Using HL v.6.0 electronics in a Tamiya tank-doable?

[43rdRecceReg]

Given that over the years one of the main objections to Heng Long, and Taigen MFU controllers, was the fact that there was one-sound-fits-all effects package, I wonder whether the significant improvements in sounds, as well as proportional control systems in HL's latest V6.0 (or 6.1) package might make it a candidate for the Tamiya Tiger, Panther, or King Tiger? After all, the new HL Tiger engine effects wouldn't sound that much out of place in any of them (similar Maybach engines).
Static versions of these models are much cheaper (when obtainable) than the full option ones, and thus it's reasonable to ask how well the V6.0 package might manage Tamiya electro-mechanicals (elevation, rotation and recoil) instead of the prohibitively expensive DMD MFU units. The two Tamiya units needed for most models, are heading stratospherically into the £400 range these days- and that with a fairly uninspring performance.
OK, Heng Long controllers can't fire Tamiya's flash unit- but a high output LED could be used instead. Anyone got an idea of the other likely obstacles to be encountered giving a Tamiya the HL transplant?
Different connectors, yes- but not a major issue there. What else? How practical, or impractical could this be?
Advantages of fitting the v6.0 unit might be: using a smoker; having working front and rear lights; more internal space within the hull (especially handy for the Pz IV) etc., as well as saving around £300.
Just a thought...

[Max-U52]

The only problem is that you won't be able to use that tank for most Club battles. Most clubs require speed reduction due to battle damage and flashing LEDs when you take a hit and the HL just doesn't have that. HL also does not have different weight classes, it's just six hits and your dead.

[jarndice]

Max, I read Fsttanks Heng Long V6.0 Battle System review on RCU and he drew the conclusion that with just a few easy NON Permanent modifications (Which he clearly explained) the Heng Long Tank with a V6.0 could fight a Tamiya and/or a Taigen on parity,
You should give it a read,
I learnt a lot from it.

[Rad_Schuhart]

Again, I would not waste not even an Euro in the Heng Long electronics. If I can not use a hobby grade radio, those electronics are still absolutely unusable for me.

400 pounds for Tamiya electronics? For god's sake, I paid less for the entire brand new kits!
If you really want Tamiya electronics, you can get them almost brand new in german forums for about 100 euros. Most of people there use Elmod, Beiers, TKV3 among others.

But what I would do is to get the Elmod. If it is to expensive, an IBU, or even make my own with the following:
A double Esc for controlling the motors. (15 euros)
A cheap Esc for turret rotation. (2 euros)
Servo elevation and recoil. (2-3 euros)
A benedini mini for tons of lights and sounds, including smoke control and more (20 euros)
All of that free shipping

With that I saved you 400 euros and you get an amazing tank with way functions than any IBU or Clark board out there (except the IR battle functions)
If battling is a must you can always fit one of those mako boards from rc tanks australia.

And done.


But if you still want to fit heng long electronics is as easy as replacing the connectors and to follow the diagrams. I had heng long electronics in a tamiya tank, but with an adaptor to use my own radio.

[General Jumbo01]

If clubs insist everyone uses Tamiya's IR systems AND configurations then its no wonder they are so few and far between and struggle to get members.

That aside, using a v6 mfu sounds like a fun challenge. The latest Taigen mfu can also be purchased with the correct sound module and they are supplied with connecting cables to allow the use of a hobby grade radio system - like the SkyFryTryi6X (Sorry, had to be done!) but you won't have all the trannie switchable function.

[jarndice]

You do not have to use a Tamiya Battle system to fight a Tank you only have to have a Tank that has an I/R system that CONFORMS to the Tamiya standard such as the IBU/ELMOD/ CLARK/AST2/Lightly modified Heng Long V6.0/1 boards.

[General Jumbo01]

So Taigen/Torro RTR owners can't battle each other too, in a separate battle session of course? If not we are cutting off our noses to spite our faces - we should be supportive and encouraging new members, shouldn't we?

[frankie]

I’m going to stick my neck out here, at the risk of upsetting wiser more experienced tankers, but not everyone has a tamiya/elmod budget or wants an IR battler...I think the reason the Grantham club is so successful is that it doesn’t matter if you have a std HL straight out of the box, a 100% historically accurate model or a multi-surface F1 battle tank...all that matters is you turn up and enjoy the day...nothing more than that...

[43rdRecceReg]

I’m going to stick my neck out here, at the risk of upsetting wiser more experienced tankers, but not everyone has a tamiya/elmod budget or wants an IR battler...I think the reason the Grantham club is so successful is that it doesn’t matter if you have a std HL straight out of the box, a 100% historically accurate model or a multi-surface F1 battle tank...all that matters is you turn up and enjoy the day...nothing more than that...

Thanks, Frankie, I think that's roughly on the lines of what I was thinking. Big budget setups are well beyond many folk (especially those with unconverted partners )
IBU and Elmod have an excellent proven track record (mild pun intended) when it comes to controllers; but if your brief is to build a functioning Tamiya model from a static kit (non- full-option), a quality sub-£60 controller would seem like a good way of going about it.
I have a display model Tamiya Jagdpanther, which is less than half the price of the full-option model. I'd like to try a TK 6.0 in it, and even a Taigen set of steel gearboxes; but the boxes might be a too impractical. The aim is to keep the cost down, whilst retaining decent quality.
At the same time, the battling aspect is of no consequence for me and, I expect, quite a few others. When you don't live anywhere near a club, and have no-one to battle with Airsoft is the only shooting option

[frankie]

I was pleasantly surprised at the new HL electronics...ok, it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles..it may not be the correct sound but at least it sounds like “a tank”...it doesn’t jump back like a scolded cat when fired...the slow speed crawl is really, really good...
I think for about £100 it’s a good system plus you get a whole tank attached...

[frankie]

I was pleasantly surprised at the new HL electronics...ok, it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles..it may not be the correct sound but at least it sounds like “a tank”...it doesn’t jump back like a scolded cat when fired...the slow speed crawl is really, really good...
I think for about £100 it’s a good system plus you get a whole tank attached...

[jarndice]

The beauty of the Heng Long V6.0/1 is that for one affordable price and one board you have both Airsoft and I/R that gives the 1/16 Tamiya "Static" poverty struck owner the opportunity to run the gamut from airsoft to I/R and still remain within their budget.

[Rad_Schuhart]

Well, if having costs down is important, I already gave you a nice setup for about 40 euros.
You all know I am the master of saving dough, lol.

I also never battle. Even when I could do it with my children, what we enjoy is just to crawl the tanks in our scenarios, night patrols and so on.

And, I dont know, I just love to use my own motor and user sounds, being able to play the tank commander voices at will is one of our favorite parts of the hobby.

Of course If you dont like it (in fact I know a bunch of people who play with absolutelly no sound) a heng long board will make the job.

[General Jumbo01]

I’m going to stick my neck out here, at the risk of upsetting wiser more experienced tankers, but not everyone has a tamiya/elmod budget or wants an IR battler...I think the reason the Grantham club is so successful is that it doesn’t matter if you have a std HL straight out of the box, a 100% historically accurate model or a multi-surface F1 battle tank...all that matters is you turn up and enjoy the day...nothing more than that...

That's great news and clearly the right way to go to get more clubs going. The best way to kill a hobby is to have no where to do it. Well done Grantham.

[Max-U52]

Max, I read Fsttanks Heng Long V6.0 Battle System review on RCU and he drew the conclusion that with just a few easy NON Permanent modifications (Which he clearly explained) the Heng Long Tank with a V6.0 could fight a Tamiya and/or a Taigen on parity,
You should give it a read,
I learnt a lot from it.

Yeah, I read it, even though I really don't like that guy, and they still haven't addressed battle damage. The HL will take and receive hits from a Tammy, but THAT'S ALL. If you have HL tanks on the field that suffer no battle damage and have no reload time against Tamiya tanks that are creeping along after taking hits and have to wait nine seconds between shots the Tamiyas will be at a distinct disadvantage. And his idea to count to nine between shots is about the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I can see tons of fights starting just because of that. A level playing field is crucial, and for now the HL tanks just ain't cuttin' it. Hopefully that will improve.

[43rdRecceReg]

Well, if having costs down is important, I already gave you a nice setup for about 40 euros.
You all know I am the master of saving dough, lol.

I also never battle. Even when I could do it with my children, what we enjoy is just to crawl the tanks in our scenarios, night patrols and so on.

And, I dont know, I just love to use my own motor and user sounds, being able to play the tank commander voices at will is one of our favorite parts of the hobby.

Of course If you dont like it (in fact I know a bunch of people who play with absolutelly no sound) a heng long board will make the job.

We all know how much you love and cherish your radios, Rad, and the way they can unleash your mind-boggling array of favourite sounds. This affection, and acquired learning, has raised you to level of Radio Boffin here on RCTW.
However... £60 gets the MFU and the radio. What's more, the radio does the job very well. This also means that the model has its own TX, and if you choose to sell it later, you can offer the tank as a complete RTR package. Consequently, the package is more attractive to a prospective buyer. I prefer all my tanks to have individual controllers, even though I could put a lot of them on the Taranis, or the Spektrum. Yes, they take up more room- and batteries, but that's me.

[john1970]

I would go for the 6.1 board or the Haya 6.3 which is the same but with different handset. They would give you the option of servo recoil and elevation instead of trying to get the tamiya units to work

[General Jumbo01]

Not sure how available the HL 'extras' are for the 6.1 yet but if the 6.1 price is reasonable it would make sense to use it over the 6.0, except.... I'm not sure about the transmitter design. Maybe it will grow on me?

[ronnie42]

Hi 43rd If you are going to use the Taigen gearbox and the Tamiya Sprockets don't fit i might be interested in the sprockets, idlers and tracks.

[43rdRecceReg]

Hi 43rd If you are going to use the Taigen gearbox and the Tamiya Sprockets don't fit i might be interested in the sprockets, idlers and tracks.

Thanks, Ronnie. I shall certainly bear that in mind.
Maybe it's part of the RC tank disease, that enthusiasts simply can't wait to start another project before finishing the last one..... well, er..last SIX in my case. With Hogmanay looming not so far yonder in time, I'm looking to be a wee bit more disciplined in the New Year. This means resolving to finish the Comet, and also putting the finishing touches to my 96% completed Cromwell (a runner, but could be a looker ).
Fat chance, probably, but worth the effort.
Tamiya gearboxes are, with the exception of the Abrams, Leopard and Tiger 1) essentially identical. Only the output shaft appears to vary from model to model. Now, I' ve a brace of old boxes that don't seem to fit anything, as the output shafts were partially adapted for someone else's suspended project. If I could get the Jagdpanther output shafts, the entire drivetrain could be Tamiya based.
Anyway, that's very much in the future. I understand that ETO boxes (real lookers) will work with the Tamiya drivetrain; but they're really, really pricey. For the limited amount of exertion my tanks undertake , I'd find it hard to justify buying them. I'd also have to wash dishes in the local watering hole, for a year, to help with the cost