A present from UK Mail

[silversurfer1947]

All the bits and pieces fitted, with the exception of the machine gun assembly, tow cables and the unditching log, the last because I have no suitable size dowel. I have a few pieces left over - 3 sections of what I assume to be turret armour and two tow hooks. The armour is because there are two sprues, but the tow hooks are different. They are part no G1, and I can see no reference to them in the instructions. If I have missed it or anyone has found where they belong I shall appreciate the information.

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The only thing lacking is a tank commander. Again if anyone can recommend a sutable figure that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, I would love to know.

[condorman994]

Take a look on page 21 and they go outside of the spare track on the rear panel

[mcevoyi]

Silversufer

It is looking like a superb addition to your collection
going to be really interesting to get a really close look at the T90 ..
and see how HL have improved

[wibblywobbly]

Well that didn't take long to assemble, good work!

It is a very impressive model, the way things are going I can't wait to see what Heng Long bring out next, whatever it is my guess is that will be a cracker.

[silversurfer1947]

Take a look on page 21 and they go outside of the spare track on the rear panel

Thanks - in fact I have just worked it out wen I tried to attach the tow ropes. Would have helped if they had identified it in the main instructions. Still - all done now.

[silversurfer1947]

This is my first experience of a Heng Long tank so I can't compare it with anything else they have made.. I have to say, I am quite impressed in the way in which it went together. My only complaint would be that the parts are attached to the sprues with quite thick joints, so no matter how carefully you cut them, you are left with little bright green patches. If the bits had actually been moulded in the same colour as the green of the tank, it would not have been an issue. Pretty much everything is push fit. It will be interesting to see what falls off when it starts trundling round the battlefield.

[wibblywobbly]

My T90 arrived today, I was busy so didn't touch it till this evening. What can I say? This is astonishing?? Top notch tank in all respects, and I only have the plastic basic version. The plastic gearboxes are silent running, and really suit the tank. I tested it by fully charging the battery and then doing ovals and figure of eight's up and down the lounge to see how long it ran for. After 35 minutes I gave up, it was still going strong.

The sounds are unbelievably good, the only things that this tank lacks are a recoil, and an IR battle system. If Heng Long are not working on a standard IR board that can be plugged into the RX18 then they need their heads examined. They would put everyone else out of business overnight.

Both the tiger and leopard sounds aren't just 'passable' they are right up there.

They even have elevation up and down on the left stick now.

If I sound impressed it is because I am...very impressed.

[silversurfer1947]

Haven't actually run mine yet. I'm working on the wheels and tracks, trying not to make a mess of them. I can't understand why they haven't come up with an IR and a recoiling gun. They could wipe the floor with everyone else if they did.

[wibblywobbly]

Just so that you know, I plugged a Visiton FRS7 into the RX18 to see whether it made a difference. The interesting thing is that HL have mounted their speaker in a well sealed enclosure and facing the hull wall. The effect of this is to improve the bass frequencies. An FRS7 is too big to do this, and even though it is a top notch speaker the amp driver on the RX18 is never going to be powerful enough to drive the speaker. It sounds too bright and tinny.

After comparing the two I stayed with the HL speaker, it works ok in this tank with the new sounds. The only way to to improve it drastically will be an aftermarket board.

I'll spend today working through the sprues and attaching the parts, jeez, that's a lot of parts, lol. My hub caps are all green, but I have searched through the sprues and destructions and cannot see any caps for the sprockets anywhere, so assume that these are not supplied. I have two spare ones for the idlers, but they are a different size to the ones that would go into the sprocket recess.

When its all together I'll pull the turret apart and see if I can disable the airsoft. That way I'll just get the gun firing sound without the horrible mechanical wind-up on the mechanism.

I had the tracks off without much hassle. Just undid the allen bolt holding the sprocket on, pulled it off and down, this allows the sprocket to be released from the tracks, and then remove the tracks. I only did it to see which gearbox final drive shaft length they had used, it turns out that the gearboxes in these are the low profile ones with the long shafts (60mm). If memory serves me correctly these are the type used in the Jagdpanther, but don't quote me on it.

There has to be a whizz out there somewhere who can devise an IR board that will plug into the the RX18???

[silversurfer1947]

I could not find any hub caps for the sprockets either. There are surplus ones for the idlers. I assume they must have had a reason for praying two of them silver. Presumably if you wanted to keep theidlers unpainted in bare metal??!! I would imagine if there were some enterprising gentleman who had access to a 3D printer, it would not be an impossibility to print some sprocket hub caps. If so, I would be in the market for two. There could even be a worldwide market via Shapeways!

It might be an idea to attack the turret before fitting all the bits and pieces to it. They generally fit well, but render it more susceptible to damage, I think. The only parts which were not quite such a good fit were the individual pieces of horizontal armour plate.