Tiger 1 advice please

[Zeffer]

I would like an early Tiger 1 tank based on my area of interest. Happy to be told I am out of my depth and to get something completely different as I am completely new to RC coming over from model railways.

My budget is limited by having three children so for a first tank I will be at a max of about £200 or just over. I know I will get hooked at some point and spend more as I go as that's my nature!

Would like proportional speed I think but don't know a lot about this whole area. Just don't want only one speed!

I have some tanks I am interested in. I will use only recommended retailers so these are just to show you where I have got, I won't necessarily buy them off these sellers or off eBay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172113593580? ... EBIDX%3AIT

This would be my upper limit but I am reading that Taigen take HL and make them better, is that right? Would this be proportional? Do I want all the metal? They do a similar King Tiger for £10 less but I can't see why it's cheaper:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Taigen-Hand-P ... SwzhVWrJkf

Now a cheaper one:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220903358635? ... EBIDX%3AIT

Much lower price but seems to have the important metal bits and maybe scope for more modelling whilst I can't move around too much? This one does say proportional speed. How would it compare to the one above?

Finally a Panther (not a Tiger I know but is a Taigen at a reasonable price):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172114105879? ... EBIDX%3AIT

Just wanted to know if that would be better than a HL one and why?

So many questions so many thanks in advance for any advice. Happy to be told to go I a different direction. Would also love some tips like how to know if it's proportional or other things to look for.

[afv]

Have a look om Howes models site, https://www.howesmodels.co.uk/subcat/Ra ... ol%20Tanks not taigen, heng long but good prices,start with something basic and see how you go, one of your links-hobby power is I think Howes,
regards Jack.

[jackalope]

Hang Long tanks are very cheap for a reason, you get what you pay for. Taigen tanks are much better.

[Zeffer]

Thank you. I checked the address and they are the same. So is this one a good starting point?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220903358635? ... EBIDX%3AIT

I think it uses crystals rather than 2.4 ghz. Is that a major issue?

[Zeffer]

Hang Long tanks are very cheap for a reason, you get what you pay for. Taigen tanks are much better.

That's what I thought, but how do I know if it will be proportional speed? Is there a way of knowing when it doesn't say?

Thanks!

[afv]

yes that's the now older 27mgz crystal transmitter, it is proportional of a sorts personaly if I bought anymore tanks I would go for 2.4ghz. Theres a member on here (forgebear) and he sells on ebay, I think he does taigen, drop him a pm or contact him through ebay he'll give you good advice
regards Jack.

[Max-U52]

Hi, and welcome to the darkside.

First, stay away from that panther, it's a pan-tiger and you don't want to go there. If you want a Panther go with the Taigen Panther G or maybe one of the good ones from DKLM or rctank.de with the asiatam lower hull, but those are more money.

For tigers, the main difference between TG (Taigen) and HL (Heng Long) is the lower hull. In the TG it's got a metal insert and torsion bar suspension. A much, much better hull (in the King Tigers you want the Torro lower hull to get the torsion bar suspension). You can start with a plastic TG and upgrade from there, which is what I've done to my favorite T1 early, but you have that good foundation to start with. Even the plastic Taigens come with the metal lower and torsion bar suspension. It's kinda like building a house - ya start with a crappy foundation, ya end up with a crappy house.

I understand about having kids and a budget, and that's one of the reasons I recommend you start as cheap as you can and still get a decent tank, and that's why i encourage you to get a Heng Long Tauchpanzer. Where I am it's about $110 to $125 delivered, but evidence says you're in the UK so it should be about 75 pounds. If you start cheap it's good for two reasons - if you don't like it after all you're not out much, and if you do get hooked you can get a bigger and badder tank later and still have the little PzIII to play with and build up. I've done quite a bit to mine, like brass gears and metal tracks and new paint and on and on, you get the idea. Here's a little video I did a while back for guys that are just where you are right now, and then a longer but more informative video. There are tons of guys here that are way better at this than i am, and they're very, very friendly and helpful. You seem to be intelligent and respectful and that's the key around here. And don't ever try to fool yourself that you'll have just one tank. If you stick with the hobby you'll have a second (or more) within six months. Laugh if you want, but I'm right about this, my new friend.

phpBB [video]

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Again, welcome aboard, you're gonna love it. Then hate it. Then love it. AND ON AND ON.

[jackalope]

2.4 radio gear, and as much metal as you can get on a tank is what you want.

[Zeffer]

Thank you Max-U52 for posting those videos, what a great idea! I learnt more in the last 20 minutes than two days of googling. I love your collection as well and the demos mean that I get the appeal of both IR and Airsoft.

I have heard your advice on the Panzer and will have a think. My heart is with the Taigen Tiger 1, but I hear what you are saying.

Unless I go for the Panzer I will stick to 2.4ghz as others have suggested. But will that be proportional or does it depend on each individual tank?

[jarndice]

When you say PROPORTIONAL speed do you mean SCALE speed ? If so that is dependant upon the gearboxes you have.
A Tiger 1 responds most accurately with a 5/1 gearbox although 4/1 is pretty good(These gearboxes are readily available from TAIGEN) other ratio's are available although you should try no matter what gearbox you buy that it comes with a decent bearing fit,
The cheap metal gearboxes are arguably worse than the Nylon ones to be found in the cheaper models.
If you go to -
www.welshdragonmodels.co.uk
And go to Taigen gearboxes, While he may not have in stock what you want, the site allows you the chance to read about each one and which Tank model it will fit,
Well worth a look.
Shaun.