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Haya Chieftain: Any thoughts?

Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2023 10:51 pm
by Mithras
I’m eyeballing one of these as the basis for a simple conversion.

Is there anything I should know about the Haya Chieftain or Haya tanks in general? Keep in mind this is intended for combat, not sure if that will make a difference.

Much appreciated,
M.

Re: Haya Chieftain: Any thoughts?

Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2023 10:55 pm
by Tiger6
I have an early one, its rather sluggish and I wouldn't want to take it into combat (altho it is rather accurate in that respect at least)

That said, mine is the plastic track version which uses Heng Long M41 tracks - an important consideration when you might be driving it hard enough to break a track link and need to obtain spares...

The Haya Cent is much better, altho its only only available with metal tracks which in my personal opinion isn't as good compared with battling with plastic ones.

Re: Haya Chieftain: Any thoughts?

Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2023 11:19 pm
by Mithras
Tiger6 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2023 10:55 pm I have an early one, its rather sluggish and I wouldn't want to take it into combat (altho it is rather accurate in that respect at least)

That said, mine is the plastic track version which uses Heng Long M41 tracks - an important consideration when you might be driving it hard enough to break a track link and need to obtain spares...

The Haya Cent is much better, altho its only only available with metal tracks which in my personal opinion isn't as good compared with battling with plastic ones.
Thanks, Tiger: this is very useful feedback. If I understand correctly, are you saying you believe that plastic tracks are preferable for combat use?

Re: Haya Chieftain: Any thoughts?

Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2023 11:27 pm
by Tiger6
Less weight is better for agility. Plastic tracks break easier - but the way I look at it, something will always break, and standard HL track links are cheap.

The alternative is that you spend a small fortune playing 'whack-a-mole' with all of the electronic and mechanical parts - I've seen people do it, and if getting a competative advantage at somewhere like Danville is important to you, then you can go down the rabbit hole of custom machined gearboxes, reinforced chassis and upgraded idlers.

That said - if you are the only one in your group who does that then you might soon not have much of a group left! Once everyone else figures out that you have spent more money on your tank than they willing or able to, they will all walk away because its not fun getting kicked down the street by somebody who can afford to bring an F1 car to a street race...

Re: Haya Chieftain: Any thoughts?

Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2023 12:38 am
by HERMAN BIX
Another key point is when these things are not being used, they all look the same sitting on a shelf!

Re: Haya Chieftain: Any thoughts?

Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2023 2:57 am
by Mithras
HERMAN BIX wrote: ↑Sun Dec 17, 2023 12:38 am Another key point is when these things are not being used, they all look the same sitting on a shelf!

True!

Re: Haya Chieftain: Any thoughts?

Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2023 8:33 am
by tankme
Tiger6 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2023 11:27 pm Less weight is better for agility. Plastic tracks break easier - but the way I look at it, something will always break, and standard HL track links are cheap.

The alternative is that you spend a small fortune playing 'whack-a-mole' with all of the electronic and mechanical parts - I've seen people do it, and if getting a competative advantage at somewhere like Danville is important to you, then you can go down the rabbit hole of custom machined gearboxes, reinforced chassis and upgraded idlers.

That said - if you are the only one in your group who does that then you might soon not have much of a group left! Once everyone else figures out that you have spent more money on your tank than they willing or able to, they will all walk away because its not fun getting kicked down the street by somebody who can afford to bring an F1 car to a street race...
Unfortunately Danville is now closed, but hopefully another battlefield will replace it in Fairfax. Frankly, there are those with unlimited funds in every hobby. When I went out to do some competative shooting I was there with my $650 gun and there were guys with $6000 guns. Autocross is full of Miatas and people who spend $100,000 on cars. They all have fun. If someone gets but hurt about another person spending money on something they love, they just need to get over it. :) It's not like the are winning big money in tank battles. :crazy:

Re: Haya Chieftain: Any thoughts?

Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2023 3:18 pm
by Tiger6
I think you misunderstood my point, Derek. In both of your examples, you are still able to participate with the goal of beating your previous best performance, irrespective of how anyone else does.

But, if your tank is so much better than enybody elses to the point where they are constantly getting knocked out early and its just you and the next most mobile tank chasing each other around for the majority of the game, then they aren't participating so much as spectating.

When Danville held their 'Hardcore' weekend events for the guys with the heavily modified tanks, they had enough people to make this viable and they went to great pains to make it known that if you weren't already part of that crowd, you were unlikely to enjoy yourself.

(A few of us on here know someone who took this to the next level, threw the rule book out of the window, built a German heavy tank that drove like a CVR(t), and proceded to rub everyone elses noses in it while he mopped the floor with them <- nobody likes that guy)

Re: Haya Chieftain: Any thoughts?

Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2023 6:00 pm
by tomhugill
Tiger6 wrote:I think you misunderstood my point, Derek. In both of your examples, you are still able to participate with the goal of beating your previous best performance, irrespective of how anyone else does.

But, if your tank is so much better than enybody elses to the point where they are constantly getting knocked out early and its just you and the next most mobile tank chasing each other around for the majority of the game, then they aren't participating so much as spectating.

When Danville held their 'Hardcore' weekend events for the guys with the heavily modified tanks, they had enough people to make this viable and they went to great pains to make it known that if you weren't already part of that crowd, you were unlikely to enjoy yourself.

(A few of us on here know someone who took this to the next level, threw the rule book out of the window, built a German heavy tank that drove like a CVT(t), and proceded to rub everyone elses noses in it while he mopped the floor with them <- nobody likes that guy)
Was this in the states or down south? I've been party to the later a couple times Image

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Re: Haya Chieftain: Any thoughts?

Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2023 6:07 pm
by Tiger6
Nobody I knew had a problem with playing by the 'established rules' in the US... :shh: