously.

  113. high fag wizard by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    i know i say fag a lot. suppose this. suppose the word fag is flypaper for loser freak lunatic bastards like yourself to attempt a psychoanalysis of an alter ego of a bored person trolling for bites.

    you think i really care about fags? its all about a hole a projectile and about food. two main components of human behavior. nutrition and hole+projectile.

    if one's cortex bends the hole and projectile desire and makes it a man's ass, i dont care. i really dont. enjoy it.

    but you would try and say that because i say fag a lot, which has the tendency to get weak minded people such as yourself to pay attention to things, is in fact supressed homosexuality is amusing. i like that.

    hey, mr law and order i think im a forensic psychologist, in order to psychoanalyze people you have to like, you know, like interview them, and like you know like talk to them, and like you know like totally like get in their psyche, and you know like talk about thier formative years and you know

    ITS A LOT MORE FUCKING COMPLICATED THAN A SLASHDOT POST YOU FUCKING MORON.

  114. OK providing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


    more prone to shooting someone later in life than kids who merely play with dolls

    This is OK providing, you are shooting the right^H^H^H^HLeft people.

  115. Last Post! by alpg · · Score: 0

    There is a good deal of solemn cant about the common interests of capital
    and labour. As matters stand, their only common interest is that of cutting
    each other's throat.
    -- Brooks Atkinson, "Once Around the Sun"

    - this post brought to you by the Automated Last Post Generator...