Why did 1/35 tanks not take off?

[dingobattler]

There are some absolutely amazing videos online of 1/35 tanks with full recoil, flash, sound and everything you'd ever want.

Given its size and cost, thought it would take off much better than the 1/16

Plus, there are vastly more models, and you don't have to suffer with major heng long inaccuracies. Tons of aftermarket to correct even tamiya or takom/meng inaccuracies.

Plus, I'd summised it'll take off better in Asia where space is at a premium. You see plenty of small scale stuff take off massively - mini 4wd, mini-z, n scale trains, etc. The larger 1/10 racing and HO which is the default standard in the west is pretty unpopular in Asia comparatively.

Instead, expensive 1/16 tanks in a very limited range, some suffering major inaccuracies, from the pantiger to the rear deck slope of the pz iv seems to be unable to be unseated. It's not growing in the west, but seems to have exploded in popularity in Asia, which makes it even weirder.

[jarndice]

You only have to look at the average age of RCTW members to find an answer,
It is fiddley working on some aspects of 1/16 modelling and in truth the thought of trying to do the same work on a 1/35 model would leave me frustrated,
The only upside to the smaller scale is the saving in space and I suppose a few £££s,
I like the detail on the bigger scale it is the same with my r/c aircraft 1/8 is a scale that looks right and less toylike just as a Tiger 1 in 1/16 running across the lawn looks right.

[ongbenghui]

I used to have a 1:24 vstank. One session at the beach, the gearbox striped, track and spocket damaged. Beside indoor used, reliably for something that small is a problem.

Personally, I guess it is a matter of if you like a scaled tank that drive as a tank, or a static model that moves.

On the other hand, 1:24 scale mini-z type of rc car is popular. But a RWD rc car is much simpler to be reliable.

[Raminator]

Being able to miniaturise the electronics (and more importantly, batteries) to fit in a 1:35 model has only been practical fairly recently, while a 1:16 model had plenty of room for the NiCd packs and electromechanical RC systems of the 1970s. The Tamiya Sherman is literally 50 years old at this point, you would not have been able to have a 1:35 tank with dual gearboxes, turret rotation or gun elevation and recoil in 1974!

At this point, sticking with 1:16 in the hobby is basically inertia. It's interesting to note that with the explosion in 3D printers, 1:10 is becoming a very popular scale now too.

[Shovelpilot69]

Hi,
I am aware of the original dare on this post, but new to the forum as a member. Ironically, I just did a post regarding this scale this morning, entitled "anyone got one of these?" Interesting subject... I had a 1/24 VS Tiger 1, but not proportional, 3 speeds selectable with a switch, so I sold it. And recently bought the Heng Long
1/30 scale Sherman, which is proportional, and quite good considering the price point. However it has a gear issue which is my fault. Currently, HL is only producing 2 variants, the Sherman, and a Pershing. Hopefully they will expand the line.
Dave

[Almarza]

I think that in general the pure modeler is on the way to extinction, the public buys what the market offers them ready to play. Currently the most convenient way to have an RC tank is to buy a 1/16 because that is what there is on the market, because one or two brands have bet on it. If instead one or two brands bet heavily on the 1/35, it would surely have a similar or even greater range. In any case, converting a 1/35 tank to R/C with today's technology is not difficult at all. For example, you can install the electronics of a Heng Long 1/30 in any Tamiya tank with rubber tracks and have it working in a short time.

[Kaczor]

The decisive issue is the lack of RTR models. Models converted from plastic kits are too delicate for off-road driving.

[Almarza]

The decisive issue is the lack of RTR models. Models converted from plastic kits are too delicate for off-road driving.

The playing field should also be at the scale of the vehicle, imagine a club with a nice diorama in 1/35 scale... For example, I have been building 1/87 R/C for many years and it is very nice to see the models rolling around H0 scale train dioramas.

[Kaczor]

It's true that in 1/35 you have an incredible choice of scenery. However, building a realistically driving model in this scale requires much greater skill and precision than in the case of 1/16.

[ColemanCollector]

I marvel at what the 1/35 rc builders can achieve, but they are so light and bounce around so much (the tank models...not the builders), that they just don't have the tankeyness I desire. I'm pretty sure the 1/6 Amortek owners chuckle at my bouncy HL's, but that scale at least approaches realism I prefer. Although there is that Coolbank Stuart they love to drift in the ads...

Mike.