Hi everyone

[HERMAN BIX]

Sorry Mr Rob, 'The Alice' might as well be on Mars...............
There is a very active club in Melbourne, another near Canberra(which is closer to Mr Ellis), but still a hell of a haul (10 hours)from Casino, and the one in North Brisbane.
North Brisbane would be an easy minimum 4 hour one way trip if the wind was right !
Casino to The Alice is 33 hours..................and a lot of Red Bulls

So, Mr Ellis............am I to assume you are going to be a new member of the North Brisbane RC Tank Club

[jarndice]

33 Hours from Casino to Alice Springs
Quantas have recently announced they will be flying non stop from Australia to London, (Heathrow)
Which means I could fly from the UK to attend the Tank meet in Alice and have a beer and be on my way home to the UK before Mr Ellis arrives in the car park having driven from Casino non stop,
Some parts of the World are getting smaller quicker than others.
Shaun.

[silversurfer1947]

17 hours non-stop to Perth. Not a journey for anyone with even mild claustrophobia. And it's still nearly another 3 hours to Alice Springs!

[jarndice]

Yes Richard, But I would still be at the Tank meet in Alice 13 hours before Mr Ellis and he lives in the same country , not the opposite Hemisphere.
Shaun.

[HERMAN BIX]

Those are all times by car I put up !
Coming from little New Zealand I found it incomprehensible that I could drive in an almost straight line for over 127kms and not see an ocean !.
From the NSW Border up the east coast you can drive 1800kms north & still be in the same state !!

If I drive out West to work, its normal to do a 7 hour one way trip then transfer into a 4wd for the rest.

I read the club discussion threads you guys put up & hope you appreciate the ability you have to find a club thats not a virtual half a world away.
And dont start me on jaunting off to France for the day

[jarndice]

You Don't mean cycling to the station with the foldaway bikes then carrying them onto the train going to London and cycling from Euston to St Pancras (about 400 metres) then carry on the bikes in their natty little bags with shoulder straps onto the Eurotunnel express and over to the other side of the Channel and change onto the TGV to Marseille for a pleasing day cycling alongside the Med then a nice meal and a glass of wine and back to the station and home for Supper.
It isn't all fun being retired but it mostly is.
Shaun.

[Estnische]

Lads, no one has really answered Mr Ellis' query as to why metal running gear is required. I was tempted to step in but honestly I've not had any problems with my all-plastic Tiger. Over to you...

[jarndice]

That's not quite true, as not only you suggested he should buy the plastic tracked Tiger 1, but so did Herman and so did I,
And a very sensible suggestion it is too.
Shaun.

[Estnische]

And yet many vendors around the globe make an income selling us metal upgrade parts

[HERMAN BIX]

I only always go the basic plastic to ensure I end up with the tank the way I want with the parts I want.
The inclusion of alleged upgraded parts may or may not be exactly as you envisaged once you get it, but its too late then.
Plus it gives me a chance to learn about the instalation & maintenance of it by fitting all the new parts as they arrive.

Steel gears, metal drive & idlers, and good Taigen black steel tracks.
Obviously doing all the suspension and running gear is the smart thing to do as you have it apart, but it can be a daunting prospect if its a first go at it.