When to upgrade to metal parts
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If your question is electronics related please post it in one of the relevant boards here: viewforum.php?f=31
If your question is electronics related please post it in one of the relevant boards here: viewforum.php?f=31
- HammerWihoutASickle
- Lance Corporal
- Posts: 165
- Joined: Fri Aug 18, 2017 5:56 pm
- Location: Newburgh, NY - 12550
When to upgrade to metal parts
Hello all.
I was thinking of making some upgrades to a HL Leopard 2A6. I just wanted to know when would be a good time to change its plastic parts to metal. And, I mean parts like the idler and sprocket wheels, tracks, and road wheels. The tank itself is plastic, but I will be installing metal gearboxes with 390 motors soon.
I see some decent parts on the Taigen website, but if you have any suggestions for alternatives from different manufacturers and sellers, I'm open to them.
Thanks in advance.
I was thinking of making some upgrades to a HL Leopard 2A6. I just wanted to know when would be a good time to change its plastic parts to metal. And, I mean parts like the idler and sprocket wheels, tracks, and road wheels. The tank itself is plastic, but I will be installing metal gearboxes with 390 motors soon.
I see some decent parts on the Taigen website, but if you have any suggestions for alternatives from different manufacturers and sellers, I'm open to them.
Thanks in advance.
Heng Long T-90SM
Heng Long Leopard 2A6
Heng Long Challenger 2 (credit to rctankmodified)
I ask too many questions.
Heng Long Leopard 2A6
Heng Long Challenger 2 (credit to rctankmodified)
I ask too many questions.
- dgsselkirk
- Warrant Officer 2nd Class
- Posts: 1484
- Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2012 1:57 am
- Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: When to upgrade to metal parts
We in our club have a rule... drive it till it breaks... then upgrade!
"There are things in Russia which are not as they seem..."
Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov
Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov
- HammerWihoutASickle
- Lance Corporal
- Posts: 165
- Joined: Fri Aug 18, 2017 5:56 pm
- Location: Newburgh, NY - 12550
Re: When to upgrade to metal parts
A good rule to have. Simple.dgsselkirk wrote:We in our club have a rule... drive it till it breaks... then upgrade!
Heng Long T-90SM
Heng Long Leopard 2A6
Heng Long Challenger 2 (credit to rctankmodified)
I ask too many questions.
Heng Long Leopard 2A6
Heng Long Challenger 2 (credit to rctankmodified)
I ask too many questions.
- c.rainford73
- Major
- Posts: 6104
- Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2016 7:34 pm
- Location: Connecticut USA
Re: When to upgrade to metal parts
I agree. When I first entered the hobby is buy everything I could find metal for my first Panzer III and Tiger I. Now unless it's a scratch build or unique piece I keep it with the basics until needed. Electronics in the other hand are a totally different story.....
Though the stock t-90 has the newest version from Heng Long. Very nice
Sent from my 2PS64 using Tapatalk
Though the stock t-90 has the newest version from Heng Long. Very nice
Sent from my 2PS64 using Tapatalk
Tanks alot....
- Estnische
- Warrant Officer 2nd Class
- Posts: 1065
- Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2016 11:52 pm
- Location: Wollongong, Australia
Re: When to upgrade to metal parts
In addition to that good advice, Taigen metal lower hulls are handy for the quick release mechanism and no battery box and/or if the original lower hull shows signs of deforming or cracking under the strain.
Having said that, I don't know if there is one for the Leo.
Having said that, I don't know if there is one for the Leo.
-
- Lance Corporal
- Posts: 169
- Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2017 8:32 am
Re: When to upgrade to metal parts
Estnische wrote:In addition to that good advice, Taigen metal lower hulls are handy for the quick release mechanism and no battery box and/or if the original lower hull shows signs of deforming or cracking under the strain.
Having said that, I don't know if there is one for the Leo.
There is one for the Leo! However, it is completely made out of metal and I reckon it weighs a ton, so the drawback is that you're going to need really beefy motors to keep the power-weight ratio high enough for the model to drive scale!
- HammerWihoutASickle
- Lance Corporal
- Posts: 165
- Joined: Fri Aug 18, 2017 5:56 pm
- Location: Newburgh, NY - 12550
Re: When to upgrade to metal parts
The T-90 is alright. I hated the zinc gearbox and some of the parts that came with it. The airsoft gun is also a pain to deal with.c.rainford73 wrote:I agree. When I first entered the hobby is buy everything I could find metal for my first Panzer III and Tiger I. Now unless it's a scratch build or unique piece I keep it with the basics until needed. Electronics in the other hand are a totally different story.....
Though the stock t-90 has the newest version from Heng Long. Very nice
Sent from my 2PS64 using Tapatalk
I actually like the older Leopard 2A6 better than this.
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
Heng Long T-90SM
Heng Long Leopard 2A6
Heng Long Challenger 2 (credit to rctankmodified)
I ask too many questions.
Heng Long Leopard 2A6
Heng Long Challenger 2 (credit to rctankmodified)
I ask too many questions.
Re: When to upgrade to metal parts
I agree with the "drive it till it breaks" philosophy, but when it cones to metal there are some things that should be replaced as a group. If you add metal tracks you should go metal for sprocket and idler at the same time. I've always said that the first metal upgrade for any plastic tank should be steel gearboxes.
When FDR coined the phrase "The Arsenal of Democracy", he was talking about Detroit. Proud to live in the 2nd most violent city in America!!
Re: When to upgrade to metal parts
My take on your question is this - I buy mostly metal tanks and add the odd metal upgrade and new electrics.
Tiger 1 Early Taigen,
Tiger 1 Mid Torro,
Tiger 1 Late Taigen,
King Tiger Taigen (P)
Jagdtiger Torro
King Tiger (H)
King Tiger Torro (H)
Tiger 1 late Torro
Panther G Taigen
Tiger 1 Mid Torro,
Tiger 1 Late Taigen,
King Tiger Taigen (P)
Jagdtiger Torro
King Tiger (H)
King Tiger Torro (H)
Tiger 1 late Torro
Panther G Taigen
- Raminator
- Warrant Officer 2nd Class
- Posts: 1266
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2015 9:57 am
- Location: Newcastle, Australia
Re: When to upgrade to metal parts
Yup, definitely. You can run plastic tracks on a metal drivetrain, but metal tracks on a plastic drivetrain won't last long!Max-U52 wrote:I agree with the "drive it till it breaks" philosophy, but when it cones to metal there are some things that should be replaced as a group. If you add metal tracks you should go metal for sprocket and idler at the same time. I've always said that the first metal upgrade for any plastic tank should be steel gearboxes.