On the 2.4, is the smoke controlled from the tx?
As for the turret controls, easy way to test anything like this is to swap the RX18 for the older crystal one, if the tank functions normally then the tx is the problem, if the tank sill behaves the same way then its the wiring in the tank.
It sounds like the pot in the tx has been twisted round, this means that it is having the same effect as having a trim pushed to the limit. Best bet is to dismantle the tx and twist the l/r pot while moving the stick, and then the u/d one then fix them in place when you have them centered.
The elevation and turret rotation are seperate circuits. Look on the 8 pin, the end two wires, black and red can be traced all the way back the to rotation motor. You could wire them directly and it would still work.
The elevation and airsoft work off the next three, they share a common live, so one negative for airsoft, one negative for elevation, and one positive for both. If the live was faulty neither the elevation or the airsoft would work. They are both working so you know that they are both ok.
This leads us back to the fault being in the tx, which is always a possibility if the tx was dropped by someone and the stick wrenched in the process.
Just a suggestion, but it gives you somewhere to look?
This link tells you what the wiring does
viewtopic.php?f=79&t=14043