RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

I really am doing my best to personalise my first ever tank and with the help of my experienced mate the results are starting to show. However, the cheap and nasty black tubes on the back attached to the exhausts are a right pain. Can anybody please suggest replacement ideas or a way of painting them, bearing in mind they have to bend to get access to the lower hull.
Thank you.
John.

JOHN Hi, If you scroll down to "TIPS & TRICKS" then go to SUB-PAGE 3 and down to
"BRAID SLEEVES FOR INTAKE PIPES."
You will get all the information you need BUT do read all the entries to get the best advise.
shaun.

JOHN I assume your TAIGEN Tiger 1 has a quick release body? If you go to-
www.first4magnets.com
you will see a range of NEODYMION MAGNETS of every shape and size.
I put a 7mm X 5mm N35 magnet in the intake pipe, just far enough to get a dress makers pin behind it and in front that stops it pulling out and going in to far,
The plastic pipe that comes out of the FEIFAL AIR CLEANER has a round tip on the end that fits in the intake pipe, CUT that tip off and Superglue another magnet in place of the tip,
Before you glue the magnet in place do make sure it is the right way round!! You need it to attract NOT REJECT!
You now have a pipe that stays in place but swings away when you need to take the body off,
You might need to trim the plastic pipe a little to get the two pipes touching but not overlapping repeat with the other three pipes.
The Part Number for the magnets is -FO75-N35.
shaun.

Especially considering that the real pipes were not braided.

David

To go slightly off topic, I have a Tamiya Tiger 1, which came with braided pipe. It is possible to get more accurate pipes that will fit, bearing in mind that to get access to the work, it is just the top deck that comes off?

Richard, "ABER" make an inlet pipe PE kit but in common with a lot of their products while being supremely accurate there is just too much work involved and body release from the hull is not improved,
If I were building a shelf queen I would use the "ABER" kit but not on a working Tank.
DAVID is of course correct in his observations BUT from a purely practical point of view a plastic pipe with a braided cover does the job for me, most especially when using magnets to connect the inlet pipes to the air cleaners.
This allow you to flip the connecting pipes away from the inlet pipes when you wish to separate the Tank body from the hull and yet will remain firmly in position when every thing is locked down.
shaun.

I used sand paper to scuff them with a rotating motion. They came out grey in color. No painting required.

I of all the members on the Forum do not have the right to ask but could you put up a photograph?
shaun

Thank you all for the excellent advice. I will follow up all the leads and suggestions.
Here is my beast. Please bare in mind it's my first attempt.