RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

G'day everyone,
I'm sure my story is not unfamiliar to most.
I'm a lifelong plastic scale modeler, primarily aircraft (see here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/164617533@N06/ ), but with the very occasional AFV thrown in for a break in the monotony. Never had much to do with RC stuff, save for a brief adventure with a Tamiya gas powered Subaru WRX, in which I found far more fun in the building, than the driving. Tamiya's other RC vehicles (Especially their Big Rigs) always held a particular allure, but, as is usually the case, their price ruled them out from being quick detours away from my usual scale models.

Fast forward 20 odd years and i see that soon to be released is the ONE truck that i knew would have me jumping the fence into the world of RC vehicles: Cross RC's CC8. (Go big or...)

The truck that kickstarted this new micro-obsession is taking forever to find its way to retailers, and whilst looking at other options to keep my interest sated, i stumbled across the world of RC tanks. Bloody Youtube algorithms! I'd seen the ENORMOUS (read: unreasonably expensive) RC tanks at model shows, and whilst they were very impressive, they weren't feasible for what will more than likely be a fun sidetrack from all the other things in life. Until 1/16th tanks came into view. A few hundred (yeah, i know, the innocence of naivety!) dollars AND i can detail and paint them? THAT seems like cheap fun!
A week long deep dive into all things RC Tanking had me perusing the selection of Henglongs, culminating in the difficult decision: which one to start with?
The Mrs. is as much as a big kid as i, and besides, I'll need someone to tank battle when the red mist descends (who needs therapy?), which meant i was going to be ordering two. Her British ancestry made a Challenger an easy pick. My selection was not so cut and dry. The list was whittled down to 2: Abrams and Tiger 1, both offering sentimental attachments, and also loads of opportunities for repaint/modification. Going back and forth over the choice didn't help sway the vote, so the responsible decision was made to get both.
The 3 tanks were ordered through Toucan, due to arrive this week. All have metal tracks/running gear/gearboxes etc. but plastic hulls. Early boxes to tick are hull strengthening and replacing the BB firing mechanisms with smoke and lighting. Plenty of other mods to make, and paint schemes have been chosen for the two modern tanks. Open to suggestion for the Tiger, the more complex a scheme, the better.

Time to learn about these things and the extended world of RC warfare, so here i am, beginning at level 1! I've grown to deplore FB and the socials, so I'm very glad to see this forum still alive and thriving, with a wealth of knowledge to be absorbed.

Cheers,
TRB

"The list was whittled down to 2: Abrams and Tiger 1...so the responsible decision was made to get both."
You are absolutely correct: it's the only responsible thing to do.

"All have metal tracks/running gear/gearboxes etc. but plastic hulls."
I almost always order just this combination. I have had no need to reinforce lower hulls because my tanks run gently and almost always indoors. I, too, mostly enjoy the modeling and painting. However, I am w-a-a-y behind on projects because the easiest thing to do is ignore basic survival needs (food, clothing, shelter) and buy more tanks and kits.

Hi and welcome aboard

Welcome aboard from central Texas. the "Texas Armor Association - Western Division" (on Facebook) is probably the most active RC tank club in Texas right now, but we meet in Killeen area which would be quite the haul for you. The HobbyTown in Waco, Texas invited us to do a battle day at their store in the near future (date yet to be determined) as they are the 2nd largest Hobbytown in the US. They do RC truck and car races in their store. They wanted to help promote RC tanks as they also carry them. If you are interested in that meet in Waco, I can let you know once the date solidifies.

Welcome from Ontario, Canada.
Three is good. Four is better! And there will be...

Mike.

Welcome along Mr Baron
Ive been to your fair City a few times.
Drove from Enid Oklahoma once, just was sick of airports!
Stopped by Texas Motor Speedway & wandered the grounds, a week after a race meet. What a statement place that was@!
Did the Kennedy Museum & stood on the infamous Knoll...................even nearly got run over standing on the road in Dealey Plaza on the cross marked on the street, just got swept up in the moment & here I was in traffic

All the other times it was drilling rigs & pipe manufacturers, so nothing really touristy.
Love Texas.

Welcome to the forum TRB from New York, not to be confused with that Old York...

Heng Long Tiger I? OK you've got my attention.

Lots of details to address with that one for more realism. But Loads more support for it than any other tank. Sounds like You're starting with likely a "Professional" model or one of their in house upgraded models that Toucan calls "Promotional". Peruse the forum there's loads of us who've done at least one and more of us who have quite an affinity for them where just one isn't enough. Myself included. There's also good reference information about Tiger I as well as links showing paint schemes.

The thing's to consider when painting Tiger I is that they were never painted with a camouflage pattern in the factory as Panthers and King Tigers were. Recent research indicates that less than 50 Tiger I's were actually painted grey/dunkelgrau. They were soon base coat painted from the factory those dark or light yellows RAL8000 and RAL7028. Their crews and support teams were issued Redbrown/Rotbraun and Olive green/Olivgrun paints to airgun spray paint their own camouflage where their unit was to see action.

So for me at least I try to take into consideration the scale 1/16 sized little man/men that painted these big cats.

Welcome again and enjoy the journey

[quote="Herr Dr. Professor"
I almost always order just this combination. I have had no need to reinforce lower hulls because my tanks run gently and almost always indoors. I, too, most enjoy the modeling and painting. However, I am w-a-a-y behind on projects because the easiest thing to do is ignore basic survival needs (food, clothing, shelter) and buy more tanks and kits.
[/quote]

I can certainly relate to the too many projects! i plan on seeing how these machines do outside, so i won't be suprised if/when i break something

Stormbringer wrote: ↑Wed Nov 05, 2025 7:34 pm Hi and welcome aboard

Thanks mate!

tankme wrote: ↑Wed Nov 05, 2025 9:17 pm Welcome aboard from central Texas.... If you are interested in that meet in Waco, I can let you know once the date solidifies.

Thanks mate! I've seen the club mentioned around a fair bit, definitely something i'll look out for in the future. I've a few methods of transport at my disposal, so nipping around central TX can normally be turned into a fun adventure, finding holes in the schedule is the difficult part Ill keep my eyes open for postings about the meet, but yes, please keep me posted!

ColemanCollector wrote: ↑Wed Nov 05, 2025 9:44 pm Welcome from Ontario, Canada.
Three is good. Four is better! And there will be...

Mike.

thanks mate!, Amazon already knows of my new interest and is dangling temptations like Jagdpanthers on special, and being only a mere mortal, yure right, it's only a matter of time....

HERMAN BIX wrote: ↑Thu Nov 06, 2025 12:22 am Stopped by Texas Motor Speedway & wandered the grounds, a week after a race meet. What a statement place that was@!
Did the Kennedy Museum & stood on the infamous Knoll...................even nearly got run over standing on the road in Dealey Plaza on the cross marked on the street, just got swept up in the moment & here I was in traffic
times it was drilling rigs & pipe manufacturers, so nothing really touristy.
Love Texas.

Cheers mate! You've seen a lot of the big ticket items here, glad you enjoyed it! Looks like you're actually in my old neck of the woods. I grew up on the GoldCoast, mucking around in the Tweed and lots of time in Murwillumbah. Ive still got a place out near Toowoomba, but made the move over here a few years back. Best decision ever, but the airport trudge can get tiresome! Funnily enough, i live around the corner from the Speedway, and whilst i haven't caught any big races, the place it's self is absolutely monumental! It makes navigating at night time fairly easy too, just head for the gigantic lights and you wont go wrong!

MrChef wrote: ↑Thu Nov 06, 2025 12:29 am Lots of details to address with that one for more realism. But Loads more support for it than any other tank. Sounds like You're starting with likely a "Professional" model or one of their in house upgraded models that Toucan calls "Promotional". Peruse the forum there's loads of us who've done at least one and more of us who have quite an affinity for them where just one isn't enough. Myself included. There's also good reference information about Tiger I as well as links showing paint schemes.

The thing's to consider when painting Tiger I is that they were never painted with a camouflage pattern in the factory as Panthers and King Tigers were. Recent research indicates that less than 50 Tiger I's were actually painted grey/dunkelgrau. They were soon base coat painted from the factory those dark or light yellows RAL8000 and RAL7028. Their crews and support teams were issued Redbrown/Rotbraun and Olive green/Olivgrun paints to airgun spray paint their own camouflage where their unit was to see action.

Thankyou mate! I think the spec i settled on is their inhouse-upgraded setup. I wanted some heft and the metalic clinkety-clink sound of metal running gear. That's exactly the sort of historical nuance that takes my attention! I'm comfortably familiar with Luftwaffe practices an materials, but know next to nothing about tanks or any land based machinery, so I'm anticipating that it'll be manageable sideways step to pick out specific machines to replicate. Im excited to grow my knowledge of them!




Thanks for the warm welcome, guys, im glad to be aboard and excited to be able to draw from all your experience and knowledge!

Cheers,
TRB

Hello and welcome from Argyll and Bute.

I saw the word Challenger, and thought. “I like this guy already”. Then I read further and saw Tiger.

Meter rat wrote: ↑Tue Nov 11, 2025 5:45 pm Hello and welcome from Argyll and Bute.

I saw the word Challenger, and thought. “I like this guy already”. Then I read further and saw Tiger.

To be honest, the only reason the Chally made the cut was that it was the only easily available British tank of any interest, though i AM looking forward to repainting it in the green and black paint scheme! Now, if a MkIV came to the mainstream market, it'd have my attention!

Cheers mate,
TRB