Thanks Doc, and Brett. Well, re: the Teac deck, the main drive belt had turned to black goo, but I sourced a replacement from a tapehead in the US. (There's actually a fanbase for reel-to-reel users: reel-to-reel.com, for those preferring to record with tape rather than a DAW...digital audio workstation). 'Rebuild' involves removing and renovating (greasing in some cases) removable parts, like the pinch roller for instance; checking every connection for solder failures, and for blackened transistors etc. A surprising number of new parts are still available out there, even after half a century.

I guess it's the same with tanks to some extent, (except this deck has four tracks, Doc, not two). There's an even a sort of breaker's yard though the 'net (including eBay) where whole machines are sold for parts.

Here's the 1970s patient, lurking behind my (unfinished but functional) Tamiya Tiger 1.
I've actually go it working!.
As for the speedy Scorpion theme, I'm wondering whether the Ukrainians, who seem to make excellent use of reconnaissance teams, might find the current German Wiesel to be a modern alternative....
(Wiesel = English: weasel). I'me thinking of updating my Taigen Tiger 1 (late Production model) and finally painting the Tamiya Tiger
"Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please"- Mark Twain.