Panzer III Heng long Asiatam rebuild:

[xrad]

Hello everyone: I am new here, but not to modeling. Real happy to have found Heng long almost scale tanks to work on for less money than Tamiya.

So here is my recent project. You have probably seen a dozen but here is another. I bought a HL panzer III , uprgaded to metal tracks, Asiatam full metal hull, metal wheels with rubber edges, low HL gears(very nice for this tank...MUCH power...no problems on grass), removed 13rx and replaced with rx18, metal machine gun with led wired into positon 6+8 on HL harness. Kept the airsof metal barrel, like th way it looks. Replaced all Asiatam screws with countersunk allen  head bolts and nuts, looks much better.  Filled the holes with green squadron putty, painted cammo sand, dirty cammo sand, and final coat cammo sand. Then weathered with red and brown earth.  Just started on the details........pics to follow

[Matdragon]

Hi xrad and firstly welcome to rctankwarfare!

thats one very nice Panzer III you have, and very heavily upgraded, great job!

cheers,

Matt

[Plastic scouser]

Welcome to the forum Xrad  Nice work on the Panzer III so far, looking forward to seeing the finished article.

Cheers Ian

[Wight]

Very nice indeed.
I am thinking of getting a metal hull for my Stug 3 also.
Looking at your one it looks like a very nice piece of kit indeed.Is it a good improvement on the suspension with the torsion bars?

Cheers.
Steve.

[xrad]

Thanks for the compliments Fellas!

But i have to say the same to you. I really love this web site. You have everything well organized. I was especially looking for specific section dealing w/ HL upgrades and found it ONLY here!

As far as the Asiatam hull, it is VERY well made. Once I updated the screws , all was well. The only fault is that the press on road wheels have no bearings, and the outside halves tend to come loose after a while. Recommend running around driveway first before off road so you don't loose anything (ask how I know this).

Use very little CA to glue on outer half so the wheel still turns freely. Axle held to control arm by small grub screw, I used touch of locktite after fitting everything. Also, i filed small flat spot on axle for grub screw to fit on.  The shocks are very stiff, but not too stif. It actuall lurches on start up and on slow down like real tank.  If you take it all apart to paint, note that the front and rear shocks have different strength springs, and I put the stiffer ones up front.

Here are some more pics. small details like exhaust still being worked on.

[Matdragon]

nice work looks real good ! well done!

Matt

[xrad]

Thanks Matt! Anyone know where to get idividual Asiatam PanzerIII spare parts like control arms?

I was able to find a set of spare road wheels with mounts.

[wheels]

Hi xrad,

Looks really good! I have just purchased the same metal chassis.

How easy was it to convert to a RX18 unit? And did you have any other problems with the build?

cheers

Phil

[xrad]

Real easy, just need to wire up the motors and led and volume control and power switch.

Be sure to buy the RX18 with full infrared option because this comes with more cables and connectors.

be real careful how you plug things in so you don't screw up your rx18.

test motors for directionality with remote before final soldering and heat shrink.

[[ICE]monkey]

looking good , i had bought all the metalwork ,wheels /arms/idlers for my pIII, then they bring this out dohhh
all the best, ice