10 guys from Maui! Aloha!

[hawaii]

Hi guys
A group of us from Maui, Hawaii want to start a 1:16 RC Tank club for outdoor use. I am totally confused on what to buy. There is so much out there....Please help!
1) How much metal or steel should we start with for outdoor use? Metal tracks and "metal gear box" should be minimum we buy? Or go straight to "steel" gear box and don't waste money buying twice?
2) Can you shoot 6mm paintballs out the airsoft cannons? Any problems?
3) Standard 2.4 radios that come with it ok to use with that many of us?
4) Can these be upgraded to Lipo batteries and how much MAH do you recommend?
5)What brand Tank do you recommend? Taigen,HL etc
Thanks so much for the help!!!!!!!!

[Merlin707]

First off Hi guys welcome.

Right to answer your questions.

1. Metal tracks are a must and ideally you want to buy the Black Steel gears as the standard white metal gears are like butter. The plastic tracks are good for indoor use but not really outside.

2. Not really advisable as if one bursts it will ruin the entire mechanism, you will then have to pay to replace everything affected. if you want to do battles invest in the infra red / IR version tanks.

3. Yes the 2.4ghz radios are fine, it's the crystal sets you will have issues with.

4. Yes you can upgrade, however it's a subject of contention on here! The higher the MAH the longer the run time. I run 5300mah and I get 1 hr 20min run time over random terrain.

5. It depends on your budget! Heng Long are all plastic but can come upgraded with metal tracks, sprockets and white metal gears. Primarily BB shooters.
Taigen come with approx 80% metal and can come fitted with black steel gears but you will pay around £200 - £300 for these tanks. For example my Taigen Tiger has the following specs: metal tracks, sprockets, idlers, road wheels, torsion bar suspension, lower hull, turret, hatches and barrel. The upper hull is plastic. And has black steel gears as standard.
Tamiya are considered the pinnacle but you will pay a high price twice or three times of the above and you have to build yourself.

Hope that helps to some extent.

[hawaii]

Thank you Merlin for the warm welcome and expert advice! Looking forward to ordering some tanks soon. Any websites that are traditionally cheaper than others?

[dgsselkirk]

Merlin's answers all good! If I were you guys I would contact either Matomart, or Immortal hobbies tell them you are after 10 tanks and want a deal. A few of us in our club CanAm Tank Club in Canada are in the process of switching over to lipo and we are buying 5300 out of hobby king. We are tired (lazy) of changing batteries 3 times on a battleday. We have tested them and one lipo seems to last the entire day.

Good Luck and welcome!

[hawaii]

Thanks for the links dgsselkirk we will certainly check them out! Good tips!

[edpanzer]

Welcome Hawaii you guys will have such fun. Only just got my taigen tiger and I'm an addict already. There's lots of good advice to be had on this site, many wise heads they helped me a hell of a lot.
Enjoy the site and enjoy your tanks!!!!

[billpe]

Depending on what you're running on, metal tracks aren't always the best option. Lots of guys who battle them on grass will use plastic tracks.

[HERMAN BIX]

I would be looking to another Hawaii member Mr Alpha to add his wisdom on this one.
Good onyas for setting up a club, I hope it goes well for you guys

[jtracks]

Welcome, I do most of my tank purchases from Artistic Hobbies. They are located in the US. Gene Wilson is the shop owner, very helpful, and will spend time answering questions. He sells Tamiya, Taigen, and Torro tanks.

Joe

[hawaii]

Thanks guys! aloha