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Questions from a naive newbie!

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 5:10 pm
by drivelhead
Hey guys. New to the rc tank interest and currently in the process of choosing my first tank! Really want to start off with a panther! I think i'll go for the heng long panther just to start. Any pros or cons to these tanks? Also... i know that most shoot BBs and can have sound and smoke, but are there any tanks that take any other ammunition/caps/very small firework type explosives?! Or can you do mods to tanks to allow this!? Apologies if this is a very stupid thing to ask. I'm just day dreaming about something more fun than small yellow plastic pellets!
Thank you in advance!

A Tank Girl Wannabe! :S :D

Re: Questions from a naive newbie!

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 5:27 pm
by sparks
Hi, I only have Tamiya tanks, but from what I read on the forum, Heng Long are a good introduction to RC tanks nd there's plenty of upgrades and mods for them.
I should'nt think there is anything commercially available in 1/16 that fires anything else. I know you can get 1/6th scale that fire blanks, and I have a Tam King Tiger thats got a converted gas powerd gun inside that fires metal ball bearings, but thats probably illegal if taken out :crazy:

Re: Questions from a naive newbie!

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 6:04 pm
by Nic.H
Hi, the heng long panther is a great little tank...(i how ever, have decided that i will try and make mine an 1/16 mirror image of the real thing!....i think i have tank ocd!.)........you will find that if you do get a panther, or tiger or any other tank, you will want to put metal tracks and i would definitely go for 3:1 reduction gears....more money, but well worth the effort......on the other hand, i have a heng long pz3 non smoke and sound, two years old now, and all plastic gears and tracks, its a great little run around .never had to replace anything on it....tho it has lost a tooth or two....but runs fine...


it really depends on what you want from it..

Nic.......(tank ocd sufferer)

Re: Questions from a naive newbie!

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 6:16 pm
by drivelhead
I suppose my first tank would be a bit of a trial and error sort of machine! I'm very much interested in doing modifications to enhance performance. I'd like to come to some events with a tank eventually, but i think the panther is going to be a not too serious starter one for me. I fell in love with the panthers after watching Tank Overhaul! It was very very emotional! Thank you for all the help so far everyone! Oh, and also... I hope no one finds my current lack of tank knowledge too offensive! Bear with me! :)

Re: Questions from a naive newbie!

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 6:35 pm
by [ICE]monkey
hi, just make sure you get the new hl panther and not the old pantiger , no question is stupid , we all had to start from scratch,
regards, ice

Re: Questions from a naive newbie!

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 7:23 pm
by Nic.H
Hi again..............as ice has said.......its a, a...dedication thing, do you want a run around, or re- create a small version of a real tank...and go for detail...on here you have access to a load of people who are amazing when it comes to knowledge of tanks...i watch everyone elses and copy!.....

Nic

Re: Questions from a naive newbie!

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 7:35 pm
by Nic.H
oh yeah....to quote fynsdad..Remember..... It's just a plastic tank. :)

Re: Questions from a naive newbie!

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 8:39 pm
by tankmad
Hi welcome to the forum as ice has said make sure its the newer version panther you get not the one with the silver sprocket but the one that says panther G .
Stevie

Re: Questions from a naive newbie!

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 11:53 am
by forgebear
hi there. my suggestion would be as follows. speaking as a vendor who often gets queries about tanks bought from other people, i would suggest you make sure you ask the following questions:
is it smoke and sound?
does it have the rx18 board?
does it have metal gears or plastic?
is it bb or infra red?
any discount mate?! (well it's always worth trying)
you might think this is me being snotty about other vendors, but honestly i had a bloke on the phone last week saying he had got tank off ebay and it was infra red and bb. the bloke who sold it said he could switch it between the two! i advised him to send it back!
you do need to be aware that some vendors can be a bit sneaky and i do think some of them just buy in bulk and sell them, having no idea about the item they sell.
hope this helps and if you want some advice please give me a call. it doesn't mean you have to buy from me at all and i promise not to sulk if you buy elsewhere! it helps to have a chat through i think sometimes. my number is on the advert banner at the top of the forum under forgebear
cheers
dave :wave: :thumbup:

Re: Questions from a naive newbie!

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 12:30 pm
by wibblywobbly
'tis true, the only stupid question is the one that you don't ask. Fire away, asking questions will save you no end of time, money and frustration.

Rob G