Ready to run models

[Tiggr]

We are fast approaching a situation whereby a tank can be bought with all the bells and whistles already on it RTR.
within a few months Taigen and presumably Torro will be able to sell you a tank with all the following as standard:
Metal hull, gearboxes, road wheels drive wheels, idlers, turret and main gun all metal.
Gun barrel recoil whether BB or IR.
Smoke unit of decent quality.
Sound unit specific to the tank itself instead of the generic one sound fits all.

A great prospect for your average rc tanker like me.
Then, if you choose, you can weather/ detail as you wish.

It's gotta be good for the hobby eh ?

[Rad_Schuhart]

Well, yes and no, What I enjoy most is to assemble my kits myself, like the tamiya ones. For me, building and painting is the best part of the hobby, and sadly I dont drive them too much. Maybe due to the lack of people to play with or tankclubs nearby...

But yeah, for some people it will be great to just open the box and run, Anyway what I've observed and a lot of people agrees is that this hobby is more expensive day by day. I wonder how much would cost all of that upgraded ready to run tanks...

[jarndice]

Hi Tiggr, Yes and no, I would suggest that the reason for a quality build straight out of the box Tank is based on (More) profit,
Heng Long, Taigen, and Torro realise that the product that they sell is no longer going to children but to a more sophisticated more demanding and wealthier customer,
This customer is willing to pay more than the price of a Tank for just a metal hull and a new (And Better) control board, let alone the extra money for Metal tracks Wheels Idlers Sprockets, Transmitter and receiver.
And right now Heng Long, Taigen and Torro are very aware that all that extra money is going to the makers of these many and varied upgrades and not to them even though they already in a lower quality already make these items.
So the upside (Hopefully) is a RTR at a very good price,
The downside is that the Competition that forced their hand will disappear and when that happens complacency from Heng Long, Taigen and Torro will reappear.
Shaun.

[Tiggr]

If you did a cost comparison of upgrading an HL base model up to a fully functional custom sound tank with lots a metal detailing, you will probably find you are in the Torro price league anyway.

It seems to me that it's a question of at which point you start modelling - from a £100 base model or from a £400 base model ?
(If it is modelling you wish to pursue).

To date all I have done is used an airbrush for light weathering and added spare tracks to the hull and added a few transfers (decals).
Oh and installed a Beier sound card piggybacked onto a Taigen board.

From a personnal point of view, the HL product doesn't have the quality I want, so Taigen/Torro satisfy the quality level, when they make their products even better by installing a sound set specific to the tank prototype - Happy Days !

[SteelBird]

Today, Mato is well-known in making all metal 1/16 scaled tanks. Its RTR price is somewhere around US$700. If Taigen or Torro makes an all metal ones, prices will not be cheaper than this.

[Tiggr]

Having experienced first hand buying and sending back a Mato all metal tank I would buy a Taigen or Torro every time - whether full or partial metal.

[Ad Lav]

All metal isn't actually good for them - puts a lot of stress on parts. I've seen countless Mato tanks shred gearboxes and split tracks.

Give me a half metal and half plastic tank any day.

In fact I think if Torro/Taigen did them as kits we could build they'd sell more.

[Max-U52]

Today, Mato is well-known in making all metal 1/16 scaled tanks. Its RTR price is somewhere around US$700. If Taigen or Torro makes an all metal ones, prices will not be cheaper than this.

I have to respectfully disagree with this estimate. Sure, some models will reach the $700 mark, but I think the new P4 will have an MSRP closer to $500. But we've all known all along that the entry level price for a full option tammy, once you add TX/RX is right around $800.

But it's definitely true that prices will only rise, and the days of $100 entry level tanks are limited for sure.

[silversurfer1947]

Tankzone list 3 Torro/Taigen tanks as kits, Tiger, King Tiger and Panther. They appear to be half metal. Prices range from £300 to £400.

[tomhugill]

Today, Mato is well-known in making all metal 1/16 scaled tanks. Its RTR price is somewhere around US$700. If Taigen or Torro makes an all metal ones, prices will not be cheaper than this.

I have to respectfully disagree with this estimate. Sure, some models will reach the $700 mark, but I think the new P4 will have an MSRP closer to $500. But we've all known all along that the entry level price for a full option tammy, once you add TX/RX is right around $800.

But it's definitely true that prices will only rise, and the days of $100 entry level tanks are limited for sure.

Sorry to keep beating the same drum but that's with radio, batteries etc and way under $800