New from Arizona

[tankme]

I was shocked to find that all but two of Tamiya’s World War II full option tank kits have been discontinued, which makes me sad..

When I was last active in this hobby Heng Long tanks were laughably bad. I saw a recent review on their latest KV-2 with version 7 electronics. It didn’t look much better and sounded like an Abrams with turbine engine. The reviewer said version 7 was a downgrade from their previous stuff and that Heng Long is ignoring what their customers ask for. Taigen look to be better built, from a mechanical construction standpoint, but I imagine the metal used is of the cheapest pot metal they can source. I’ve been told Taigen electronics are worse than Heng Long.

Someone else recently referred to Tamiya DMD/MF units as “crappy” electronics.. Really??!! I hope their idea of “good” electronics is not in that KV-2 I saw.

I don't consider Tamiya's electronics completely crappy. I consider them outdated, not very customizable, and not to my liking. I personally don't like the driving characteristics or the turret rotation or the fact that when I built the elevation on my Tamiya KV-2 it never worked right until I removed the spring attached to it (IE: had to modify it from stock). The KV-2 now runs on an OpenPanzer TCB. I have two Tamiya tanks and only one of them runs on Tamiya electronics and more than likely those will be swapped out for something else when I get to that project. I bought that Sherman used and it needs work.

Heng Long electronics have come a long way in the past few years. The slow speed maneuvering is much better than the Tamiya, to me the turret rotation motors are more robust (and cheaper to replace), and the ability to use servos for elevation/recoil on the 6.1/7.1 boards are definitely a step in the right direction. Tamiya has just now embraced servo elevation and recoil in the Centurion. Where the HL electronics fall short is in the battle system and the sound. I have quite a few Clark boards and while they aren't "the best" they do fit my needs for prices vs features (TK40s and now TK50s). I can't afford to put $300 boards in all my tanks.

[43rdRecceReg]

The Taigen hulls for the Tiger 1, and Panzer 111 are actually made of decent alloy, not pot metal- much the same as that used on Tamiya models (probably copied, in fact). The Taigen PZ IV and Sherman have a sort of pot metal hull.
The Torro/Taigen hull for the T34 also matches the excellent ABS/Alloy hulls of the Tiger 1 and Panzer 111. Entry-level models remain plastic, but do benefit from better electronics and add-on items.
V6.0 series MFU controllers are the best (6.1s preferred), since they offer 4 sound sets: two for WW2 and Two for modern tanks. V7 is a mistake- thus far, as a Pz 111 sounds silly with a turbine engine.

Yes, it's a pity that Tamiya supremos have reduced their WW2 range. I have their PZ IV, Panther Ausf G, Jagdpanther and Tiger 1. I got them when the going was good.
Kursk, Kiev- 1943? There were heroes then.

[tankme]

..........

[HERMAN BIX]

Lets keep it to models...................

[EAO]

Hello Muncheberg,

Glad to have you with us! As I too have found out, things in the RC world have changed enormously! More of a learning curve, but so much more realistic and capable! Arizona does seem like good tanking country! I've been through most of Northern AZ on my BMW GS. Pretty area for sure!

Cheers,
Eric.

[thestig]

Hi Muncheberg, greetings from SE Pennsylvania.

In what part of AZ are you? A long, long, long time ago I attended NAU and still have great memories of partying in Oak Creek Canyon.

Frank

[Muncheberg]

Hi Muncheberg, greetings from SE Pennsylvania.

In what part of AZ are you? A long, long, long time ago I attended NAU and still have great memories of partying in Oak Creek Canyon.

Frank

I’m in the Phoenix area. Though, right now I’m typing this in Prescott. I attended ASU a couple decades ago.

My father’s family is from PA. He was born in Wilkes-Barre, 94 years ago. My Dad’s older sister, who is 97, is in the West Chester area. Where in SE PA are you?

[Muncheberg]

I was shocked to find that all but two of Tamiya’s World War II full option tank kits have been discontinued, which makes me sad..

When I was last active in this hobby Heng Long tanks were laughably bad. I saw a recent review on their latest KV-2 with version 7 electronics. It didn’t look much better and sounded like an Abrams with turbine engine. The reviewer said version 7 was a downgrade from their previous stuff and that Heng Long is ignoring what their customers ask for. Taigen look to be better built, from a mechanical construction standpoint, but I imagine the metal used is of the cheapest pot metal they can source. I’ve been told Taigen electronics are worse than Heng Long.

Someone else recently referred to Tamiya DMD/MF units as “crappy” electronics.. Really??!! I hope their idea of “good” electronics is not in that KV-2 I saw.

I don't consider Tamiya's electronics completely crappy. I consider them outdated, not very customizable, and not to my liking. I personally don't like the driving characteristics or the turret rotation or the fact that when I built the elevation on my Tamiya KV-2 it never worked right until I removed the spring attached to it (IE: had to modify it from stock). The KV-2 now runs on an OpenPanzer TCB. I have two Tamiya tanks and only one of them runs on Tamiya electronics and more than likely those will be swapped out for something else when I get to that project. I bought that Sherman used and it needs work.

Heng Long electronics have come a long way in the past few years. The slow speed maneuvering is much better than the Tamiya, to me the turret rotation motors are more robust (and cheaper to replace), and the ability to use servos for elevation/recoil on the 6.1/7.1 boards are definitely a step in the right direction. Tamiya has just now embraced servo elevation and recoil in the Centurion. Where the HL electronics fall short is in the battle system and the sound. I have quite a few Clark boards and while they aren't "the best" they do fit my needs for prices vs features (TK40s and now TK50s). I can't afford to put $300 boards in all my tanks.

The Clark dealer, in the DAK club, showed me his Taigen JS-2 with Clark electronics in it. I battled against it earlier that day with my Tamiya Tiger and knocked it out haha. For now, I’m sticking with what I know and am familiar with, that being Tamiya.

[Muncheberg]

Here is my old Tiger that was first built over 14 years ago. It is in between paint jobs right now. The old paint job was stripped off of it over 10 years ago. It then sat for over 10 years, on a block with the torsion bars unloaded.

After watching some tank videos, in January, I decided to mount the gun and recoil unit back into it and get in running again. I put temporary markings on it to battle at the DAK field in January and February. By manufacture, it is a very old Tamiya Tiger that came with early Type 1 gearboxes (which are still in it, along with Graupner 400 motors and Schumo gear reduction units).

This tank battled in Danville before I owned it. I’d say it has still got fight left in it as it did knock out a new Taigen JS-2 (with fancy Clark electronics in it), during a one on one engagement last month.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

I can understand your wanting to leave it original, a respectable grizzled veteran. In fact, it even looks pretty good as it is.