RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Hi, I've searched through and looked at countless resellers and upgraders but cant find definitive answer to the following questions it's all ambiguos. Please if you can help
1. The latest stock HL tanks with metal gears etc. are these gearbox's 3:1 reduction, slightly reduced compared to plastic or just a metal version of the plastic ones?
2. HL Panzer IV F2, is there a 3:1 reduction gearbox for this tank, and does the plastic hull with metal suspension cope with metal gears, tracks, wheels etc.
3.Elmod eco, if it is connected to the RX18 via adaptor, what functions does the elmod loose? and can you still use 3rd party radio with this config.?
4.Can you connect the HL battle system direct to the elmod eco? I'm sure this is no, but elmod web site looks virused so can't get info off there.

The reason I ask the last two is that I'm severely disabled and have some adapted futuba radio gear, which I used on a Tamiya king tiger I had from the early nineties, which my wife banished to the garage a few years ago and got stolen ;-(-still have radio gear though, so easier to avoid converting HL controller. I've got my son a modified IR HL Tiger-don't trust him with BB lol- and I'm looking to get one just to battle in the garden with him, which is quite large. Fancied a Panzer IV, as I don't really fancy any of the allied tanks, and didn't want another Tiger really, although there are plenty pre done upgraded ones about,which would be easier. Any suggestions welcome

thanks

Nick

hi nick
i can tell you some of this
heng long tanks most come with rx18 but older stock may not not all the tanks come with white metal zinc gears so you have to ask they are not 3/1 you can upgrade to asaitam or mato brass gears your choice same on the p4 tank as well ir tanks made by heng long are the stug /panther g /jagdpanther /panzer 1v you can mod any of the tanks to ir as for the elmod thats not my field wibby wobbley is the man for that hope this is of some help dave

Hi, thanks for clearing that up, it's as I thought, all other variants out there are reseller modded tanks. Which 3:1 gearbox fits the panzer IV, looked everywhere and can't find one quoting it fits the p IV, or do you have to drill new fixing points in the p IV to make those fit?

nicktank wrote: 4.Elmod eco, if it is connected to the RX18 via adaptor, what functions does the elmod loose? and can you still use 3rd party radio with this config.?
5.Can you connect the HL battle system direct to the elmod eco? I'm sure this is no, but elmod web site looks virused so can't get info off there.

The reason I ask the last two is that I'm severely disabled and have some adapted futuba radio gear, which I used on a Tamiya king tiger I had from the early nineties, which my wife banished to the garage a few years ago and got stolen ;-(-still have radio gear though, so easier to avoid converting HL controller. I've got my son a modified IR HL Tiger-don't trust him with BB lol- and I'm looking to get one just to battle in the garden with him, which is quite large. Fancied a Panzer IV, as I don't really fancy any of the allied tanks, and didn't want another Tiger really, although there are plenty pre done upgraded ones about,which would be easier. Any suggestions welcome

thanks

Nick

4. If you have a non-HL tx then don't bother getting the HL interface board for an Elmod set up. The interface can be glitchy, and if you have another tx (or the Hobby Planet 2.4ghz is about £50?) then you are throwing money away on something that you don't need at all, and which will be worse then buying another tx anyway. In short, sell the RX18, receiver board, speaker, and get some cash to spend on other upgrades....however...

5. You cannot use the HL battle system with an Elmod. Elmod is Tamiya compatible, HL isn't. The HL system is very basic, and whilst ok for HL>HL tank battling, it will not work with any Tamiya type system. If you wanted to cut costs, keep the RX18, and buy a Darkith unit, as these are Tamiya compatible, and don't cost as much as an Elmod system (though you won't get the sound enhancements that the Elmod will give you)....however...

Reading your final paragraph, you should be aware that if you want to battle with your son's Tiger, and his is an HL IR system, then you will have to retain the standard HL IR system in the Panzer IV. Otherwise neither of you will be able to battle with each other. You will either have to make both tanks Tamiya compatible, or leave them both as HL systems.

I hope that this makes sense!

Rob G

Hi, thanks for that. I knew the HL ir system is non compatible with others, but wondered if stock HL ir plugged in the elmod, I thought it wouldn't and you confirmed it thanks.
Do you know the approx. range of the HL system at all, or the emitter wavelength and if it is regulated? My Brother designs electronic stuff, a lot of experience with IR, but lives miles away and very busy sadly. If I can tell him these things he can build my son some static targets to mess with.
I appreciate it's a simple system, ideally I'd like an elmod in my tank and put a darketh-I read they were no longer available?- in the boys, but can't really justify the cost at the moment-to the lady of the house, or myself I guess -for just messing in the garden right now. Probably upgrade both to darketh at sometime in the future, if it's still available. I need to decide what tank to opt for first, I know the spec I want it's finding the best/cheapest way to achieve it as to which tank I'll finally opt for.

thanks again

nick

nicktank wrote:Hi, thanks for clearing that up, it's as I thought, all other variants out there are reseller modded tanks. Which 3:1 gearbox fits the panzer IV, looked everywhere and can't find one quoting it fits the p IV, or do you have to drill new fixing points in the p IV to make those fit?

rctank.de will have the 3/1 that will go in your p4 thanks dave

nicktank wrote:Do you know the approx. range of the HL system at all, or the emitter wavelength and if it is regulated? My Brother designs electronic stuff, a lot of experience with IR, but lives miles away and very busy sadly. If I can tell him these things he can build my son some static targets to mess with.
I appreciate it's a simple system, ideally I'd like an elmod in my tank and put a darketh-I read they were no longer available?- in the boys, but can't really justify the cost at the moment-to the lady of the house, or myself I guess -for just messing in the garden right now. Probably upgrade both to darketh at sometime in the future, if it's still available. I need to decide what tank to opt for first, I know the spec I want it's finding the best/cheapest way to achieve it as to which tank I'll finally opt for.

thanks again

nick

I have used an HL system up to about 25/30 feet, but haven't tried one further than that, someone else may have more info on range.

As regards the wavelength, this is the bit that causes the incompatibility. Tamiya compatible IR emitters are in the 940nm range ( I think, as are Elmod & Darkith). HL are (I think) 840nm. An HL tank will detect a hit from a Tamiya etc, but it won't work when an HL hits a Tamiya.

I hope that this helps.

Rob G