Hello from the UK

[D00f]

Hi,

A RC newb here

My son plays Tanki online and was keen to get a RC tank. Long story short, I should have come here first before buying the RC tank that I did. Needless to say, I bought a HL Airsoft 1:20 Tiger 1 from a certain company that begins with Nitro for my sons recent birthday and it worked fine on the day. It came time to charge it and the batteries just won't hold a charge. We have probably over cooked them now so I'm looking for advice to try and salvage the thing. It uses a NIMH 1000mah 9.6v rechargable, the AA kind wrapped in green shrinkwrap, with a low 250mah charger.

Any thoughts or pointers on replacement batteries/charger before what I think may be the ineveibale replacement of the tank?

Thanks in advance.

[jarndice]

In the words of the Irish joke "If I was buying an r/c Tank I wouldn't have started from here".
There is a reason we primarily buy r/c 1/16 Tanks made by the same old names ie HENG LONG/TAIGEN/TORRO/WSN/TAMIYA and that is that there is a healthy network of dealers to offer upgrades and help, I think a lot of people will be telling you that the battery is too small and the stock charger should by now be residing in the nearest bin. PLEASE go to the BLACKLIST so that you can see whom to avoid and if you wish to continue with r/c Tanks then you should go to the RECOMMENDED dealers list, in the mean time perhaps you can get your money back from NITRO**** (unlikely) or get shot of it on E-BAY.
It is possible to buy a new r/c 1/16 Tank from the likes of HOWES for approximately £70 but People do pay well over £700 for what ostensibly is the same thing? So lots of research and as ever "CAVEAT EMPTOR"
Well after all that Welcome to the Forum, and I suspect you will have lots of questions, good, because we have lots of (Mostly ) helpful answers. shaun

[Bogeyman]

Welcome,

Like Shaun has already said, we have all done it, get a refund, sell it, move on, but enjoy this amazing hobby.

John

[D00f]

Yes, I agree, not the best decision I've made...lol. We have a bit of a budget so while I can appreciate the merits of a £700'er, our next one will be most likely less than that. I appreciate like all hobbies, you get what you pay for, so I'm probably going to look for a good second hand tank. I shall endevour to do my research this time though

Thanks for the welcome.

[Merlin707]

Hi D00f, please don't misunderstand the above comments on price, one of the manufacturers Heng Long make very cheap and good RC 1/16 scale tanks.

Yes if you want to make it authentic then you will have a little work to do but you are guaranteed a workable RC tank out of the box and you can pick them up for around £70.

The £700 RC tanks that people buy are in kit form and require a bit of builder know how and experience with building model kits but they aren't always worth the money in my opinion as some of the cheaper brands are more realistic and have better build quality with materials used.

Any how welcome to the forum and I hope your next RC tank purchase fairs you better, but please do look at the recommended vendors list!!

[RobW]

It's also not too far to Grantham for the meet there (or Hyde for the Manchester group). Lots of stuff to oggle over.

[The Tank Man]

Hi there and Welcome to the forum! And hi from a former Wakefield resident now in Bolton!
If you have the time off next weekend we are at the yorkshire wartime experience in bradford if you can make it we have Dave and julie from Fordgebear tanks who suport ou r club in this event! Dave is one of the biggest rc tank vendors out there and is a top guy he will sort you with a tank at good price!
Or just come along and have a look at what our members are running!
Nearest RC tank clubs to you are Manchester Armoured Dividion and Gramtham light armoured division both great clubs and well worth a visit!

[D00f]

Thanks for the info. We'll try to get over to the Bradford event, sounds like a good day out. Also, thanks for all the advice. Even though our tank is a Heng Long, I think it's a lemon...pieces falling off it and breaking already. I'm not sure I want to go through all the effort of a refund from nitrotek as it now has things broken off and marks (surprising what a kid can do in a short space of time ) I know I have rights with internet buying but all the packaging has been thrown away etc... I'll take it as a karmic lesson (or is it tankma).

I don't have very good building skills so I don't think a kit is the way forward. It's taken my son and I, emphasis on I, over a year and a half to not complete our Honda C90 project. I'll keep an eye out and do more extensive research this time...and of course use the preferred vendors list.

[jarndice]

DOOF,Hi, Just like so many members of this Forum we once shared with you the Tank building skills of a dead hedgehog BUT the old cliché about practice making perfect is true.
Start simple and gently progress, why in 25 years and about £250,000 and a couple of divorces you too will be an expert
It is not my place to tell you what to start with but if you are truly butterfingered it might be best to start with a Tank that is inherently larger than most others in the same scale so that you can actually get yourself hands on without fear of disaster,
Perhaps a1/16 r/c HENG LONG or TAIGEN Tiger 1 which with smoke and sound and an RX18 control board, I would not expect you to pay more than £80 to £120.
You must encourage your son to take an active part in any build if only so that you have someone to blame.
REMEMBER that when it does go unerringly straight towards the nearest cliff the Forum has already been there and we WILL help, you just have to ask,
TANKMAN's advise about Dave at FORGEBEAR is 100%, one of the gold plated dealers in our hobby, He can be found on E-BAY and at www.
theallertons@fsmail.net you could also look at Steve's site at
http://www.welshdragonmodels.com, another hero who like Dave will look after you.
AND try to remember at 2 o clock in the morning when the upgrade that cost you an arm and a leg just does not fit you are doing this for fun shaun

[doc larsson]

well said jarndice !

we are here to help !