RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Yes that was just one of many of the parts that fell apart on mine, the metal is just too brittle. I had to buy new suspension parts from rc tank.de as Aisatam couldn't be bothered to provide me with any service. I have a few broken hinges and detail parts on it too. It's too bad as it could have been a really nice model if Aisatam would address the shortcomings. I really wanted to get their FAMO kit but will wait until someone else makes it.

deathrawt wrote:Yes that was just one of many of the parts that fell apart on mine, the metal is just too brittle. I had to buy new suspension parts from rc tank.de as Aisatam couldn't be bothered to provide me with any service. I have a few broken hinges and detail parts on it too. It's too bad as it could have been a really nice model if Aisatam would address the shortcomings. I really wanted to get their FAMO kit but will wait until someone else makes it.

Yeah...a friend of mine lent me his for measurements...it was a spare he had in storage...the suspension was already funky...they were kind of twisted...then while in my possession...two arms fell off...couldn't figure out why at first...then upon close inspection found the retainers had broken off the arms...He said he was ok with it ...but I told him I'd fabricate him some new ones out of more durable material...and of my own design....

Good luck with yours Death

ALPHA

ALPHA wrote:

deathrawt wrote:I have the Hooban elefant kit as well. I haven't built it yet but the parts and such look ok. I have heard people have had issues with the kit with the suspension and tracks. I guess I should say that they are not really Hooban kits any more as mine says Ark Model on it and not Hooban

The Metal suspension is just as bad...the problem is how the companies chose to replicate the design that came from the real thing so to say...Most of the Problem comes from the elbow joint....the retaining tabs is the weakness...on both the metal and plastic versions they put a heavy spring....which puts too much stress on the retaining tabs with the mounting holes in it....on both they are very thin in that area...The weight and movement make them weak...till it gets to the point where they snap...It's the downfall of either metal or the Hooben....the difference being with the Hooben you can reinforce that joint while you assemble it...it's plastic so will take to additional bonding in that area....the metal one you can't

ALPHA

Do you mean the bit that bolts through the side of the hull or bit which pivots the two bits of the suspension external to the tank?

tomhugill wrote:

ALPHA wrote:

deathrawt wrote:I have the Hooban elefant kit as well. I haven't built it yet but the parts and such look ok. I have heard people have had issues with the kit with the suspension and tracks. I guess I should say that they are not really Hooban kits any more as mine says Ark Model on it and not Hooban

The Metal suspension is just as bad...the problem is how the companies chose to replicate the design that came from the real thing so to say...Most of the Problem comes from the elbow joint....the retaining tabs is the weakness...on both the metal and plastic versions they put a heavy spring....which puts too much stress on the retaining tabs with the mounting holes in it....on both they are very thin in that area...The weight and movement make them weak...till it gets to the point where they snap...It's the downfall of either metal or the Hooben....the difference being with the Hooben you can reinforce that joint while you assemble it...it's plastic so will take to additional bonding in that area....the metal one you can't

ALPHA

Do you mean the bit that bolts through the side of the hull or bit which pivots the two bits of the suspension external to the tank?

The latter

ALPHA

Sorry alpha I'm still struggling with which bit your talking about, on the hooben the only plastic bit in the suspension is the tab inside the hull that the shaft connects on to, in the picture the bit the lines pointing to

http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.ph ... u=15157823

tomhugill wrote:Sorry alpha I'm still struggling with which bit your talking about, on the hooben the only plastic bit in the suspension is the tab inside the hull that the shaft connects on to, in the picture the bit the lines pointing to

http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.ph ... u=15157823

Such is the way in modelling

ALPHA

ALPHA wrote:

tomhugill wrote:Sorry alpha I'm still struggling with which bit your talking about, on the hooben the only plastic bit in the suspension is the tab inside the hull that the shaft connects on to, in the picture the bit the lines pointing to

http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.ph ... u=15157823

Such is the way in modelling

ALPHA

That doesn't make any sense

Kiaser wrote:Hi chaps so on the metal one the failure is in the same spot ??, Following with interest

Kiaser, I actually have both and I think alpha is mistaken, the weak point on the hooben is the joint between the two suspension arms. There is a lot of slop on them and the way it's designed means you can't just tighten the screw that holds them together as it binds the two halves up. If you don't tighten the screws even with locktite they work loose due to the slop.

Now the asiatam metal ones doesn't have this issue as all, the issue it does have is the shaft that bolts through the hull to secure the suspension on has a cut though the middle to allow a spring to slot in. Unfortunelty this is a weak point as it effectively turns the shaft into two prongs which can snap.

There is a way around this, I've found that you don't really need the springs as they make the suspension far too stiff (although I did keep the rear ones for help with the weight of the tus) this means you can slip a collar over them which stops breakages.

Now to be honest I've had mine a while and run it on rough terrain and not had an issue (but spares can be bought), so it's not a huge problem.

Kiaser wrote:This is good to know tomhugill , I was wondering why some have used the combination of the 1/16 Hooben and asiatam running gear make sense now

Yeah that's my old hooben Elefant, I gave up with the hooben suspension.

LOL...so you finished one....I remember telling you about the problem when you first showed them ...guess you forgot
Did you finish the Metal one...or did you finally sell that

ALPHA