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Sounds as if everything’s going your way. I’m looking forward to a video of the final product. Heng Long electronics sure has come a long way since the rx-18.

Jimster wrote:Sounds as if everything’s going your way. I’m looking forward to a video of the final product. Heng Long electronics sure has come a long way since the rx-18.

I've never had a Youtube (video) account, Jim. That's something I keep meaning to sort out.
For this reason, I've not made any tank related videos to date. Now and then, I do send clips of the dogs frolicking in the garden to a friend, via Whatsapp. That's simplicity itself, and very direct. It's a pity that video clips can't be posted directly to RCTW, but, as I understand it only Youtube clips are viable. That means editing and patching film clips together in iMovie', in order to post them to Youtube. That could be time-consuming- and has been somewhat off-putting up to now.
Only a couple of years ago, the main beef against HL products was that all tanks had the same tedious chugging engine sound, as well as an unconvincing overall soundscape.
Handling required proportionality, but skilled rc tankers could get the tank's movements to look convincing.
Now tanks have a choice of acceptable sound packages, as well as proportionality in movement and smoke output. In a way then, there are no more desiderata- now that the tanks lookand sound much better. Still, many still want fully customised tanks, with programmable electronics, and the hobby also caters for them with numerous third party suppliers. I'm one of them- mostly.

However, if HL/Taigen keep absorbing Tamiya tech, and improving all aspects of their model tanks (those catered for by 3rd party custom parts producers). It could be bad news for Tamiya, and niche producers.

Just a little Tamiya Panel Line treatment for the reborn Panther. I'll add a few oil stains, here and there, another day- along with signs of scorching on the exhaust. Other than that, I'll allow the tank to age naturally. The panel line highlights give the tank a wee bit more definition, especially around joints, hinges, and.. well...panel edges.
HL's 'weld' lines on the turret are the only feature I don't particularly like. They're like the criss-cross lines plasterers us on an undercoat. No big deal, though. It's a runner, not a stunner.

The new hull has been painted with Dunkel Grun, which is considerable darker than the Oliv Grun of later tanks. But, hey ho, I quite like the mismatch. In any event, towards the end of the war, paints were so scarce, that they used anything that came to hand.


Note: four-legged critic checking the tank out.


What matters now, after the Panther became a Taigen/Heng Long mashup, is that everything works properly. Well, everything's fine

By the way, I read somewhere that the TK 6.1S controller is supposed to be compatible with PDSGB gearboxes. Now, there's a prospect for the future.

Hey Roy, YouTube videos aren’t that hard. As you can see by my T34 unboxing video of the smoker with Slavic soundtrack, you can also do some amusing stuff with the audio too (in a Dad joke kinda way).

Estnische wrote:Hey Roy, YouTube videos aren’t that hard. As you can see by my T34 unboxing video of the smoker with Slavic soundtrack, you can also do some amusing stuff with the audio too (in a Dad joke kinda way).

No, but they've added extra hoops to jump through before posting, and these could take time.
More significantly, I suppose, I've been put off by the fact that to make a decent clip- I'd need an extra pair of hands. Unless, that is I can find a way of mounting my iPhone on my forehead, like an inspection lamp; or shoulder- like a parrot I do have an iPhone adaptor for my tripod, but this means taking shots from a static camera position, as
I can't steer, manipulate the full range tank and turret movements, and film the tank simultaneously. I suppose a GoPro would work as a sort of 'body camera' (a la Police)
I'll certainly give it more thought.
Meantime, here are a few shots of the tank (now weighing almost 12 lbs ) undergoing field trials, These were over:- carpet, laminate flooring, 50mm wooden doorstep, wooden ramp, gravel, and a grassy slope (the one I broke my ankle on ). I'm pleased to say, that despite the much greater gravitational pull, the Panther pulled its way well over all obstacles (doorstep, ramp step- also 50mm high) and across all surfaces. It also climbed the slope and the ramp well.

Startup in the house. The Panther than climbed over the doorstep (over 50mm high, not including metal draught excluder strip), and out onto my wooden decking and ramp.

Panther clanking contentedly on the down-ramp.

beginning descent down slippery grass slope...


Return to base over two doorsteps (porch and inner door). All negotiated with surprising- and proportional ease.

According to this guy, the Youtube upload procedure was changed this year. Looking at the steps one has to go through, it's hardly a spontaneous direct process. It's not too complex, but it is likely to take a lot more time than simply posting a pic from Imgur. But..I'll have a go soon-ish

The tank looks great. Are you going to change the headlight? I might have one of those. Somewhere. You still haven't given it a flat clear-coat, have you? What made you decide to put the Balkan cross so far forward? That's a new one for me, but it does look pretty cool.

Taking video is a lot easier than you think. Hell, I do it. If you have a good tripod with smooth action you can stand next to the camera and get some good shots while running the tank, just moving the camera every few seconds. And the new stuff at youtube doesn't add much time, it's three clicks. Once you type in the title you click, "no, it ain't for kids", just click the next prompt (you don't have to do anything on that page), and click publish. I like the new stuff it does then, how it opens a page with current and previously uploaded videos and if you want to do any editing it's all right there, they even got rather accurate with the estimated upload time and uploads are faster than they used to be.

So quitchur whingin' and make me some fookin' videos, Lad!!!

Max-U52 wrote:The tank looks great. Are you going to change the headlight? I might have one of those. Somewhere. You still haven't given it a flat clear-coat, have you? What made you decide to put the Balkan cross so far forward? That's a new one for me, but it does look pretty cool.

Taking video is a lot easier than you think. Hell, I do it. If you have a good tripod with smooth action you can stand next to the camera and get some good shots while running the tank, just moving the camera every few seconds. And the new stuff at youtube doesn't add much time, it's three clicks. Once you type in the title you click, "no, it ain't for kids", just click the next prompt (you don't have to do anything on that page), and click publish. I like the new stuff it does then, how it opens a page with current and previously uploaded videos and if you want to do any editing it's all right there, they even got rather accurate with the estimated upload time and uploads are faster than they used to be.

So quitchur whingin' and make me some fookin' videos, Lad!!!

There's not a flat clear-coat, as you say, Gary. I don't have a flat clear coat, currently. The weather up here changes rapidly sometimes, and so finding a quiet, warm period for spraying isn't easy.
Clear-coat requires just the right temp. Finding a few hours and days of stable conditions even for the main coats, can be a tall order sometimes.
The Balkan Kreuz decal, in that forward position, is actually from a Tamiya scheme for the Panther G. I guess it's based on an actual wartime pattern. In any event, I just liked it. Headlight? Do you think it needs one of the later shielded types? If so, I might have one somewhere. I think this is the one you mean, although this was on a StuG I snapped at the Panzer Museum, Munster If you mean the type like the one on the Tamiya Panther G, which is a shield/cover for the lamp, with a slit in it, it would be too hard to mock one up.

For the light shield, use a ping pong ball & slice a section of it out to get the curved shape, and gently cut the slit into it. Bung it on with a spot of glue, voila !!
Sand the led bulb down a bit though

Good afternoon, Roy!
The Panther is looking lethal! As far as that headlight goes, it is simplicity itself to remove the dreaded HL 'frogeye' Just use a plastic saw to cut straight down to remove the plastic ring around and the tip of the LED bulb. Sand smooth and put the slit cover on with your choice of adhesive. https://www.rctank.de/King-Tiger-headli ... -HL-Taigen ( this cover will fit the Taigen headlight or I might have a Tamiya slit cover for the KT on a parts sprue ) Let me know.
regards,
Painless