Hello from Southampton
Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 10:04 pm
Hi All.
Just thought, as suggested, that I would introduce myself. I'm new to this forum of course and indeed new to RC tanks but, like many here it seems, not at all new to RC. Frankly I am a RC refugee from the 'air' support division on this hobby and this is my first venture into RC tank ownership. I come to you, however, not entirely empty handed as I do have extensive experience in other branches of RC stretching back more than four decades now. Most recently (last 10-12 years) I have been mainly a heli builder and flyer that, like many of us, took the leap into multirotor in the last few years. I have several running projects, not least of which is a search and rescue hex build (Tarot 680Pro based) I'm presently testing. I have very many CP helis and a number of other multirotors, including my most recent addition the latest Yuneec Q500 running dual gps and 4k camera.
So why am I here? Well a very long time ago, when I was a teenager and just getting into RC and model stuff generally, I saved my pennies and bought and built a Tamiya Tiger 1. Now this was, I think, a 1/24 or 1/25 scale (certainly not the 1/16 size that appears popular these days) remote controlled scale plastic tank. It was beautifully detailed, inside and out, and I absolutely loved it. You will notice that I said it was 'remote controlled' and not radio controlled perhaps? No, this is not a mistake, this Tamiya tank was remotely controlled from a handset that had wires running to the tank. The batteries were contained in the handset and powered the electric motors housed inside the reproduction engine! The torsion bar suspension was fully working and all plastic, as were the drive sprockets, which continually broke and had to be repaired many times. It was a brilliant kit, though, and I have always had fond memories of it (strangely, I can't remember what happened to it).
So, getting old and nostalgic, I had always promised myself that one day I would see if I could find that kit again. I set about searching high and low on tinternet and could not find that old Tamiya, but what I did find is you lot, a wonderful RC tank community, and some pretty amazing RC tanks! Well, I got more than a bit interested and started doing quite a lot of research and ended up thinking "I wouldn't mind one of these, but instead of a Tiger 1 how about doing something different to what I did all them years ago?" To cut a long, and probably familiar story, short I ended up not with a Tamiya but with a Torro Professional Edition Metal King Tiger (so perhaps not so very different after all)! However, as I wanted this as a hobby project I took the step of getting the unpainted version without the wooden box (which I didn't want anyway). I am now, then, on the verge of starting my first RC tank Build and, so, here I am (yes, yes I know it's already built at the factory but I intend breaking it down, modifying, accessorizing, and re-building, etc - like every else I suppose).
Anyway, that's me introduced. Bit long-winded I know, but that's because I'm an old wind bag, he he. I'm thinking I might do a bit of a build log as I progress as I have few ideas what I would like to do and which others might find interesting. Moreover, I'm hoping all you much more experienced RC tankers will be able to keep me on the right path!
Just thought, as suggested, that I would introduce myself. I'm new to this forum of course and indeed new to RC tanks but, like many here it seems, not at all new to RC. Frankly I am a RC refugee from the 'air' support division on this hobby and this is my first venture into RC tank ownership. I come to you, however, not entirely empty handed as I do have extensive experience in other branches of RC stretching back more than four decades now. Most recently (last 10-12 years) I have been mainly a heli builder and flyer that, like many of us, took the leap into multirotor in the last few years. I have several running projects, not least of which is a search and rescue hex build (Tarot 680Pro based) I'm presently testing. I have very many CP helis and a number of other multirotors, including my most recent addition the latest Yuneec Q500 running dual gps and 4k camera.
So why am I here? Well a very long time ago, when I was a teenager and just getting into RC and model stuff generally, I saved my pennies and bought and built a Tamiya Tiger 1. Now this was, I think, a 1/24 or 1/25 scale (certainly not the 1/16 size that appears popular these days) remote controlled scale plastic tank. It was beautifully detailed, inside and out, and I absolutely loved it. You will notice that I said it was 'remote controlled' and not radio controlled perhaps? No, this is not a mistake, this Tamiya tank was remotely controlled from a handset that had wires running to the tank. The batteries were contained in the handset and powered the electric motors housed inside the reproduction engine! The torsion bar suspension was fully working and all plastic, as were the drive sprockets, which continually broke and had to be repaired many times. It was a brilliant kit, though, and I have always had fond memories of it (strangely, I can't remember what happened to it).
So, getting old and nostalgic, I had always promised myself that one day I would see if I could find that kit again. I set about searching high and low on tinternet and could not find that old Tamiya, but what I did find is you lot, a wonderful RC tank community, and some pretty amazing RC tanks! Well, I got more than a bit interested and started doing quite a lot of research and ended up thinking "I wouldn't mind one of these, but instead of a Tiger 1 how about doing something different to what I did all them years ago?" To cut a long, and probably familiar story, short I ended up not with a Tamiya but with a Torro Professional Edition Metal King Tiger (so perhaps not so very different after all)! However, as I wanted this as a hobby project I took the step of getting the unpainted version without the wooden box (which I didn't want anyway). I am now, then, on the verge of starting my first RC tank Build and, so, here I am (yes, yes I know it's already built at the factory but I intend breaking it down, modifying, accessorizing, and re-building, etc - like every else I suppose).
Anyway, that's me introduced. Bit long-winded I know, but that's because I'm an old wind bag, he he. I'm thinking I might do a bit of a build log as I progress as I have few ideas what I would like to do and which others might find interesting. Moreover, I'm hoping all you much more experienced RC tankers will be able to keep me on the right path!
DR. PHIBES????????????????? 
