HL Leopard Arrived

[Tankbear]

Things already on the to fix list (all same as the ZTZ99 tank)

Faster turret turn motor (that big cog really slows things down).
Drive shaft supports. Bearing or something
Rid of the metal gearboxes in favor of black metal quiet ones.

Ian.

Well started to change the gearboxes and turns out heng long have put on drive shaft supports and the chassis is a lot more rigid.



Ian.

[Tankbear]

Well so far fitted the black metal gears (standard ratio) with Jamera 480 LiPo power motors and faster turret turn motor.

I also looked at the instruction manual for the tank turns out there is track tension adjuster although fixed not spring loaded. Here's some pictures.





Although not much use, I tried to adjust to next setting up and made the tracks to tight to fit back on.

And whilst I had the manual out I looked through the accessories listed. Metal tracks, metal idler, metal drive wheel, metal mesh over the engine cooler. So that might be available soon.

Ian.

[Saxondog]

Ian, Would you comment on the new manual structure? Compared to previous versions,and beginning with the Sherman H/L has made many changes to better detail parts and options in the manual.
Also would you comment on the instructions,as written do you find them descriptive enough,clear to understand and thoroughly detailed? Any mistakes,or oversights?

Does the manual seem beneficial? Pros/Cons? Thanks just curious, Blake

[wibblywobbly]

Interesting that they have a track tensioner, might be an idea to pop a track pin, remove the track, and then adjust it, the track should go back on easier when you don't have to stretch it over anything?

[Tankbear]

I was surprised to find it.

Wonder if a hentec adjuster will fit, but guess need to change idle wheels as well to fit.

[wibblywobbly]

You could possibly drill the screw hole right the way through, araldite a longer screw into the adjuster, and put a nut on the inside?

[Dietrich]

A nut is probably the best suggestion but.... You might be able to just 'thread' the adjustable bolt through the actual plastic.Slightly underdrill the hole and either run a tap through it or just file down the end of a long bolt to a point and use that to create the thread .....It is probably not under that much pressure compared to the thickness of the plastic and it might well be capable of holding.
.
Do we have a 'How-To' article on speeding up the turret rotation motor by replacing it with another one ?

[Tankbear]

Never cared much for the Heng Longs, too much work to get them up to speed.. The price for them is attractive though.
It would be cool if you could get an asiatam lower for it, they have real good stuff for the HL's, maybe they will start making a lower who knows?
Good luck with your LEO, the upgrade Bug has bitten you-----its all over now!

Cheers!

The quality of the actual tanks is improving on every release, but is let down on every tank by the same old items like the drive gearboxes and electronics, airsoft. Which is still the same design as years ago so not improving.

If it came with decent quiet gearboxes with powerful motors it be great, but then than would increase the cost of the units and I'm sure a lot of sales of the tank are run as sold.

[Tankbear]

Do we have a 'How-To' article on speeding up the turret rotation motor by replacing it with another one ?

HI Alb,

No guide it is simply a case of swapping the turret turn motor with one with a different colour end as that varies the speed. The reason it is necessary with this tank and the ZTZ99 is the turret turn gear is massive compared to other HL tanks and as a result the turning is very slow. When in the real tank the turret turns 360 in 9 seconds as the model stands as bought is more like 40 seconds! I've changed to a white cap motor rated at 3v which gets mine down to about 14 seconds, it does after a while burn out the motor but because of the large ring not much else can be done.

I guess I can put a quick guide together so other users are aware of the modification.

Ian.

[Tankbear]

Can't really do that with out losing the elevation function as the when the main gun goes up the airsoft comes down into the lower hull.

I've now cut the airsoft down to limit this but still happens

Ian