Heng long 'pro' version

[gordinir8]

Hello everybody, this is my first post here since subscribed. Love your work and i decided to join you since i am thinking of buying a HL Tiger I with the purpose to detail it and correct the most major problems of it. Anyway i want to ask you if the HL upgraded version is worth buying. The difference from the other cheaper versions are the metal tracks but are they good quality or they look cheap and in the end i will force myself to by a new set of tracks from other vendor. Also the other changes are they worth or they are just metal but unreliable?
It can also fire plastic balls, can also fire 6mm paint balls ?
Thomas

[HERMAN BIX]

Good to have along mate.
As for the HL Tiger, I would recommend getting the most very basic version.

- First, it saves initial outlay
- Second, ANY other parts you buy will be at your choice.

For me the H/L metal tracks are ok, but not as good as other metal tracks out there, so why pay for them if you are going to need to change them.

One thing is that the tank you end up with at purchase, is only as a result of what the vendor describes it to be.
At least if you buy the most basic one and do all the improving yourself, you can control the amount of money you spend in proportion to the work you have to put in.
Without hesitation, get black steel gear sets. That by far will add happiness to your project.

Cheers

[gordinir8]

Problem is that i don't want to get crazy with it and spend more than 150-200 euros. If the tracks are ok to play and they are not going to break i guess i can keep them. I don't mind if wheels are plastic and i will add my own detail parts instead of buy new which will beak the bank.
Besides i own a small lathe so it is my pleasure to make a few new parts like new mufflers, turret ventilation, smoke generators etc.
Suspension of course is something i would like to upgrade on the other hand so i will conciser your opinion.

The newest version has the turret problem solved or i also need to modify it and relocated 13mm or so at the back like the basic version?

Saying black steel gear sets can you give me a link to see what you mean ?

What are the suspension options i have?

And what about 6mm paint balls, can i use em?

Thomas

[SovereignZuul]

Okay, a topic I know a lot about now, lol.

If you have the idea that you want a 100% accurate model quality Tiger the pro version's metal tracks will be lacking. The only amazing tracks I can think of right now are the IMPACT tracks. If you want model quality the cost will be great.
http://mitosal.com/tiger1.html

Same goes for the rest of the Tiger. The HL is okay, but the suspension is WAYYYY off. If you want a better lower go with the Asiatam suspension.

And to be fully honest, if model quality is your thing you will save time and money just getting a Tamiya Tiger 1 or even better, the Aero-mate Tiger.

The Aero-mate Tiger is simply amazing in quality and appearance. All steel and brass, very accurate to real life.

Check out my Tiger thread (link in sig), as I'm building one of those 100% accurate Tigers right now. Spent about $2k on it already, hope it provides some level of advice and saves you money.

Here is another great thread to follow: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=8350

There are a lot of great Tiger builds on this site, check the build sections.
viewtopic.php?f=33&t=13598

Welcome to the site!

[jarndice]

Thomas Hi, and welcome to the forum, the only thing I would add is under NO circumstances use paint balls in the airsoft mechanism of any 1/16 Tank, Just one burst paint ball and you will never get the mess cleaned. shaun

[billpe]

For your first tank I'd go HL. Cheap and cheerful, if it breaks it's cheap to replace. If you decide to cut it up to make it mechanically more reliable or deal with the inaccuracies mistakes are easier to replace, Taigan amongst others do various upgraded parts for it. I wouldn't spend to much on the HL one though but learn from it.

The basic HL design isn't the best to upgrade on unless you want to do allot of scratch building. It's easier to get a Taigan lower hull (its basically a HL lower with metal inserts and a copy of the Tamiya suspension and idler system but the tolerances aren't as precise) and work from that.

Re- the metal tracks, idlers and sprockets - These are pretty tough, as mentioned they're not the highest quality. The tracks for instance are open pin but they're serviceable. If you upgrade the lower hull or replace the gear boxes (or both like many do) you can use them. My HL Tiger morphed into a Taigan slowly, in fact all that is left is the original HL electronics, the metal tracks and the metal sprockets. Cost me more than the Tamiya Tiger all told though and the Tamiya Tiger is the bench mark.

[gordinir8]

Ok i am starting now to considering buying a simple version, in fact if i am going to replace some things it will be better to buy a second hand in order to save money and invest them later on. Now except the ''pro'' version all others below are the same? Is there any particular one i must avoid? or one to prefer?
Thomas

[PainlessWolf]

Gordinir,
Try to get a 'Smoke and Sound' version. At least then, you won't be starting out with the most basic of boards with no sound.
regards,
Painless