RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Wasn't really sure where to put this as it is not a true build but I wanted to bring to the attention of the board some serious shortcomings with the Torro model. Don't get me wrong I love it and it just completed it's first outdoor run successfully today.

While the people who bought it when it first came out seemed to be worried about the tracks being a potential weak point I have found a really shoddy assembly/parts material/design issue. When I first got the vehicle everything seemed to be very good and the initial plan was to do some modifications by installing a Clark board so it could take and receive IR hits and also to install the Das Werk PAK40 cannon. However while handling it gently the first day the rearmost bogie just fell off taking the track and next 2 rear bogies with it. It was a potential disaster as the rearmost bogie is the only one with a roller bearing installed rather than just sitting on a plastic race on the suspension arm.

The suspension arms seem to be made out of the same type of plastic you would get on a sprue. So starting with this weak plastic at the factory they have driven sharp pointed screws in to attach the reamost bogie together. What has happened is they have basically caused the plastic to become brittle and literally falls apart like a rotten tooth. I managed to find all 4 pieces that had fallen off and re assembled them and JB Weld-ed them back in place so that crisis was solved. However I then noticed the second from rear bogie was sliding out on the suspension arm from the hole it passes through in the hull. I then took the underside plate off. They had driven these same type of pointed screws in so tight that it had over-stressed the plastic and as soon as I started to unscrew them the plate broke around each screw hole and right across. Well that could be easily dealt with.

However what could not be easily dealt with is again they had driven screws from the inside arm to join the outer suspension arm and to have like 0'5mm of the screw point to sort of fit into the hole in the rear of the double bogie and this had failed from brittleness again only this time inside the hole in the hull so there was no way to join it as it was a shattered mess so I had to glue that arm in it's resting position and is now non functional suspension wise. Now the single bogie. The single bogies are not even attached at all. They sit on this weak plastic race and are held in place by the guide horns and double bogie. All the suspension arms are the same it just that fortunately they didn't drive a screw through the hole on the ones with the single bogies. It's an unbelievably cheap way to do something on a model that in all other ways is actually really good and I hope these sell enough that someone will come out with a set of metal suspension arms and bogies with roller bearings. But just a heads up. Here is a pic of the single bogie race and bogie sitting on drive sprockets and also the cracking on the underside plate. I didn't have a chance to get images of the more serious issues on the rear and second rear bogie

I will say as long as it isn't driven hard and stupidly it seems to hold up well on our field judging by my initial 30 minute outdoor driving test. Still lots to do on it but I really like it other than the shortcomings in my first post. The left side bogies were the ones I had the issues with and they held up fine just that the one arm doesn't move up or down any more. The steering works well with the big rubber tires and I do like the way you can keep the speed realistic on the controller

great looking model but a shame they botched it up
last thing you want enjoying driving it is worrying if it will break

Stormbringer wrote: ↑Sat Oct 04, 2025 1:58 am last thing you want enjoying driving it is worrying if it will break

Like an English automobile?

Tremendous looking 251, and I agree, it's a shame for the shortcomings. My hope is that the aftermarket comes up with a reasonable solution.

I'd still roll in anyones to get hold of one.....................

Unfortunately, production quality does seem to be a problem. My 251 came straight from Torro with no damage to either the outer carton or inner display box. Yet the model had a broken front steering knuckle on the side hidden toward the inside of the box. Torro quickly sent me a replacement front axle assembly ( ). I replaced front axle assembly without too much trouble. I glued the broken front spindle back together, painted the front axle assembly, and its part of the load in my static FAMO.

Hi all,

I've used this chassis base from asiatam.de for my 251 build along with the trumpeter kit for the rest.
It's not the cheapest solution but it should be strong enough to stand up to the rigors of outdoor use

Cheers, Lee

Sent from my SM-S921B using Tapatalk

Hi Martin.
Too bad you had these issues with your Halbkette!
I took mine apart as soon as I got it last March, trying to loosen the tracks.
A member on a German Forum tried the same, he wrote the tracks were thrown off outdoors, so I took it all apart again and now I run it the way it was.
Found no issues on mine, so maybe you just had some bad luck and received a Monday Morning Model?
Nice pics Marty, very nice!
Rob.

I have a Torro M16 half track and the quality and build are some of the best I have seen in any r/c model.
Surprised that this halftrack is so disappointing
My Hanomag 251 was printed and built for me by Cath and Will and the build is as good as they come.
Glad I bought it instead of the Torro.