Page 1 of 3

Tank for my daughter?

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2022 1:17 pm
by Lenny Warren
Hi folks,

My daughter loves my tanks, but think it's time she gets her own. She's only 7 but she is very keen, don't want to dampen the enthusiasm.

So, wondering what to get. Ideally, cheap, but something I can upgrade over time and not worry of she crashes/bashes it.

As I've got a Tiger and King Tiger, thinking it might be nice to get her a Pz III?

Any thoughts about the best/cheapest way to do this? HL or Taigen? Buy spares/repair from ebay and treat it as a fixer upper?

Am I right in saying that Taigen allow you to add your own radio and receiver?

Re: Tank for my daughter?

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2022 1:30 pm
by Kaczor
For the first tank for young lady I would reccomend Heng Long. Taigen is great but like 4 times more expensive ;) And it's heavy.

I would not recommend Tigers as they thens to loose tracks. Panzer III is good choice. Grear runner. Over time it could be upgraded (i.e tracks, wheels or even better whole Taigen metal lower hull). KV and sherman are good to.

PS. You can use own radio and receiver with Taigen you will loose one channel (machine gun).

Re: Tank for my daughter?

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2022 1:33 pm
by Lenny Warren
Kaczor wrote:For the first tank for young lady I would reccomend Heng Long. Taigen is great but like 4 times more expensive ;) And it's heavy.
I would not recommend Tigers as they thens to loose tracks. Panzer III is good choice. Grear runner. Over time it could be upgraded (i.e tracks, wheels or even better whole Taigen metal lower hull). KV and sherman are good to.
PS. You can use own radio and receiver with Taigen you will loose one channel (machine gun).
Thanks, I'm thinking either a Pz III or IV, so that it's a "baby" version of dad's tanks. :D

Re: Tank for my daughter?

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2022 2:12 pm
by jarndice
Historically Panzer 4s were often misidentified in the field by allied soldiers as Tiger1s,
Important parts such as tracks and cupolas are identical on the PZ111 and 4.
I would certainly consider the Panzer 4 as a first Tank just as a Heng Long PZ4 was mine,
The usual suggestion of swapping the ABS Hull for a metal one goes by the board when it comes to the PZ4 simply because I have yet to find a Metal PZ 4 hull that is anywhere near acceptable.
What you do need to bear in mind is that internally the Sherman/PZ 111/4 are cramped and changing the electronics can be a pain where a larger hulled Tank is not.
Good luck with your shared project it certainly is a great way of teaching basic electronics to each other :haha:

Re: Tank for my daughter?

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2022 3:31 pm
by Son of a gun-ner
I'd say Panzer 3 over a 4, because there are track adjusters available for the 3, but not the 4 (unless someone has produced some for the 4 recently).

Another tank to consider for running reliability is the Heng Long Walker Bulldog. It can take quite a bit of rough terrain punishment, including long grass, even with plastic running gear.

The early Heng Long 2.4gig was just as bad as the old crystal control system for jerky movements, not smooth at all, something to consider if you are going to purchase an old Heng Long for a child. They can get frustrated if it doesn't operate as smoothly as dad's one.

Re: Tank for my daughter?

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2022 3:37 pm
by Lenny Warren
Son of a gun-ner wrote:I'd say Panzer 3 over a 4, because there are track adjusters available for the 3, but not the 4 (unless someone has produced some for the 4 recently).
Another tank to consider for running reliability is the Heng Long Walker Bulldog. It can take quite a bit of rough terrain punishment, including long grass, even with plastic running gear.
The early Heng Long 2.4gig was just as bad as the old crystal control system for jerky movements, not smooth at all, something to consider if you are going to purchase an old Heng Long for a child. They can get frustrated if it doesn't operate as smoothly as dad's one.
Settled on Pz III, not interested in allied tanks, go figure... :D

Just wondering which one, stock seems low everywhere.

Anyone know about buying from Germany, presumably would now get import duty back in the UK?

Re: Tank for my daughter?

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2022 3:47 pm
by jarndice
Mick Track adjusters have been available for the PZ4 for years,
Certainly all my PZ4s have them,
Easy fit and very effective,
Got mine from Dom @ www.rctank.de/
Pretty sure Dave can get them for you if you need them :thumbup:

Re: Tank for my daughter?

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2022 3:52 pm
by jarndice
Lenny Warren wrote:
Son of a gun-ner wrote:I'd say Panzer 3 over a 4, because there are track adjusters available for the 3, but not the 4 (unless someone has produced some for the 4 recently).
Another tank to consider for running reliability is the Heng Long Walker Bulldog. It can take quite a bit of rough terrain punishment, including long grass, even with plastic running gear.
The early Heng Long 2.4gig was just as bad as the old crystal control system for jerky movements, not smooth at all, something to consider if you are going to purchase an old Heng Long for a child. They can get frustrated if it doesn't operate as smoothly as dad's one.
Settled on Pz III, not interested in allied tanks, go figure... :D

Just wondering which one, stock seems low everywhere.

Anyone know about buying from Germany, presumably would now get import duty back in the UK?
Last dealings I had with a German company was that it would be a minimum purchase from £160 or no deal.

Re: Tank for my daughter?

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2022 3:55 pm
by Lenny Warren
jarndice wrote:Mick Track adjusters have been available for the PZ4 for years,
Got mine from Dom @ http://www.rctank.de/
Pretty sure Dave can get them for you if you need them :thumbup:
I was looking at a PzIII on that site, trusted dealer, member here?

Re: Tank for my daughter?

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2022 3:59 pm
by Son of a gun-ner
Lenny Warren wrote:My daughter loves my tanks, but think it's time she gets her own.
Lenny Warren wrote:Settled on Pz III, not interested in allied tanks, go figure... :D
Um, who's the tank for :think: