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The DIY Tank

Posted by samzenpus on from the but-how-much-is-the-insurance dept.

Will Foster, a Kettering University student, has built his own half sized Panzer tank. It took Will 2 years and around $10,000 to build his mini-tank and he says the process has been "a lot of trial and error...I'd buy a $200 part that didn't work, then go to a $300 part that didn't work before finding a $50 part that did." The tank is about as big as a small car, and can reach speeds of around 20 mph with its three-cylinder diesel engine. It runs on treads, has a cannon powered by compressed air from a scuba tank and parks wherever the hell it wants.

55 of 334 comments (clear)

  1. One question... by PlatyPaul · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... will you be my research advisor?

    --
    Misery loves company. Online misery loves unsuspecting random strangers.
  2. THE PINK PANZER by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 1, Funny

    Watch him gayly romp through Poland, Czechoslovakia and France!

    --
    "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
    Never been known to fail..."
  3. whatcouldpossiblygowrong? by deander2 · · Score: 5, Funny

    if there was ever a time this tag really fit.... =P

    --
    http://kered.org
  4. $ Dollars by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is that $10,000 dollars as opposed to $10,000 donuts or !10,000 dollars, or what?

    1. Re:$ Dollars by tehniobium · · Score: 5, Funny

      The $ indicates that the 10,000 dollars is a php variable.

      --
      No kitty, this is my pot pie!
  5. Interesting by Z00L00K · · Score: 5, Funny
    To see what the parking place attendants will say when you park it.

    Also interesting to see what they will write on the parking ticket...

    --
    If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
    1. Re:Interesting by name*censored* · · Score: 5, Funny

      Just make up some fake diplomatic immunity plates for it. No-one's going to believe a parking inspector who tells people "I couldn't ticket the panzer because of Iraqi Diplomatic Immunity".

      --
      Commodore64_love: I don't comprehend people who're so frightened of death that they'll bankrupt themselves to stay alive
  6. Slashdot is getting slow by SageMusings · · Score: 1, Funny

    G4's "Attack of the Show" already had this story last week.

    I prefer it when Slashdot gets these things before any other organization...keeps us l33t :)

    --
    -- Posted from my parent's basement
    1. Re:Slashdot is getting slow by sumdumass · · Score: 2, Funny

      Do people still watch attack of the show? Might as well say it is before any other organization. Your still l33t.

    2. Re:Slashdot is getting slow by MiniMike · · Score: 5, Funny

      Just wait until tomorrow, when they have the story about his neighbor who built five T-34 replicas for the same amount.

    3. Re:Slashdot is getting slow by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 5, Funny

      I prefer it when Slashdot gets these things before any other organization...keeps us l33t :) Huh? What's Slashdot got to do with being l33t?! I'm afraid I can't parse that sentence.

      --
      My blog
    4. Re:Slashdot is getting slow by Draek · · Score: 2, Funny

      That's because proper editing and source-checking takes time, and that's something that needs to be done for *all* stories, so stop pressuring the editors unless you want Slashdot's normally excellent quality standards to drop.

      --
      No problem is insoluble in all conceivable circumstances.
  7. panzer tank ??? by C0vardeAn0nim0 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "panzer tank" ??? where did this come from ? the redundant department of redundancy ? panzer already is german for "tank".

    you either say "german tank" or "german panzer", but "panzer tank"??? sheesh.

    --
    What ? Me, worry ?
    1. Re:panzer tank ??? by MightyYar · · Score: 5, Funny

      I find it interesting that someone who uses zeros as a substitute for the letter "O" in their nickname would be such a stickler when it comes to proper language usage. :)

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    2. Re:panzer tank ??? by fred+fleenblat · · Score: 3, Funny

      Oh how I miss panzergirl, on the beach in her panzerkini.
      But I have to get back to work cleaning out septic panzers.

    3. Re:panzer tank ??? by sumdumass · · Score: 4, Funny

      That why those german's lost the war. They didn't know if they were sending the armor division or a tank division into battle.

      At least the English decided to name things a cover story dealing with potable water that was hiding the development of what became the first Tank. They only get confused if they forget their mission, it's either following the mess hall around or shooting up the enemy.

    4. Re:panzer tank ??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      We are Americans here! We are not supposed to know another language! We can say whatever heck we want! Remember that for us Yankees, Canada is the 51st state, UK is the 52nd, Paris is right beside Beijing and southbound from Baghdad, the Vietnam is close to Hawaii, there is nothing south of El Paso besides Illegal Aliens, Jungle and 3X beer, and Japan, Korea and Australia belong to the same continent.
      So, now get of my lawn with your German classes!

    5. Re:panzer tank ??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Panzer does not mean "tank" in German, it means Panther.

      The German army also had Tiger and Leopard versions of their tanks.

      Kinda like OSX, but crunchier.

    6. Re:panzer tank ??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Mod parent Informative!
      It's coming straight from the mouth of a real Grammar Nazi.

      (and laugh, it's meant to be funny)

    7. Re:panzer tank ??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Panzer is German for panther.

      This is like complaining that "sherman tank" is redundant, cause, like, you know, everyone knows that a sherman is a tank.

      Excuse me while I finish my decaf coffee and turn off my cell phone before I get into my BMW automobile and drive on the interstate highway.

    8. Re:panzer tank ??? by C0vardeAn0nim0 · · Score: 4, Funny

      austria's official language is also german. so a panzer made in austria would be an "austrian panzer"...

      i know, i know. this reply was too pedantic, even for me. but hey!! i'm a geek... "pedantic geek" is as reduntat as "panzer tank", right ?

      --
      What ? Me, worry ?
    9. Re:panzer tank ??? by mobby_6kl · · Score: 1, Funny

      I'm not your buddy, guy!

    10. Re:panzer tank ??? by C0vardeAn0nim0 · · Score: 2, Funny

      they also speak french in Switzerland. but i understand why they used the german word instead of the term the french usually use when they see a tank: "J'abandonne!!!" (I surrender!!!)

      --
      What ? Me, worry ?
  8. The real WTF is the URL by Incoherent07 · · Score: 4, Funny

    http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/newsnow/2008/04/post_moto_kid_death_story_here.html

    Note the last part. The Flint Journal must be extremely confident in how road-safe this tank is.

    --
    This is my sig. There are many others like it, but this one is mine.
  9. Can't wait to see... by gdog05 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Someone driving one of these and talking on a cell phone.

    1. Re:Can't wait to see... by daeley · · Score: 5, Funny

      Someone driving one of these and talking on a cell phone.

      Myself, I can't wait to be driving one of these and see someone else talking on a cell phone. ;)

      --
      I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.
  10. MPG? Straight line! by apachetoolbox · · Score: 5, Funny

    At first I thought about the MPG it gets. Then I though it doesn't matter when you can just go in a straight line. Buildings-shmildings.

    1. Re:MPG? Straight line! by MMC+Monster · · Score: 2, Funny

      Buildings-shmildings.

      Roads-shmoads.

      Bridges... Oh Shit!

      --
      Help! I'm a slashdot refugee.
  11. 420 what? by starglider29a · · Score: 3, Funny

    i see the "420" on the turret. i wonder if that's Hitler's Birthday, or something else?

    I've heard of "shotgunning", but that's ridiculous!!!

    1. Re:420 what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Yeah, dude... cough cough... we knew about the reefer thing... thanks... cough cough...

      I notice you didn't include the URL to the Craiglist ads. It'd suck to slashdot a prostitute.

    2. Re:420 what? by MorpheousMarty · · Score: 2, Funny

      Suck and prostitute need to be used carefully in a sentence... Also, I hope GTA IV allows me to slashdot hookers.

  12. Tailgaters? by grassy_knoll · · Score: 4, Funny

    With a top speed of 20MPH, he must get a lot of tailgaters...

    well, not the same tailgater twice with that cannon...

    --
    A Human Right
    1. Re:Tailgaters? by Yvan256 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Well, this thing shoots Red Bull cans, so it's more than probable that it's ALWAYS the same tailgaters.

      They're happy about the free Red Bull but they're pissed at the slow speed at the same time!

  13. Lunch Money... by pwnies · · Score: 4, Funny

    And now all the bullies that took this geek's lunch money as a kid will run in fear - as the geek now has a tank.

  14. I Come In Peace! by wsanders · · Score: 4, Funny

    According to TFA, it shoots Red Bull cans.

    Liberation through overpriced syrupy caffeinated beverages! Bet Rommel never thought of that.

    --
    Give a man a fish and you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish, and he'll say "WHERE'S MY FISH, YOU IDIOT?"
  15. Re:Sane police by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Would YOU try to taser a guy driving a tank?

  16. Awww by Translation+Error · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's adorable. Does he call it Bonaparte?

    --
    When someone says, "Any fool can see ..." they're usually exactly right.
  17. My bet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Dick cheney will buy it and use it for duck hunting with a bunch of dems.

  18. Re:Sane police by meringuoid · · Score: 4, Funny
    It's refreshing to read about police who aren't trying to taser everything that fails to conform.

    It's a tank. You've got a taser. Good humour is the best way to handle this situation, don't you think? Unless you've got the facility to radio in an airstrike.

    --
    Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
  19. Time to take up golf... by AioKits · · Score: 4, Funny

    You thought you looked awesome in that golf shirt and pimped out golf cart on the back nine? Wait till your friends see how you roll with a mini panzer!

    Mind if I play through? *adjusts turret* Of course you don't.

    --
    "Quote me as saying I was mis-quoted." -Groucho Marx
  20. Re:Tiger I by bellers · · Score: 5, Funny

    No one cares, tank-nerd.

    --
    This space for rent.
  21. Not complete until... by MiniMike · · Score: 5, Funny

    I would not consider this project complete until he finds a German midget to drive it...

    1. Re:Not complete until... by dreemernj · · Score: 3, Funny

      I know a little German o.O

      --
      1 (short ton / firkin) = 89.1432354 slugs / keg
  22. Oh sure, he's hot shit NOW by elrous0 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just wait until someone builds a half-scale anti-tank missile.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    1. Re:Oh sure, he's hot shit NOW by wvmarle · · Score: 4, Funny

      Sounds like the beginning of a half-scale arms race.

  23. LOL! Look at the URL by JonTurner · · Score: 4, Funny

    "http: // blog.mlive.com/ flintjournal /newsnow/2008/04/ post_moto_kid_death_story_here.html"

    "post moto kid death story here" ?!?
    I'm thinking that there must be a "part two" to this tale!

  24. Re:Sane police by g1zmo · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's a tank. You've got a taser. Good humour is the best way to handle this situation, don't you think? Unless you've got the facility to radio in an airstrike.

    I think LAPD has implemented a preliminary test program.

    --
    I have found there are just two ways to go.
    It all comes down to livin' fast or dyin' slow.     -REK, Jr.
  25. Re:I went to high school with this kid by Redbaran · · Score: 3, Funny

    Will liked to bounce some of his crazy ideas off of us, potato guns and the like. Tell me, did it hurt when he bounced that crazy potato gun idea off you?
  26. Re:Sane police by Charlton+Heston · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's not bullshit, it's the truth. I'm Charlton Heston, I'm dead, and I would not lie to you.

    --
    Get your stinking paws off me you damn dirty ape
  27. Alarm system by honestmonkey · · Score: 5, Funny

    The first thing I thought of when seeing him climb out of it, is that he needs to put in a car alarm. I was half-expecting it at one point. Drive up in a tank, climb out, point the remote at it and "Bee-boop".

    --
    Everything you know is wrong, Just forget the words and sing along.
  28. Re:youre from the department of redundancy departm by Applekid · · Score: 2, Funny

    You must be new here. The sport of pointing out redundancies, errors, and speling mistakes is a wonderful sport, like NASCAR.

    --
    More Twoson than Cupertino
  29. How Long..... by Budgreen · · Score: 2, Funny

    Until small furry rodents eat through his armor plating? I personally think this guy did a better job. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Heemeyer

    --
    The greatest right given is the right to be wrong...
  30. Re:hail all ye rounders by thetartanavenger · · Score: 2, Funny

    Am I the first brother to RTFA? First maybe. Last definitely, it's been slashdotted..
    --
    Who need's speling and grammar?
  31. Re:Sane police by AHumbleOpinion · · Score: 2, Funny

    I remember quite a few people who thought the gunfire in Saving Private Ryan sounded fakey -- precisely because it didn't.

    Sounded fake to me, I was not wearing ear protection and I was not partially deaf with ringing ears. :-)

  32. Re:Sane police by rabiddeity · · Score: 4, Funny

    So, umm, can I have your rifle now? I mean a promise is a promise, right?