Unboxing the TongDe Chaffee

[Herr Dr. Professor]

There are two bulges at the rear of the TongDe Chaffee, both made to swing open, on the left for the on/off switch, on the right for a charging port. While it is good to have an on/off switch accessible from above (characteristic of TongDe tanks), and while it is handy to have a charging port for the (presumably Lithium Ion) battery, one will still need to remove the battery if the Chaffee is to be left in storage for some time. Then, too, each of the bulges is designed to lift a bit (apparently against spring resistance to keep them in place). Lifting them is not so easy; these will likely be prime locations for unintentional "chipping."

There is also some shallow relief-cast stowage strapping on the engine deck. One might add stowage to go over this strapping, but it will need to be painted even if hidden, right? At least that's my attitude.

Tonge Chaffee 12.jpg (485.93 KiB) Viewed 1926 times

Tonge Chaffee 13.jpg (461.46 KiB) Viewed 1926 times

[Herr Dr. Professor]

The front hatches swing aside, and although the metal motor casings (nice!) are close to the open hatch, there should be room for a driver and co-driver/machine gunner provided that each is half the man he used to be.

Tonge Chaffee 14.jpg (415.8 KiB) Viewed 1924 times

The commander's hatch opens revealing a hole inside. Perhaps that is intended for BB filling, but it may be useful for something. I also see what might be a slot for a periscope, although I don't yet know (haven't read the books yet) if the commander's cupola needed a periscope given the circle of viewing glass. There is also a large hatch on the right, somewhat reminiscent of the hatch on the M5A1 Stuart. On this Chaffee, the hatch does not fit in place (something not fitting correctly seems to be a TongDe signature). I think the two prongs for the MG hold it up, and a fix might be as simple as carefully bending them back a wee bit.

Tonge Chaffee 15.jpg (363.63 KiB) Viewed 1924 times

Tonge Chaffee 16.jpg (408.77 KiB) Viewed 1924 times

[Herr Dr. Professor]

The turret's bustle is hollow from below. This miffed me a bit. Although not readily noticeable, it just seems to me to create a bit of an effect of cheapness.

Tonge Chaffee 17.jpg (427.08 KiB) Viewed 1917 times

From below one can see four spots for the usual screws that affix the lower hull to the upper. Four should be plenty on this small tank, and enough to remove or replace with magnets to access the battery. On this premium version of the TongDe Chaffee, the transmission suspension system, idlers, road wheels, sprockets and tracks are metal---and the tracks, idlers, road wheels and sprockets are painted, unlike such upgrades from HengLong.

Tonge Chaffee 18.jpg (544.68 KiB) Viewed 1917 times

[HERMAN BIX]

Could we see a perspective pic please Herr Doc.
What does the little thing look like over all?
And even better if compared to a well known model for scale

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Let me see what I can manage a.s.a.p. Bix. I have been doing just a bit each day because as a typical retiree, I cannot figure out how I can be so doggone busy. I would like to catch it a bit running, too, but outdoors here in the northern U.S. is wet wet wet and, for an old guy like me, cold cold cold. My ESLR is for single shots and I don't have a little tripod for my iPhone. This could be some shaky video.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

I do have some quick kitchen table shots showing the Chaffee adjacent to a ruler. It is almost 30.5 cm (12 inches) long by 20 cm (7.75 inches) wide. Though larger than the Coolbank Stuart, it is much smaller than the rather oversized HengLong/Torro/Taigen Walker Bulldog.

Tonge Chaffee 20.jpg (372.69 KiB) Viewed 1836 times

Tonge Chaffee 19.jpg (473.75 KiB) Viewed 1836 times

[Exhibitedbrute]

I mean stickers in a similar material as the henglong ones but not as thick so they don’t stick up from the tank hardly

[michaelwhittmann]

Herr Dr. P., when you unbox, you unbox. WOW.

The 2 stern hatches are a good idea but when hand holds/ jerrycans are placed, they block opening the hatches.

Using the controller, the adjustment to rear movement alignment does not have any effect. Forward is fine.

I plugged in the turret machine gun. What does it do? Why the wire? Am I doing something wrong?

I like the open hatches for the driver and the bow gunner. I have a 3 man British crew coming from overseas.
I'll cut em, paint em, and fit em in. The hole under the commander's cupola seems to be for nothing. No bbs.
Maybe it's for access??

The decals given are no good. I bought my own.

There are a series of "buckles" on the rear deck. Hideous. I'll find a way to cover them w/ stowage.

But it comes with golf club bag! How can you beat that?
John Frost of the 1st British Airbourne would love it.

I will post my current Chaffee efforts in SHOW OFF.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Herr michaelwittmann: Goodie! I will be looking for your "Show Off" postings on your Chaffee.

I like the TongDe tanks, but there always seems to be some noticeable problem beyond problems of scale or detail inaccuracy. E.g. both the US APC and the Churchill have gaps between the lower hull and glacis. Harrumph! Nonetheless, I am glad to have those tanks.

"[T}he adjustment to rear movement alignment does not have any effect. Forward is fine." I found this with one of the other TongDe tanks. Either the speed does not change rearward or the tank curves off when run backward even if corrected to straight running forward. My solution? Fire, back up a bit, and get the heck out of there!

"I plugged in the turret machine gun. What does it do? Why the wire? Am I doing something wrong?" Uh-oh! I am buried in the midst of a HengLong Challenger 2 upgrade from 5.3 to 7.0, but I will get my Chaffee back out a.s.a.p. and see if mine works. Gulp!

[PainlessWolf]

Good Afternoon!
As a tip, those 'hideous' straps on the rear deck can be improved greatly by sanding the buckles a little flatter with a hobby file. After this step, use some Hobby Lobby leather strapping (cut to fit) to cover exactly the molded on straps. Afterwards, use copper or brass wire to make the buckles and attach them to your faux strapping. Should look much better than the molded on straps and will save you a lot of time sanding them off. Following along.
regards,
Painless