RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

-I bought the non smoke and sound kt from hobbytron. I didn't even know they made that I just assumed they all had it. Anyway this one came with the tk01 board. The older one with everything soldered. It lasted maybe one hours use until it quit turning...would go straight but not turn!
I sent away for the parts both old style and rx18, and a transmitter for rx18, and haven't got them yet.

Anyway my questions, is the tx18 (rx18) just as prone to burn up fast? If I switch to it can I look forward to more then an hours use, how long can they go?
Does adding the fan to the board really help? And where is the air supposed to go?
Is it wise to drill ventilation holes in the floor or just locate the board under the hull grill openings?

And how about the 2.4 ghz upgrade you can get.. is there any advantage to that? And where do you hide that ugly receiver? I have found this tank a little problematic I was actuality thinking of just buying another one smoke and sound just to get the rx18 ..for all I've spent on it I'd probably be dollars ahead!

Anyway anyone that knows these electronics I'm asking for help please...how do I upgrade from the tk01 to the tx18? I won't be using the smok e and sound at least not until I get the tank running reliably, that's my only goal right now...

hi marc,
are all your connections soldered on?
i've been lucky enough to only buy one tank with out an rx18 so far.
it had smoke & sound so i presumed it would have...... wrong.
it had an rx 14 which has plugs except for the motors & receiver.
the tank would run for a while & just shut down.
i've replaced EVERYTHING & it still runs when it feels like it.
we call it possessed
make sure you get an rx18 cable kit & it's pretty straight foward.
just look in the heng long electronics section for all you need to know.
apart from "the possessed" one, i've never had a problem with an rx18 board in two years of moderate use
i have had a couple of receiver failures after they got damp.
the sound is not quite as good as the rx 14 imo
although very similar.
i would say, fit the rx 18
their pretty robust.
good luck
lister

oh, i don't have any fans or vents in mine.
they aint exactly water tight & don't get all that hot.
as for the 2.4 ghz one.
apart from the better range, there not much of an improvement.
the rx 18 is the cheapest option, if your thinking 2.4, buy a better board
cheers

Thanks for the helpful info folks...that tk01 never worked 100% even when brand new...on turns it would hesitate and make an ominous Humm sound from the get go. If you hit the 10 o clock 2 o clock positions with the lever it would turn using both tracks like it's supposed to but full left/right turn it would always balk. I guess now, it was a sign that those parts were going to fail and fail they did...
The parts are on the way harness, transmitter for s and s, two of the crummy tk01 and 18 and receiver board..I swear I should have just bought another proper tank instead for all that. Expensive lesson but one I'll never forget.