A Winter '23-'24 Group Build?

[tankme]

I would guess a promotional version would be where the manufacturer is overstocked on a certain tank, calls the distributers, gives them an awesome deal to get them out of their warehouse, and then the distributer blows them out at a slightly higher price than what the distributer paid.

[Jimster]

My initial guess is that the term is a marketing ploy but steel gears are good and strong. I just don’t like the coffee grinder sound that these types of gearboxes produce.
Congrats on winning the auction!

[Herr Dr. Professor]

The terms "Promotional Version," "Professional Version" and etc., confuse me, too, and until the last few years, I have shied away from HengLong and Toucan Hobby. However, HengLong's newer ready-made tanks with the version 7.0 electronics are quite an improvement--except for the sound. And and although Toucan Hobby advertising characteristics confuse me, I have found them reliable. What has made me a bit nervous about Toucan Hobby is the firm's seemingly inconsistent pricing on eBay. If it is any help, here is their web site from which I have bought directly instead of through eBay:https://www.toucanhobby.com/

[MrChef]

The terms "Promotional Version," "Professional Version" and etc., confuse me, too, and until the last few years, I have shied away from HengLong and Toucan Hobby. However, HengLong's newer ready-made tanks with the version 7.0 electronics are quite an improvement--except for the sound. And and although Toucan Hobby advertising characteristics confuse me, I have found them reliable. What has made me a bit nervous about Toucan Hobby is the firm's seemingly inconsistent pricing on eBay. If it is any help, here is their web site from which I have bought directly instead of through eBay:https://www.toucanhobby.com/

Yes sir.

I've had good luck with all 4 of my purchases from Toucan. I even had an issue last Holiday season and their customer service responded quickly and refunded me my purchase promptly.

I purchase from their direct site. I just picked up a set of plastic tracks for this tank from them for $3.99!!! I'm not kidding. so I grabbed a few more.

[MrChef]

I would guess a promotional version would be where the manufacturer is overstocked on a certain tank, calls the distributers, gives them an awesome deal to get them out of their warehouse, and then the distributer blows them out at a slightly higher price than what the distributer paid.

Yeah I'd guess that too. Makes sense to make more room for other models for the upcoming holiday season. Gotta make room for Merkavas...

[MrChef]

My initial guess is that the term is a marketing ploy but steel gears are good and strong. I just don’t like the coffee grinder sound that these types of gearboxes produce.
Congrats on winning the auction!

Thanks. I'm pleased with my first win at a very palatable price. I was going to go with a base plastic model but this one was only $18 more. So happy days as they say.

[ColemanCollector]

I've purchased turrets, gearboxes, and boards from Toucan, mostly on Aliexpress, but a few via eBay. Never a problem and pretty fast delivery even with Aliexpress. I wouldn't hesistate to buy anything from them.
Mike.

[jee]

My initial guess is that the term is a marketing ploy but steel gears are good and strong. I just don’t like the coffee grinder sound that these types of gearboxes produce.
Congrats on winning the auction!

Thanks. I'm pleased with my first win at a very palatable price. I was going to go with a base plastic model but this one was only $18 more. So happy days as they say.

seems a very good "investment" for what you get

The chassis I will be using I also bought from Toucan via aliexpress, no problems at all with them.

[Estnische]

It's "Promotion", as in pro-motion, with better drive parts.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

I am off to Scotland tomorrow (6 October 2023) morning, so my visiting here will be sporadic. I have lots of notes on who's building what, and it's looking great! But I am still vacillating on my own build. My top candidates are a HengLong M4 Sherman, two Taigen M4s (on with 75mm; one with 76mm), and a Taigen Pershing. I have the least amount of information and books on the Pershing, but I am wondering if there is enough information on the well-known Pershing involved in the battle with a Panther in front of the Kölner Dom: among others, this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaGpPB3lUEg at 3 min and 25 sec. Over 50 years ago, I went to this location with my father, a South Pacific veteran who nonetheless had read about the tank battle in Köln.