What cheap modern tank is best for future upgrades?

[lifeofbrian]

I've just got the tank bug after being away for a year or so and would like a modern tank, it would have to be a Taigen/Heng Long as I have a few other projects on the go and money is short.

The T90 looks really nice, but the Challenger 2 would be amazing, and of course the Abrams with a IBU board would be sweet to have that turbine sound. But apart from the electronics that will fit all tanks, is there a particular tank that has loads of upgrades available?

It seems that the modern tanks don't have anywhere near the addons that the WWII tanks have, but I've had two of them.

I will probably just keep it stock for a bit and maybe just weather/paint it, but it would be great to go all the way and have loads of upgrades, functional and cosmetic.

Another though I had was just buying the hull and turret(if possible and cheap enough) then adding all the upgrades to that, rather than spending £170 odd on a tank only to not use most of it anyway.

Oh what to do(first world problems).

[Son of a gun-ner]

Hello he who is not the messiah.

Personally, I would purchase the whole tank as it is easier to find as a whole. Then I would run it to make sure there are no problems with manufacture of the chassis and running gear, unless you are going to completely start afresh with add on running gear.
Anyway, after testing or not, then you can sell the electronics to someone who has a few tanks that still have the old 27meg crystal electronics and would gladly have a newer 2.4gig set up

I know that someone sells the metal chassis for a leopard 2A6, but I don't know if there is similar sold for the Abrahams and Challengers.

And lastly, sorry I'm guessing here, but I have a feeling there may be more add on bits and extras on the market for the Abrahams than other modern armour, but I'm not 100% sure if I'm right.

Mick.

[Pak36]

Personally...I went for a tank I really like....because it just made more sense to do it that way. As long as you can get the essentials, you woulkd be able to do what you wanted to do.

I also bought a complete tank that I could run around a bit and get a feel for before I started working on improvements.

For me...I wanted a Panzer III. I just like them as a shape, and I was never a 'bigger is better' kind of guy. Then I improved the running gear for robustness and fitted lower ratio gearboxes to get the speed more scale. Most everything else I have done has been scratchbuild or adapting other bits. I decided I wanted to convert it to my favourite version, the Ausf N ... with a short barrel 75mm...Not parts you can just buy...but with a bit of creativity...much can be achieved.

So....really...choose the tank you like best...and work from there. If something is going to absorb time and money, you have got to want the end product for what it is.

[General Jumbo01]

The latest (v5.3 system) HengLong Leopard tank does come with the correct sound files for the Leopard, which is powered by a V12 turbo. It sounds impressive and includes a turbo dump as you stop from speed. Less important if you plan to fit an upgrade MFU.

If you really want a modern type that can be customised then the latest Abrahams must be a candidate as so many variants exist with a real cluster of specialist bits littering the turret. A good choice if you like scratch building parts.

[spongehoobtank82]

If you want the most available upgrades for a modern tank at a reasonable cost you can't go wrong with a heng long leopard 2A6, challenger/abrams/T-90 all have a fair few upgrades available but alot are from the likes of Dklm and there going to cost, I know my leopard 2 cost alot less to upgrade than my chally! Hope that's some help to you dude and on a bonus note the leopard hulls alot more spacious than the chally or T-90

[Lert]

Heng Long Sherman is a good, reliable runner, and there's a ton of stuff available for it, but it's a tight fit inside.

Heng Long Panzer IV has even more stuff available for it and more space inside, but it's an older model and has a lot of visual errors.

I'd agree with their Leopard 2A6. Good mix of a decent runner, lots of space inside, third-party mods available, and affordable. My main problem with the Leopard 2A6 though is that it just doesn't feel fast enough. Since it's using standard HL gearboxes and a large turret ring traverse ring it just doesn't feel as responsive as a modern 1500 hp beast should.

[Son of a gun-ner]

Heng Long Sherman is a good, reliable runner, and there's a ton of stuff available for it, but it's a tight fit inside.

Heng Long Panzer IV has even more stuff available for it and more space inside, but it's an older model and has a lot of visual errors.

What cheap MODERN tank is best for future upgrades?

[Lert]

What cheap MODERN tank is best for future upgrades?

Sherman and Pz IV are modern tanks. >.>

[Son of a gun-ner]

That's cheating

Hold on, they aren't tanks, they are troop carriers

[Lert]

Hold on, they aren't tanks, they are troop carriers

Ok, how about this?