The Price of Tanks

[ALPHA]

just look at the price of the newer taigen and torro tanks, The taigen Sherman is almost the price of a Tamiya Sherman and the price of the torro Jagdtiger and king tiger is HIGHER then some of the Tamiyas. You can get a Sherman, tiger 1, king tiger or a pershing for less. I would love to get a jagdtiger but my money will go towards another Tamiya I'm afraid. I have nothing against the Taigen/Torro tanks as I do own lots of them but if they are going to charge Tamiya prices they should at least have the proper electronics in them. I just hope that Tamiya doesn't look at this and use it as an excuse to jack up the price of their tanks!

True....pros and cons though...With Tamiya you have a lot more Plastic....the High end Taigens and Torros have more metal to them...so if you think about how much you will spend on upgrades...I think it all balances out ...But if you did the Tamiya straight out of the box...provided it came with the Radio Gear....then you come out ahead


ALPHA

[Max-U52]

The taigen Sherman is almost the price of a Tamiya Sherman

Once I added the electronics (TK22/TGY-i6 TX) the Taigen was MORE than a Tamiya Sherman Kit, but the Taigen has metal tracks, sprockets, idlers, suspension, including metal roadwheels with rubber tires, all metal turret with roller bearings, and on and on. I've built quite a few static Tamiya kits and I know their quality is very hard to beat, but for RC Tanks I have different needs than I do with static models, and that's why my first Sherman was an Imex/Taigen, but eventually I will get the tammy, just for the HVSS!

[billpe]

Metal does not mean better, it's where metal is used and what type that is important. I've got the all metal Taigan Tiger but the Tamiya Tiger in stock form was both cheaper and to be blunt a better design because it has a metal insert tub inside a plastic box meaning it has far less scope to bend and flex. It also comes with much better electronics. The metal turret is nice but is unworkable because it's metal and the top of the hull now sags due to the weight. And the weight of the metal wheels has started to cause excess wear on the drive train. The ABS under the sponsons has warped too, but the Tamiya doesn't suffer that because it's all one molding.

However, I'll take my largely ABS, nylon, Styrene and rubber Tamiya Leopard 2 over any other 1:16 on the market. The gearbox is a thing of wonder that no one else has copied but I wish they would! Weighing that down with metal is largely pointless as it just causes wear but is unlikely to add any robustness or performance increase. It's a good example of how the right materials with the right design is superior to the wrong materials on a bad design. It's just a shame that the Type 10 didn't also have an ABS hull in the same manner. That tank was a step back.

My advice is don't look for the brand, look at the tank you want and the best version of that for your budget. If you're going to get a Tiger, the Tamiya is first choice, but if you're looking for a Sherman then it may not be. When it comes to the King Tiger, electronics aside there's others out there which compete with the Tamiya. But it's a phalacy to state that X has more metal that Y. All the Tamiyas I own have aluminium (i think 6061 grade) hulls (bar the Leopard), metal sprockets and idlers as standard. I think the only one that needs rubber wheels and doesn't is actually the Type 10.

[jtracks]

I have both Taigen and Tamiya tanks and have found they both have their pro's and con's. Fifteen minutes after installing metal tracks on my JS-2 I had a bent lower hull. I had paid $110.00 US for the tracks and found that they were unusable. So a gear box brace and Henn Tec idler system later, the problem was solved and the metal tracks have been re-installed. I've never had that problem on a Taigen tank running metal tracks. However, both of my metal turret equipped Taigen Tiger 1's have stress cracks in the upper hull that run from just under the turret outward, not good. Love the Tamiya electronics, very smooth operating tanks. Taigen electronics leave a lot to be desired so I've installed IBU2's in four of my Taigen tanks and they now sound and drive as well as my Tamiya's in my opinion but at an additional cost.
So, for me, it comes down to what I want to run on any given day. I wish Tamiya had done other than the 105mm Sherman in their WWII line up. I don't have the skills to do a conversion. I am looking forward to the Taigen 76mm Sherman. I just hope they keep the cost down and improve the electronics or I won't be buying one. I think I could pay someone to do an E8 conversion to my Tamiya M4 for a lot less money than the upcoming Taigen Sherman.

[ALPHA]

Price is all relative I think...Boils down to what you want to pay and can afford...the only Metal I care about is really the Tracks...Just because they stay together better than the plastic ....with that said...I still run some with plastic....I'm not as choosy as many of you...so long my tanks run...and can handle the terrain they are fine with me
I have also been able to stay within my own set guidelines as far as expenses go....Everyone has their own values...their own desire for what they want ...so long they don't preach them to me..it's all good

Press on Gents

Build and be Happy


ALPHA

[jtracks]

Yep, you must stay within your means. I don't call what others have to say as preaching but a voice of opinion. I take it all in, sift through it, and make my own decisions. I would never voice an opinion on something I didn't have personal experience with and would never try to influence anyone one way or the other. But rather just share what I have learned through that personal experience.

[ALPHA]

Yep, you must stay within your means. I don't call what others have to say as preaching but a voice of opinion. I take it all in, sift through it, and make my own decisions. I would never voice an opinion on something I didn't have personal experience with and would never try to influence anyone one way or the other. But rather just share what I have learned through that personal experience.

LOL...Some do preach lol....like there is only one brand or one method to go ...I've seen it .. and actually have laughed at it

But I do agree...at some point you just have to sift through ...and find what's best for yourself...as I always say...You're not building Your model for someone else...You're building it for You


ALPHA

[jtracks]

Yep, you must stay within your means. I don't call what others have to say as preaching but a voice of opinion. I take it all in, sift through it, and make my own decisions. I would never voice an opinion on something I didn't have personal experience with and would never try to influence anyone one way or the other. But rather just share what I have learned through that personal experience.

LOL...Some do preach lol....like there is only one brand or one method to go ...I've seen it .. and actually have laughed at it

But I do agree...at some point you just have to sift through ...and find what's best for yourself...as I always say...You're not building Your model for someone else...You're building it for You


ALPHA

I agree ALPHA, some think that a certain tank is the only tank. And I am a big believer that you build it for yourself. My Tamiya M-51 is built box stock with the exception of a gearbox brace. And it's painted Olive Drab, some would cringe at that. And I'm not saying that I don't enjoy or appreciate the work some put into creating a very authentic looking tank because I do. I just don't have the skills or eye sight to do it.

[ALPHA]

I agree ALPHA, some think that a certain tank is the only tank. And I am a big believer that you build it for yourself. My Tamiya M-51 is built box stock with the exception of a gearbox brace. And it's painted Olive Drab, some would cringe at that. And I'm not saying that I don't enjoy or appreciate the work some put into creating a very authentic looking tank because I do. I just don't have the skills or eye sight to do it.

Yup...for most ...Image is all that's needed....though now I do do my tanks closer to what's in my Genre....if it's close...it's good enough
After all...if a passer by pays a compliment...it's not usually about the detail stowage or whatever ...it's basically the tank...They'll ask simple things like where you got it...how much ...that's about it.
It's only on a board like this will people say I like the bolts...or specifics about the variant of a model...whether something should be placed here or there...It's all good...but really...when it comes down to it and you are there playing with your tank...does it all really matter

The Main thing is you had fun in the process...and enjoy the outcome


ALPHA

[Ad Lav]

We each have our corner to fight I guess.

You'll see some cracking builds using expensive and cheap tanks. It's down to the individual persons skills and wallet size. Always nice to get good feedback but you can't please everyone