7 replies to this topic

[nerfer34]

My friends and I are all around 14 and we want to build a paintball tank. We really aren't good at engineering and stuff so it'd be great if you could help us! We have the design down, it's just we need something to make it run. This tank will need to hold about 375 pounds. We want this thing to go from 7-15 MPH. Here are our ideas( not too good) so far. Also we want to construct this thing under a $150 cost.
- get a GO KART type thing
-get one of those little kids jeep things and put a nice engine in it.

Help would be awesome. Thanks for looking!

[Pineapple]

Go to this website.

Good luck in finding something that would match all your criteria. $150 doesn't buy much nowadays, and much less to have something that would carry that much weight over varying terrain.

My only suggestion would be to find someone who would be willing to sell you a fixer-upper golf cart for say, 100 bucks, and hope that it requires a minimum amount of work to at least make it run. Cardboard boxes make good armor panels against paintballs, except at danger-close ranges.

Heck, I just spent 120 dollars on a new solenoid, wiring, and one battery for my working golf cart, and it's still not working right. I might have to buy five more batteries, which at 65 bucks apiece would up my damage total to 435 dollars. I'm buying another running golf cart for about 800 dollars, and that's as cheap as I could find one. Add to it the need for me to weld another platform for a pickup bed, and you can see that it's a lot more than just duct tape and cardboard.

Were I in your situation, I'd invest in a garden cart, and pull it on a bicycle or use human power. For the amount of money you want to outlay, it's your best bet. Or, just wait up and save for something bigger.

I don't mean to discourage you, but rather than design and try to obtain stuff, I'd search the terrain around you for what you have handy, then do one of those "Junkyard wars" deals and just build as you see fit. You'd need access and skill in cutting, welding, and brazing metals, and of course, some backyard engineering ability, but only then do I see you pulling this off for 150 bucks or less.

Good luck, no matter.


-Piney-

[Gh05t]

Well,

Just my humble opinion, but I don't think that a little kids toy can stand up to the beating of a paintball war, nor are they rated to be able to carry more than like 120 pounds. A go cart on the other hand is very durable and stable and already pretty fast, but they aren't cheap either. I'd suggest trying to get your hands on a relatively cheap go cart. It doesn't even have to necessarily be in working condition either. That would probably be your best bet, and as far as motors go, you could always use the motor of an old lawnmower if you have one lying around. Don't base your judgements on me, I'm no mechanics expert, but some of the old lawnmowers were very durable and had good motors. I don't know exactly how you could engineer such a vehicle as to utilize a lawn mower motor, but that is an option. Anyway, I never really cared for the use of tanks, that's a woodsball scenario thing, but you could always consider the old go cart with lawnmower motor thing. I've seen it done correctly and it worked pretty well, but they may have altered the motor significantly for all I know. I'm not a mechanics expert like I said. Oh and I'd consider covering the go cart frame with either wood or sheet-rock in order to make it look more tank-like and to better protect the driver. Anyway I hope this helps...

[Dan Wask]

Well,

Just my humble opinion, but I don't think that a little kids toy can stand up to the beating of a paintball war, nor are they rated to be able to carry more than like 120 pounds. A go cart on the other hand is very durable and stable and already pretty fast, but they aren't cheap either. I'd suggest trying to get your hands on a relatively cheap go cart. It doesn't even have to necessarily be in working condition either. That would probably be your best bet, and as far as motors go, you could always use the motor of an old lawnmower if you have one lying around. Don't base your judgements on me, I'm no mechanics expert, but some of the old lawnmowers were very durable and had good motors. I don't know exactly how you could engineer such a vehicle as to utilize a lawn mower motor, but that is an option. Anyway, I never really cared for the use of tanks, that's a woodsball scenario thing, but you could always consider the old go cart with lawnmower motor thing. I've seen it done correctly and it worked pretty well, but they may have altered the motor significantly for all I know. I'm not a mechanics expert like I said. Oh and I'd consider covering the go cart frame with either wood or sheet-rock in order to make it look more tank-like and to better protect the driver. Anyway I hope this helps...

Get a shitty riding lawn mower and strip it down. Take off the mowing deck and the govenor. Then go to town with plexi and plywood.

[nerfer34]

GUys thanks for the replys. Ya I am looking for a beat up vehicle to use for this. PIney in that website you sent(awesome by the way) when it says like plans and stuff- link http://www.alternati....com/mortar.htm

this only means you buy the plans on how to make the gun right? Also how much do you think it'd cost to make the gun if you bought the "plans"?


Also would it be possible to take a pair of axels and hook up a high powered engine to make the wheels mave and then work from there?

Edited by nerfer34, 05 May 2006 - 04:49 PM.

[Meaker VI]

Also would it be possible to take a pair of axels and hook up a high powered engine to make the wheels mave and then work from there?

...What do you mean by "Take a pair of axels and hook up a high powered...."? Like, take 2 metal poles you bought at Home Depot and drop a Ford V-8 in? Or use real axels?
"High powered" is a realitive term; our lawnmower/tractor has less than 20 horsepower (as opposed to the V8's 250+ hp) and can pull around a couple yards of dirt (several hundred pounds, plus me, my brothers, our shovels...). Most go-carts ('most' as in the kind you find in stores and Bullwinkle's) have less than 20 hp as well.

I would advise following the many suggestions above, by getting a riding lawnmower, golf cart (possibly gas powered, those are cheaper to work with than electric), or go cart and working from there. You are not equipped to build anything close to those, but you can probably modify them to your will. (Judging from your first post.)

[nerfer34]

I basically mean build my own "car". Like get some wheels and hook it up to an engine so when the engine runs , the wheels move.

[Meaker VI]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you won't be able to do that. Not for cheaper than you could get and repair a golf cart or lawn mower, I'm fairly certain. Motors aren't cheap, efficiant, or easy. But getting one that worked at one time and fixing it isn't so hard, many cars can be obtained for cheap and repaired to working order for little money, people just want to get rid of the broken ones. Cars are difficult to do that with (too many extra functions and things) so work with a lawn mower or golf cart or whatever. They pretty much are what you want (An engine with wheels and steering), but worked at one time. You just gotta figure out how to keep them working.

If that still doesn't make sense PM me or something.