Prospective Tank Owner?

[Son of a gun-ner]

Hello and welcome to the forum SJITRX4

To answer your question, we need to know a few things, and you need to watch out for some things with your purchase.

I guess we've already ascertained your budget, as cheap as possible
I'm guessing you want the tank more for fun, with driving about, over historic accuracy.
You've already learnt about that extra low weight being a benefit in the great outdoors.

With those in mind, the Heng Long with the newer 7.0 MFU certainly fits the low budget.
For driving about over rough terrain, the Heng Long M41 Walker Bulldog is one of the best runners, but the least historically accurate. Also the Heng Long gearbox ratios won't give you that smooth a slow speed drive.
When taking into account "metal" gearboxes, make sure they state steel gears, because there are some light alloy gears that aren't any better than nylon gears, and not much difference in weight.
I'm not fully verse with the 7.0 MFU, and therefore don't know how it would cope with a lot of extra added weight, because more weight would cause more Labour for the motors etc. There are more powerful replacement motors, but again, I'm not sure how the 7.0 MFU would cope with them.
It's all about how many amps that board can deliver, and I don't know the details of the upper limits.

[SJITRX4]

Hello and welcome to the forum SJITRX4

To answer your question, we need to know a few things, and you need to watch out for some things with your purchase.

I guess we've already ascertained your budget, as cheap as possible
I'm guessing you want the tank more for fun, with driving about, over historic accuracy.
You've already learnt about that extra low weight being a benefit in the great outdoors.

With those in mind, the Heng Long with the newer 7.0 MFU certainly fits the low budget.
For driving about over rough terrain, the Heng Long M41 Walker Bulldog is one of the best runners, but the least historically accurate. Also the Heng Long gearbox ratios won't give you that smooth a slow speed drive.
When taking into account "metal" gearboxes, make sure they state steel gears, because there are some light alloy gears that aren't any better than nylon gears, and not much difference in weight.
I'm not fully verse with the 7.0 MFU, and therefore don't know how it would cope with a lot of extra added weight, because more weight would cause more Labour for the motors etc. There are more powerful replacement motors, but again, I'm not sure how the 7.0 MFU would cope with them.
It's all about how many amps that board can deliver, and I don't know the details of the upper limits.

Hi and thanks for the welcome!

Yes, you've pretty much guessed my "requirements", more fun that historical accuracy for sure, but a "nice looking" tank It'll be used mainly in the garden, probably on parts of the "course' we use the Defenders on, so a bit of off-road, but also grass etc. I can still have a bit of fun with some "weathering" etc, without worrying too much about accuracy.

I confess that the electronics of tanks are still a bit of a mystery, being from what I can tell, a bit different to those in the crawlers. But, I hear what you say about motor power and the board.

I see that a "Professional Edition" is available, with metal tracks and drive sprocket, which I'm guessing may be better, but not a huge amount more expensive. Budget has to be a consideration, as I say, a LOT of money tied up in the Defenders now!

But, plenty to think on and, once again, I'm hugely impressed by the amount of really useful and welcoming comments my beginner questions have received, so thanks to all!

[Son of a gun-ner]

Well, we have a few tanks on the quiet, myself and my grandson, and we feel the bulldog is one of the better runners in the garden. Causes less problems. And has good ground clearance.

Spares and upgrades are available, should you find you like the tank and would like some improvements, like metal road-wheels, beefier suspension, track adjusters, faster motors, and an aftermarket board to handle faster motors and more powerful batteries

[Son of a gun-ner]

I should have added, check what gearboxes come with the "professional" edition. Are they Zink alloy or steel?

[MrChef]

I should have added, check what gearboxes come with the "professional" edition. Are they Zink alloy or steel?

Mr. gun-ner in my experience the 7.0 Pro models come with "Steel" gears but of course it's always good to confirm-

[Son of a gun-ner]

Thanks Mr Chef, that's good info to know, my newest Heng Long is a five (dual sound), and up till then, they were still putting Zink alloy gears in them.

[jarndice]

Running an RC Tank cross counry is fine EXCEPT please do avoid long grass it will get wrapped around the sprockets and that will kill the gearboxes and may cause the control board to fail.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

SJITRX4, as you can see, your introduction and question have brought about some interesting, careful, and informative responses and helped open up some good will on several people's parts. I do agree with Bix that the Tiger I is by far the most popular tank in HengLong and Torro/Taigen with lots of aftermarket parts, upgrades, and information. However, I also favor the Walker Bulldog, as post WWII tank that had the good fortune of never seeing action with US crews, but is known around the world. I have two Taigen Walker Bulldogs, one quite stock and dandy with just some paint touches and another waiting New in the Box for me to pay attention to it. I would add that your idea to go for a metal chassis, motor, etc., is good, provided the metal is quality. I would not recommend plastic tracks with a metal chassis, but would go to all-metal chassis and tracks. Keep us informed before you buy, as you are waiting in suspense for your tank to arrive, and after you get to try it out. We love knowing that others are having fun.