Tongde Matilda

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Here's the Tongde Matilda, steel gearboxes, tracks, sprockets, idlers, and road wheels. I see no particular surprises, the tank being rather typical of TongDe and not so different from newer HengLong.


The upper extruded polystyrene (XPS) holder opens vertically, with all the accessories, sprues, instructions, toward the top.

In Styro.jpg (234.78 KiB) Viewed 65 times

Matilda is cradled adjacent to the transmitter, under the XPS top holding the other parts

Cradled.jpg (183.14 KiB) Viewed 65 times

There are illustrated instructions specific to the Matilda for parts assembly as well as the generic operating instructions arranged by control rather than by function.

Part Inst.jpg (247.37 KiB) Viewed 65 times

I have not tried the track tensioners yet; offhand, they seem a bit cumbersome, but I may be wrong.

Trk Tnsn.jpg (244.04 KiB) Viewed 65 times

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Here's a quick "walk around" as Matilda comes out of the box and XPS cradle:

Front.jpg (184.33 KiB) Viewed 60 times

Rear.jpg (189.1 KiB) Viewed 60 times

lt & Charger.jpg (246.44 KiB) Viewed 60 times

[Kaczor]

It looks quite good. Mine is stuck somewhere in transit. It's good that so many elements are separate; they can be improved or replaced.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Here are the two parts trees, with but a few parts having come off the sprues into the plastic bag with no harm at all. In the second parts photo one can see the cable ends. Again, only heavy, black thread is supplied for the cable. (I keep on hand a stock of steel cable in small diameter for such uses.)

Prts 01.jpg (325.25 KiB) Viewed 52 times

Prts 02.jpg (287.98 KiB) Viewed 52 times

This is a separately-bagged part with its own identifying slip of paper. Might the parts have been overlooked an re-packed later?

Extra Acc.jpg (209.96 KiB) Viewed 52 times

[Stormbringer]

Looks pretty good mate

[Herr Dr. Professor]

How could I forget Matilda's bottom?

Bottom.jpg (222.3 KiB) Viewed 73 times

[Stormbringer]

Is it an integral battery like the Centurion ?
As i did notice a charging point on it

[Kaczor]

Can you open it and show the inside?

[ColemanCollector]

Hey, that's cool, the little charging port hidden under the driver's rolltop desk hatch thingy!

HDP--opinion needed: metal tracks and bogies/suspension, a good investment on it?

Mike.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Stormbringer: yes, the battery is inside. I would prefer one more readily removable. I am guessing it's a 2S Lithium Ion. My charger does not like batteries without a separate balance connector, so I have some AFVs that I have to charge by the slow method.

Kaczor: "Can you open it and show the inside?" I have been curious, too. But I haven't even tried running yet. I have a busy day today. I may be able to get back to it this evening or tomorrow (Friday, 30 Jan.).

ColemanCollector: "metal tracks and bogies/suspension, a good investment on it?" Mine are spoiled, lazy brats, so paying the extra is probably not worthwhile. It's more a matter of addiction. If one plans to repaint, a bit of the TongDe upgrade cost may be pointless. I probably will keep this one bone stock, for my painting/weathering backlog (see "addiction") is, well, backlogged.