Hello from a Newbie

[2ndlife]

Hello All
I'm Just starting on the path of RC tanks and finding it good so far, (if expensive and addictive ) but I'm looking forward to learning tips and tricks from all you more experienced modelers.
I had wanted to get a tank for myself for a very long time (since late 70's infact) but lack of money, marriage, then kids, work, blah blah, you can imagine the rest of the reasons yourself for putting off the purchase of a large scale tank. Anyway, things have eventually changed and the stimulus of a friend buying a Tamiya King Tiger Kit has motivated me and I have now joined the ranks of the 1:16th scale armoured core, with an early Tiger (Heng Long) and T34/85 (Taigen). I must admit to looking forward to working on them, and like I said, picking up any info in regards to electronics, modifications and painting from the experienced members of this forum, who seem to be a very friendly bunch indeed.
cheers
James

[jtracks]

Welcome James, you're right about the friendly here. There is a lot of knowledge floating around here also. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

[jarndice]

James Welcome to the Forum,
I would suggest you go to HENG LONG Builds and see the kind of work you can carry out on a Tiger 1 or a T34/85, indeed a good look at all the sites here would be rewarding especially TIPS & TRICKS a most apt title.
We love answering questions and yes we have heard all the questions you want answers to but those questions are new to you so don't be put off, ask away.
There are two important people that you might wish to keep on side, Your Partner and your Bank Manager, you will need great understanding from both.
shaun

[2ndlife]

Thanks for the welcome guys,
and thanks for the warning, but the bank manager is already being talked to nicely. I didn't think it was going to be quite this addictive.
I have already found some great hints and tips in the various pages, though I'm going to keep digging I think for a bit before I ask advice about an issue that's cropped up with my T34.
James

[brizo58]

Hi James,
A very warm welcome to the forum your well and truly hooked . Brian...

[Max-U52]

Hey James, I'm new to this forum myself, but I've been pretty heavy into the hobby for the last three years, and I also have an HL Tiger One. One of my first tanks, actually. I'm guessing you're in the UK (I'm in the US) and as for electronics you have a great board right there close by, the IBU2. I have two of those, one runs an Imex/Taigen Tiger One Early, and the other runs what started out as an HL Jagdpanther before I got crazy and added a metal lower hull and all the bells and whistles, and they're very good boards. In fact, I just ordered a third IBU2 for the Jagdtiger that I just ordered. That should be here next week.

What kind of painting have you done? Built model kits when you were young? Do you have an airbrush? Have you looked at paint schemes yet? Do you want to duplicate an actual tank or just a facsimile? And the most important question of all, can you post photos and videos?

Any idea what you want your first mods to be? Are your tanks airsoft or IR? I'll be looking forward to seeing how things go and how you deal with the addiction.

[2ndlife]

Hi there Max-U52.
Yes I'm UK based, mod wise I have been thinking of going for the IBU2 but I see there is a new one coming, I might wait for that and see how it is, cosmetically I was going to model the tiger on a unit involved in Operation Citadel , not decided which one yet, as for the T34 that'll have to go for a later Russian unit, (don't want to have people talking about me having a T34/85 in a Kursk unit paint scheme) actually does anyone know if there is a T34/75 or earlier version, RC model produced, or would I have to build my own for that?
I have recently got myself an airbrush setup and I am practicing to get proficient, we'll see how that goes, but my brush painting was to an OK standard on the 1/35.
I did build kits when I was young and I started back into it a bit when my son wanted help with some 1/35 figures and armour he had pleaded to buy with his pocket money, and then found he wasn't getting the results he hoped to achieve.
I haven't tried to get photos or videos posted as yet, I'll wait until I have at least painted the tanks and their not standard off the shelf models. Both the tanks are airsoft at the moment, but I intend to change them to IR, as one of my friends is building a Tamiya King Tiger and is putting the IR battle system into it.
and I think I've lost the battle to the addiction, already thinking about an elephant....oh, and an M4A1, and ...the list goes on.
James

[jarndice]

James Hi, I am not aware of a r/c 1/16 T34/76 but certainly TRUMPETER made a static 1/16 T34/76 and it may well be a nice project to r/c and motorise one.
shaun