Need some tips for a 1:16 scale tank

[look171]

Hello all,

I am new here and have been searching for a few days on a 16 scale tank now my head is spinning. We purchased a Heng Long tiger 1 tank for my older boy some time ago. Only to find out the gear strips. We are ready to purchase another for my younger boy so they can have battles. What do you recommend? Something that will last a bit longer but without paying 700 bucks for it. I like to keep my budget around 200 dollars. We were looking for a Heng Long Leopard but the ones I see have not advertise metal gear boxes. We really need something reliable but historical significance isn't important. They are 8 and 9.


Any suggestion on gear box for the Tiger 1? Thanks so much if you can steer us toward the right direction.

Jeff

[ALPHA]

Hello Look... Another option / remedy for plastic Heng Long gearboxes... is to epoxy the clutch gear...in most cases it is the culprit for that grinding sound when there is too much load put on the tank...steel and pot metal gears do not have this gear... it is the first one the motor contacts... you will have to disassemble the tank and remove the gearboxes to do this... but for the most part it's a good fix... until the final drive gear strips on the metal axle ...The benefit of this mod is that the tank will remain quiet..

But if you do decide to do an upgrade ... what fynsdad recommends is best ...as the steel gears (black) are much better in tolerance and operation than the pot metal ones and cost only a few dollars more

ALPHA

[PainlessWolf]

Good Morning,
Welcome to the Forum. Great advice from Frynsdad and Alpha right off of the bat. If you replace the gears, pass over the grey metal ones and spend a few more dollars for the black steel ones. I can also recommend the Heng Long Sherman. It is a _great_ runner and if you get a 2.4GHz version, you won't need to worry about crystals or frequencies either. Anyway, again, welcome. This is one of the best places and greatest bunch of Tankers around. Post pics of your tanks when you get the chance. We love to chat and kick the virtual road wheels.
regards,
Painless

[jarndice]

Hallo Jeff, A lot of us got into Tanking by buying a CHEAP!!!!!!! Heng Long Tank for our children, You have my solemn promise the two Tanks you have will expand and ownership of them will become (in the words of a loving wife a bl**dy) fixation, you might have noticed the friendly words of greeting from my fellow reprobates included something we all have had to endure, SPENDING MONEY, a casual " only a few dollars for a black metal gearbox" sorry you will need two, leading to the day when you have read all about Tamiya's latest wonderchild and decide that the kids college fund wouldn't notice a $900 shortfall and then the warm and loving chat with your partner, a cheery word with the divorce lawyer and you will wonder where it all went wrong. What can I say you have come this far, skid row beckons. good luck, Oh and I almost forgot, Welcome to the Forum. shaun

[look171]

Thanks for the reply guys. Jarndice, that's funny. I remember those Tamiya's King and tiger 1 RC tanks back in the early 80s. I wanted one so badly, but can only afford the none RC 24 scale models. Like most "real" men, we buy toys for ours kids but are really fulfilling what was missing in our childhoods.

This Tiger 1 has the pot metal gears. Since I know nothing about these tanks, I decided to take it apart only to find stripped gears. Now metal gears on its way. The Sherman is a good unit? Do I need to buy it with metals gears so I don't have go through this again? There seem to have so many versions out there, then there's the metal track upgrade. My head is spinning thinking metal vs plastic for durability but it doesn't seem to be true. Keep the suggestions coming. Keep in mind that I know nothing these things.