"Would the plastic variants be strong enough ? The T62 will probably live most of its life on a shelf or on a trailer as a load but i would still like to be able to drive it onto the trailer if possible."
If you don't drive the T62 outdoors or on thick carpet, the plastic will suffice. My AFVs are similarly inactive, but I still go for the best quality I can get--within reason. It's my quirk.
"I take it most tanks are controlled by two ESCs and continuous turn servos for the turret ?"
It would be much easier to choose an "MFU" compatible with whatever transmitter you are using. If you are in the UK, then, just as jarndice recommends,
www.forgebeartanks.com is the one. If you are on the continent, you have some German retailers from among which to choose. I have used at least two of them. (However, the current political conditions make my buying from UK or EU dicey.)
"Not sure yet if I'm going with an aluminium hull or 3D printed in PLA+ ."
Metal would probably be more stable and robust." Metal might be a better choice for a modern MBT.
Here's what I would choose unless I were determined to make the T62 compatible with my own transmitter: HengLong or TongDe (seem to be the same) dedicated transmitter and TK7.0 (available as sets, not too expensive at all). HengLong true metal (not zink alloy) transmission and motors. That would give me a decent running tank at relatively low cost. Just my 2 cents worth.
