Looking at a new tank, perhaps. Thoughts?

[Herr Dr. Professor]

"Is the Torro Sturmtiger worth a look? Don’t know much about Torro models." A toy addict, I have a delightful number of tanks and WWII goodies from Torro. The Torro tanks are generally the same as Taigen, but with even more choices of paint jobs. The electronics are the same as Taigen, with the most recent (2017!) providing good choices of sound using little modules that can be swapped about. But Torro/Taigen do not have the flexibility of control that the latest HengLong offers. (Put together the HengLong control and the Taigen sound modules, mass produce, and that would be a winner). I have two of the Torro Sturmtiger, and I am fond of both. Of course, that big mortar-like barrel firing 6 mm. BBs is hilarious.

(I do have had trouble with Torro's "Seep"; I think I need to loosen the gear lash for the propeller: the motors can barely flip the props over, seeming not to have power. The problem is shared by both of my "Seeps,'" bought a few years apart.)

[Mithras]

Well, horsefeathers. The Hungarian tankers only received A’s! Good to know, though. Perhaps I saw a Pantiger or a Panther F and read the labeling wrong (alright, if I read it from a -long- distance.)

If you haven't looked at or researched the Pantiger, do so before you ever order one. It has somewhat of a reputation in the RC tank community.

Not looking into buying one. Well aware of the reputation. Simply saying I may have seen the box from a distance and assumed it was labeled differently,

[Mithras]

Have you considered a tamiya kit?

I have. A bit pricey here but I’ve built Tamiya kits before. I was very keen on the Sheridan, but I’ve been advised that the track splitting issues are highly problematic, and that getting replacements is extremely difficult.

[tankme]

Have you considered a tamiya kit?

I have. A bit pricey here but I’ve built Tamiya kits before. I was very keen on the Sheridan, but I’ve been advised that the track splitting issues are highly problematic, and that getting replacements is extremely difficult.

Finding a Sheridan kit is more of an issue now. There is exactly one on the US eBay site right now for $1200 US. You can buy spare track for it directly through Tamiya for $85 per track (yes, that's only one track side), but that gives you a lot of spare links. I actually ordered one as I have a static Tamiya Sheridan in the stash. I looked for months and found no full option ones for sale at the time so I bought the static version.

The TondDE Bradley is scaled to more like 1/14 scale to accommodate the standard type TondDE gearboxes. TondDE has stated that the scale is off for that reason. So if you don't mind the scale issue, then a lot of folks seem happy with theirs. I prefer the metal versions of the TondDE as I have one of their M60s.

I have had a few issues with Torro/Taigen sprockets on occasion breaking as they had said that they had a bad batch, but I also just had a Mato sprocket hub for a PZ3 shatter a few days ago.

I have a Haya Chieftain and I haven't had any issues with it, but I also haven't run it much at this point.

[Mithras]

Have you considered a tamiya kit?

I have. A bit pricey here but I’ve built Tamiya kits before. I was very keen on the Sheridan, but I’ve been advised that the track splitting issues are highly problematic, and that getting replacements is extremely difficult.

Finding a Sheridan kit is more of an issue now. There is exactly one on the US eBay site right now for $1200 US. You can buy spare track for it directly through Tamiya for $85 per track (yes, that's only one track side), but that gives you a lot of spare links. I actually ordered one as I have a static Tamiya Sheridan in the stash. I looked for months and found no full option ones for sale at the time so I bought the static version.

The TondDE Bradley is scaled to more like 1/14 scale to accommodate the standard type TondDE gearboxes. TondDE has stated that the scale is off for that reason. So if you don't mind the scale issue, then a lot of folks seem happy with theirs. I prefer the metal versions of the TondDE as I have one of their M60s.

I have had a few issues with Torro/Taigen sprockets on occasion breaking as they had said that they had a bad batch, but I also just had a Mato sprocket hub for a PZ3 shatter a few days ago.

I have a Haya Chieftain and I haven't had any issues with it, but I also haven't run it much at this point.

Ahh, well, then it's not entirely hopeless. But 85 per track? Yeesh. That's Tamiya for you, I suppose. Good to know that the Haya Chieftain hasn't given you any problems!

For what it's worth, Toucan Hobby has a full option Sheridan kit in stock, or did as of about three hours ago.

[Mithras]

"Is the Torro Sturmtiger worth a look? Don’t know much about Torro models." A toy addict, I have a delightful number of tanks and WWII goodies from Torro. The Torro tanks are generally the same as Taigen, but with even more choices of paint jobs. The electronics are the same as Taigen, with the most recent (2017!) providing good choices of sound using little modules that can be swapped about. But Torro/Taigen do not have the flexibility of control that the latest HengLong offers. (Put together the HengLong control and the Taigen sound modules, mass produce, and that would be a winner). I have two of the Torro Sturmtiger, and I am fond of both. Of course, that big mortar-like barrel firing 6 mm. BBs is hilarious.

(I do have had trouble with Torro's "Seep"; I think I need to loosen the gear lash for the propeller: the motors can barely flip the props over, seeming not to have power. The problem is shared by both of my "Seeps,'" bought a few years apart.)

I'm very glad to read this. Might be worth a shot. What do you mean when you say that the controls are less flexible?

There's been a modeler trying to sell a converted Sturmtiger here, fires rockets. Not really appropriate for much use beyond doing very silly things, but it's a funny idea.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

"What do you mean when you say that the [Taigen] controls are less flexible?"

The ready to run (RTR) HengLong and Taigen/Torro electronics have continued to change and improve. Still, none of the RTR electronics has the range of adaptability as "aftermarket" electronics such as ElMod, Clark, Beier, and others.

HengLong has concentrated on flexibility of control, including better low speed operation, the flexability to shift speed ranges, reconfigure the transmitter to suit ones preference of which switch or button controls which function, and even more. But the latest HengLong electronics only offer about four sound choices, best suited to today's Main Battle Tanks with only one roughly like a WWII German Maybach engine. So nowadays, with HengLong, you get better control and versatility, but only approximate sound. If you search here on RCTW under the terms diagram, TK 5.3, TK 6.0, TK 7.0,or TK 7.1, you can readily find diagrams which show the flexibility of the various generations of HengLong modules.

In 2017 Taigen/Torro started selling its V2/V3 (I've seen it called both) electronics, still comprised of a module that incorporated all the controls and was bound to the transformer sold with the tank, but designed to be attached to a smaller "sound module." In a relatively short time, Taigen/Torro developed sound modules for various tanks, various WWII German Maybach engines, the Ford NAA engine in the M4A3 Sherman, the Russian T-34, KV-2 and KV-2, and more. Taigen/Torro V2/V3 modules also can be bound to and run by "aftermarket" transmitters, with ways to connect to various "servos." Here's a useful link to various Taigen (or Torro) diagrams showing various generations of electronic, the most recent three toward the bottom named as "V2 and V3" https://www.taigentanks.com/pages/manuals-diagrams. Here's a link to Torro's electronics page showing five different sound modules toward the bottom of the page: https://www.torro-shop.de/Torro_3 Unfortunately, it seems to me that Taigen is either way behind in production, phasing out, going belly up, or maybe developing new electronics. I have no information to indicate which is the case.

Because I do little more than run my tanks indoors for short times, I liked the Taigen electronics for the more accurate sounds and decent control of steering, speed, firing, lights, and machine gun. However, I like the newer HengLong electronics, too, and have bought more tanks in the past few years (see your dictionary under "addiction") with HengLong electronics.

[Mithras]

Thank you for explaining, Doc!

[tankme]

For what it's worth, Toucan Hobby has a full option Sheridan kit in stock, or did as of about three hours ago.

As an update...I tried to order a Tamiya Sheridan from Toucan. They showed it in stock...long story short...they don't have it. When they hadn't shipped it for over a month, I contacted them. They told me they were waiting for the manufacturer to ship it to them. When I told them it had been discontinued and screen shotted the website showing it had been discontinued, they still said they were waiting for it. At that point it had been 6 weeks since the order was placed and I told them to cancel as they didn't actually have it. Even weeks after I cancelled my order, they had it up on their website for sale. I just checked their site and couldn't find it listed anymore.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

What about the Torro Jagdtiger? A top of the line or second to top of the line (generally the same, but without the wooden crate) would give you a beastie ready to go, but also with paint and detail possibilities.