RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

For the real good full bearing, CNC machined hardened steel gears with good motors try Imex Tanks located here in the states. Go to r/c tanks, then parts, then go to the 2nd page and find your gearboxes. I run 4.1 gearboxes in mine, haven't tried the 5.1's yet but the 4.1's do great even for my heavy tanks.

I have much to learn!

What I meant was more than one forward speed. I wanted to be able to vary the speed. Some tanks seem to have two speeds.

Is there a name for this variable speed? How do I know if a tank has it?

Will heed advice on gear ratios and materials. Thank you.

The tanks don't change gears like the real thing however they do have speed control like you want even the most basic ones do. Move the right stick a little forward or back and the tank will start to move very slowly. Push the stick a little more the rank will speed up, all the way forward will give you full forward speed, but reverse is like the real thing and not as fast as its forward speed.

Is this what you were asking?

There is a throttle controller on the transmitter which when it is advanced accelerates the Tank upto the limits allowed by the ratio's in the gearbox,
As I am sure you know there is a sound chip in the Taigen control board and while it is very basic does produce an engine note that rises and falls with the chosen engine speed.
If you decide that this is a hobby for you then there will come a time when you will think of fitting an upgraded control board, there are a number on the market and I will name 3 of the most commonly used,
The IBU2 and IBU2 PRO, A top board with a very large range of abilities, TANKBEAR (IAN) sells these wonders and as a user I can vouch for his top service, he is a member of this Forum,
You can programme the sound chip through a fitted Micro SD card using a card reader which you fit into the USB port of your computer and then download the sounds of your choice including gear change noises and many other sounds on the menu.
Next The CLARK board again a good value control board and it has an advantage that is rarely commented upon, the CLARK board fits exactly within the RX18 case so it is readily fitted where the old board went and then there is
The ASP which is a little less common but is a board a little larger than the CLARK but filled with sockets such as the ability to plug in not only the hull mg but a co-axial one where fitted,
All of these boards are sold as "PLUG & PLAY" which in the case of the ASP is true but the others do need a little fettling,
They are priced between £80 & £ 140 but you must also budget for a multi-channel transmitter which is good for, depending on the model, 10 to 20 tanks & or Aircraft to be programmed in BUT each Tank / aircraft will need its own receiver, so be prepared to spend another £50 at least for the transmitter/receiver.
Shortly after Easter Ian will be selling the IBU3 which promises to offer even greater wonders although the IBU2 will remain available from him.
I have to say that once you have heard the sounds put out by any of these replacement control boards and the other almost limitless and brilliant properties they possess you will not readily return to the OEP from Heng Long/Taigen/Torro.
Shaun.

Zeffer, I'm glad the videos were helpful. The Taigen Tiger One is also an excellent choice for a first tank. One of the main reasons I recommend the Tauchpanzer is for the guy that will try this hobby and decide it's not for him. That way he's out minimum expense, but I think you're well on your way to being an RC Tanker so for you the Taigen is probably an even better choice, since it gives you the best foundation to build on.

And remember, as you start down the path of upgrades and metal additions, these guys here have done it all before and they're very, very good about sharing their experience. You seem smart enough to take advantage of that so it really is good to have you on board. This hobby will literally change your life. You have no idea of how many other paths it's taken me down, everything from photography (now I'm even learning to make movies of my tanks) to die-cast collectibles to the latest state-of-the-art electronics and so much more. And the guys you meet! I won't say I haven't met a jerk or two (not on THIS forum) but I've met so many great guys that really are "The Salt of the Earth". It's been a journey, an education, and a total blast.

This is all extremely useful.

I had the wrong end of the stick as I had read some tanks have two forward speeds and even some had a ten speed controller. So long as I can make it go slow and gradually speed up I am happy.

Will look into each of the control boards. One of the reasons I wanted to try RC Tanks was so I could fettle, modelling and electronics - both areas I enjoy. I know I'll be updating at some point whatever tank I buy.

Thanks again.

I think I am going to end up going for the full metal Taigen. Will now look into who sells it and make sure they are not on the blacklist!

Thanks Max-U52, I am sure you are right. The sewing machine in your video has already got me thinking about creating some tents before I am up to doing some plywood buildings.

Even with a broken hip I can have the sewing machine at the kitchen table. Never thought I'd say that!

Will also make a bridge using the prunings off my apple tree as I saw in another thread.

Thanks for all the advice and the time that takes.

And get a decent tank as your first, a Taigen full metal Tiger is perfect for a first tank. You don't want to just get cheap because then you'll spend more time fixing the tank and chasing problems with your wallet, trust me it's the mistake that I made and I almost gave up had I not started listening to these guys and come to the realization that cheap price equals cheap tank.

I now have 4 tanks, 2 Tiger (1 early, 1 late) a King Tiger and brand new Jagdtiger and all are as much metal as possible. My Tigers each go almost 20lbs, my King Tiger is over 22lbs. My Jagdtiger is brand new and I haven't started modding it yet but it should weigh about what my KT does.

I got 2 kids too so I can certainly understand about a budget so if need be just save for another month or so, you'll be much happier.

Zeffer wrote: The sewing machine in your video has already got me thinking about creating some tents ...

So what do you call a guy that does what a seamstress does? I'm really not that guy, but I do want to have a go. If you have talent in this area you may be able to advise me, Zeffer. I'm struggling with the tents (trying to make a reasonable facsimile of a GP Medium US Tent) and I also want to try smaller items, like a canvass top for the scout car I'm working on. At the recommendation of a fellow member I picked up some stuff called "Supplex" (sp?) and it's pretty promising. So do you know your way around this mystifying apparatus they call the sewing machine?

I shall look into Supplex. I can't help with the sewing machine yet as I still need my wife to set it up. If all goes well I shall feedback and may be able to help, but I think you may find a faster way to work it out! It will be fun trying. At the moment I have been doing jigsaws to stop me going mad. I am usually incredibly active! Never break a hip!