Hi and can anyone offer advise

[hawkeye3guns]

Hi found this site on the net after talking to some model tankers resently. I have been a RC Scale Scratch built modellor for years now mainly the unusual subjects ie. one off's or very limited build numbers.
Some of my previouse models was a 6' U class submarine "type 4" (only 6 was ever made)the model was all fully working ie. submerged periscopes raised/lowered working torpedoe tubes.
1/10 scale DUKW ( now a kit from Deans marine) 6 wheel drive fully amphibuous)
these were my best models.
At present I am working on a Alvis Stalwart !/10 scale and also on aTank landing craft hence my intrest in working Tanks
About 3 years ago I bought 3 Heng long Tanks ( Tiger , Panther, and a Walter Bulldog ) all are Smoke and sound models with these models I started drawing and scaling my plans for the landing craft and also having fun with the grankids with tanks.
THE PROBLEM ?
Just recently all tanks still work fine in all aspects EXCEPT the operating Range
the tiger has dropped to approx 4m and also the Panther the same and the walter bulldog the range has dropped to 1-2 metres only have changed the batteries and also checked for dry joints in the tanks and the transmitters can any one sugest anything else ? my model shop just wants me to buy a new tank
Cheers Denzil

[STEINER]

I wonder if it could be the crystals ? or interference with the signal. Rather than change tanks, you could start at the crystals ( You said you checked your batteries ) If you do need to replace some of the electrics, you can find plenty of reasonably priced main boards/sound/rx/ units from some very good vendors on here.
Your the first person I have heard that has lost range across a collection of HL Tanks.

Welcome to the Forum

STEINER.

[xrad]

where were the models stored? Hot and cold cycles will affect the tuning coils on the receiver or transmitters (like a radio that goes out of tune)

Pick up a new rx and tx for 35$ and some new batteries and see what happens

[971wright]

Hi First check the ariel make sure it hasnt come away inside the tank ,there is a lead from the the ariel on the upper part of the tank to the receiver board inside ,this sometimes comes off and gives very short range,the other one is inside the transmitter which does the same comes off the bottom of the ariel this is happens when the ariel spins and dosnt lock down.
Give it a try also try swopping the crystals around from the tank that works well this may show up which to look at .

regards pete

[hawkeye3guns]

Thanks for the advice I'll check the ariel leads I have tried changing crystalls with no effect. The models are stored in my study when not in use about 18 degrees since i have had them. I know that some of my old 27 meg radio gear had to be looked at due to lack of range and twitching of the servo's but this is over thirty years old now.
Is there a particular board I need to get or look ?
thanks Denzil

[xrad]

I think Chinese radio gear ages faster than say Futaba gear. So that means 3 Heng Long years equals something like 30 real years....

[jrc]

I think Chinese radio gear ages faster than say Futaba gear. So that means 3 Heng Long years equals something like 30 real years....

are you serious

[xrad]

Hmmmm, how should I handle this.....30years??

YES, absolutely pure 100% malarkey!



But on a more serious note: The solder joints and microchips are really not as well done and can oxidize more quickly than a well made electronic device leading to poor conncections and poor function. So there is a small amount of truth in the statement...I just don't know how much.

[hawkeye3guns]

Hi thanks for the reply's but seriously I have read on your forum about RX13, RX14, and RX18? what are these boards and what board should I be looking for ? As to my old Futarbo medallion gear I brought it new in 1974 and apart from new batteries and this chap that charged me £30 for what ever he did to it. It is still working like new
regards denzil

[xrad]

Go for the rx 18. Cheap and works well. It has a built in motor driver board to hook up the L and R motors, will run the gun flash, turret movement, gun elevation, and sound and IR. All the parts for it are cheap and easy to get.

You also need the Radio receiver board. this plugs into the rx18 and has a changeable crystal so you can pick one of 3 HL channels. You will also need an HL hand transmitter (25$) which obviously transmitts your wishes to the tank.

You can purchase the whole transmitter radio/reveiver /speaker setup for about 60$
(almost cheaper to buy youself a new tank WITH IR (99$) and strip out what you need, then resell the leftovers on ebay)

If you have another system besides HL, such as Futaba, I don not yet know how to interface the servo controller/receiver to the HL rx18 unit. Maybe Elmod company has something....

Or, you could buy aftermarket controllers for the tank motion from robot supply companies

Or, you could buy the Tamiya tank control systems which are compatible with radios like Futaba (lots of $)