Upgrade Paths, Explained

[Sappo]

Just a little question, would the 5.3 mfu handle the extra power of the red motors

[mshagg]

Are there any operational advantages to metal tracks besides looking cool and making the tank heavier?

On face value they're more durable, but are there limitations to the durability of the plastic tracks?

Also, drop your tips for the T-90. It's clearly the coolest looking tank in the fleet!

[JDMac761stBP]

"All Heng Long 1/16 tanks except for the T-72 and T-90 can fit a 2s 4000mAh battery with ease. Measure your battery bay beforehand to account for adequate strain relief for the wiring and large Tamiya connector."


Beautiful.

[Merry Boozer RC]

Wow this is so in-depth thanks Alpha I’ve been trying to rapmy head around all the editions and this has really cleared it up. I’m definitely thinking my first few that are my favorite tanks from my want list that I think will see the most use will be professional. After that as I’m collecting more of my shelf models I will probably end up with the standard upgrade tanks. I’m definitely happy your only offering the metal gear box I think that’s a great choice to save people headaches. Anyway super excited and thanks for the update

[RichJohnson]

Oh boy! A cross drive tranny.
Now that brings up way more questions than answers. That takes a whole different crontol from an MFU to drive than opposing trannys do. The benefit is a tank that drives straight instead of pulling to one side from an un matched pair of gear boxes but the draw back is they turn the wrong, or opposite way from normal when backing up.
I know they are quite complicated but usually quieter. Last i looked that type of tranny is costly over standard paired tranny sets.
Popularity is so-so with folks, tamiya is including them in the new modern tanks. Im on the fence about it over standard paired trannys still, not having seen any major benefit with the design and cost vs standard trannys.

[Alpha]

Sabre27 Welcome to Hobby Squawk and thank you for your kind words. We endeavor to be a dependable resource for the products we stock, and because I've been an avid RC tanker for many years, it made sense for me to buy one of each earlier this year during the run-up to announcing our distribution agreement with Heng Long. This helped us begin with the "data dump" you've seen here on Squawk, as we wanted to establish a beachhead of information that people can access to determine whether this is a part of the hobby they are interested in or not. I'm glad to see they're being read! I've driven every Heng Long, in every scale, from 1:30 to 1:6, and own over 20 of them along with several from other reputable manufacturers. In fact, I have almost as many tanks as I do airplanes in my house right now. Luckily tanks are much smaller than AL37s and F-22s and whatever else we're primed to announce, so I've got space. At least, for now..

Thanks also for your feedback on your Challenger II. I've spent a lot of time at the Heng Long factory this year, and some of that has been used to standardize their production runs so that each run is identical to the former and the following. There are still some tweaks to go for the upgrade paths. Challenger II hull I received earlier this summer already had the block mounts glued in at the factory but without a bearing installed. This is, as you said, standard practice for TK5.3. The bearing block mount assembly (which includes a pre-installed bearing) is available separately as an upgrade for the Challenger II, but unlike the Abrams, which has no block mounted and thus the assembly drops right in, my Challenger II had the mount glued in. This meant I would need to remove the bearing from the upgrade block, and press it into the already installed block. My problem with that is the bearing may slip out, because there isn't a ridge to hold it in place. I'm working with Heng Long to redesign those blocks to incorporate a sandwiched cover to ensure the bearing doesn't slip out of the block. It isn't ready yet, which is why it isn't listed on our website. In time!

In the meantime, enjoy your Challenger II! You chose wisely; it is a great running tank and your research paid off. Please consider posting any tips, questions, or feedback in the Challenger II thread so the rest of us can learn.

While we're on the subject of upgrade paths, I can also confirm that we've decided to sunset some of the older motor upgrade paths, in favor of new options. The new upgrade tree will include both low cost options for tankers wanting to get a bit more grunt out of their stock tanks, all the way up to expensive overhauls that I suspect only a few will have interest in. It's all about providing options, then letting us as hobbyists decide. More info on that to come, but here's a quick teaser.

[Sabre27]

Hi Alpha,
Love the forum and your written and youtube reviews on the Challenger 2 , Abrams, Leopard 2 etc. Brilliant!!
Wish I had seen them before ordering, they would have confirmed my earlier research on this model. Your info on the new TK6 series tanks is the most comprehensive anywhere on the net. Well done!!

I Just received my first and only RC Tank, a new Upgraded 2019 Challenger 2 at end of Nov. It has metal tracks,idlers and sprockets. Currently in pieces for further upgrades and a complete repaint.
Just FYI and for other members, I found this para from above comments to be Wrong -

"Installing the MSBC is not a simple drop-in task like the Abrams. Rather, the Challenger II requires about 30 minutes of work with a dremel to remove the main shaft collar that is glued on at the factory (without a bearing), then replacing it with the aftermarket MSBC which does have a bearing in it".

My tank had a 12mm diameter hole around the drive shaft and these bearings from this link fit perfectly with a little gentle pressure to press down shaft and into hole. Took literally less than 60 sec.
(The old model TK5.3 version Challenger 2 hull also had an open hole where bearings could be just pushed in easily). Not sure why the tank you received had a glued in plastic shaft collar?? Never ever saw that in a 2 yrs research on the net.

https://www.rctanklegion.com/product...l-bearings-1-1

[Jdcrow]

Upgrade/Option Parts

Alpha - will some of the option/upgrade parts be arriving with the initial Tank Supply? ie. 360 Turret Rings, Cannon Barrel LED/Smoker, etc

[Alpha]

Reserved

[Alpha]

LEVEL/VERSIONS

Heng Long tanks are delivered in five levels or "Editions" of running gear. The "running gear" include five elements:

1) The gears in the gearbox
2) Drive sprocket
3) Idler wheel
4) Road wheels
5) Tracks

Essentially, the more of these elements that are metal, the higher the Edition, and thus the higher price. The five Editions of 1/16 Heng Long tanks are:

Original Edition: All five of the Running Gear elements are plastic
Upgrade Edition: Original, except the gears in the gearbox are upgraded to steel
Upgrade A Edition: Upgrade, except drive sprocket is upgraded to cast metal
Pro Edition: Upgrade, except the drive sprocket, idler wheel, and tracks are upgraded to cast metal. Note: Some tanks' Professional versions also include metal road wheels. See notes below.
Pro Plus: Pro, plus a metal lower hull, CNC machined gearbox housing, torsion bar suspension, smoke/LED/recoil barrel, 360 degree rotation, dual smoker, dual speaker, onboard charging (Note: As of 11/2019 this version is only available via special order for specific types) --The Pro Plus will be omitted from the remainder of this article, given its rarity

The four mass produced Editions have been further subdivided into two primary Editions - "Upgrade" Edition and "Professional" Edition. As of 1/2020, Motion RC will be stocking the Upgrade and Professional Editions only, the reasoning being that the Upgrade Edition now includes steel gears, so it is a worthy upgrade to the Original Edition's plastic gears. The Professional Editions, meanwhile, are suitable for the majority of drivers who prefer heavy weight and higher durability in exchange for higher cost and shorter run times on the stock battery. We believe that the Upgrade Edition and Professional Edition will likely satisfy the majority of most new RC tankers, so we're starting there. If you want to save a few bucks, let us know and we can stock the Original Edition.



GENERAL UPGRADES

General Upgrades, produced by both Heng Long itself and by the aftermarket industry, are organized into three types:

1) Durability -- Improve material durability, reduce wear, extend lifetime.
2) Performance -- Improve functional performance, realism, speed, etc
3) Cosmetic --Improve scale fidelity

In general, most Heng Long tanks generally do not require further durability upgrades, assuming they're operated within the recommendations of their level/version:

Original: Ideal for running indoors and occasional light use outdoors on hard surfaces
Upgrade: Ideal for the above, plus more aggressive use on light gravel, short grass, and short carpet
Upgrade A: Same as Upgrade, perhaps with lower risk of spitting a track during aggressive spins
Pro: Same as Upgrade, except perhaps lower risk of breaking a track, and higher road traction in certain conditions. Note: The heavier weight of the tank will reduce running time.

It is important to note that all versions of tank, regardless of their metal content, are not recommended for use in mud, water, wet surfaces, tall rocks, or sand. RC tanks are *not* RC crawlers or off-road trucks; most if not all of the tank's tracks are recommended to be contacting the ground at all times, just like a real tank.
Motors:

380, 390, red and blue motors are still being evaluated. Red motors produce higher torque, blue motors produce higher speed. Both consume more amps than the stock 380 motors.

Speakers:

The Abrams, Challenger II, Leopard 2A6, and King Tiger can easily accommodate larger double speakers. Verify the plug and voltage match your TK6.

Smoke Systems:

Testing in progress.

LED Lights:

Heng Long's TK6 MFCB includes 8 powered LED ports that correspond to different functions. Two or three of these ports are used in the stock tank (headlights, tail lights, and machine gun), but the other ports are unused. Do not exceed 5V per port at 100mAh constant.

SPECIFIC UPGRADES

For users wanting to enhance specific aspects of their tank, the following upgrades have been tested and verified as being worth their cost. NOTE, this list will be updated over time, based on continuing testing, user feedback, and new products brought to market. Post your input in this thread, then we will verify and edit the list below:

Heng Long 1/16 Tiger I Early, TK6:
Durability and Performance: Not necessary, but helpful. Main Shaft Bearing Collar -- This stabilizes the main shaft with a wider collar and a steel bearing, which leads to reduced vibration and wear, and also slightly improved battery life due to lower rolling resistance. Installing the MSBC requires ten minutes to remove the track, unscrew the drive sprocket, install the MSBC (press-fit into existing shaft hole in the hull), then reconnecting the drive sprocket and track.

Heng Long 1/16 Challenger II, TK6:
Durability and Performance: Not necessary, but helpful. Main Shaft Bearing Collar -- This stabilizes the main shaft with a wider collar and a steel bearing, which leads to reduced vibration and wear, and also slightly improved battery life due to lower rolling resistance. Installing the MSBC is not a simple drop-in task like the Abrams. Rather, the Challenger II requires about 30 minutes of work with a dremel to remove the main shaft collar that is glued on at the factory (without a bearing), then replacing it with the aftermarket MSBC which does have a bearing in it.

Heng Long 1/16 M1A2 Abrams, TK6:
Durability and Performance: Helpful. Main Shaft Bearing Collar -- This stabilizes the main shaft with a wider collar and a steel bearing, which leads to reduced vibration and wear, and also slightly improved battery life due to lower rolling resistance. Installing the MSBC requires ten minutes to remove the track, unscrew the drive sprocket, install the MSBC (press-fit into existing shaft hole in the hull), then reconnecting the drive sprocket and track.

Heng Long 1/16 Panzer III and IV, all variants, TK6:
Metal Sprocket is a recommended upgrade when running on grass

Heng Long 1/16 Panther G and Jagdpanther, TK6:


Heng Long 1/16 King Tiger, TK6:


Heng Long 1/16 T-34, TK6:


Heng Long 1/16 KV-I, TK6:


Heng Long 1/16 T-72, TK6:


Heng Long 1/16 T-90, TK6:


Heng Long 1/16 T-72, TK6:

COMBOS TO AVOID

1) Never install a metal track onto a tank with either plastic gearbox gears and/or plastic drive sprocket
2) Never install an upgraded motor/gearbox combo (i.e. red motor or blue motor) without first
3) When purchasing motor/gearbox/speaker/smoker upgrades, ensure they match the version of MFCB in your tank. All Motion RC's tanks use the latest TK6 MFCB. Earlier versions such as TK5.3 use different motor connections and wiring connections, so older TK5.3 upgrades are not drop-in fits with TK6 version tanks.

GENERAL TIPS FOR INSTALLING UPGRADES

1) Run your tank in its stock form to evaluate if it meets your needs. Tanks are easy to upgrade, so consider upgrading slowly over time, if/as the need arises. You may begin with a living room runner, then gradually find a club to IR battle with, at which point you may choose the Performance Upgrade path for your tank, or you may end up using the tank as a display, in which case the Cosmetic Upgrade path may be a better investment. We don't think every out of the box tank needs to be upgraded with hundreds of dollars of doodads. For most users, the Upgrade version and the Pro version will likely be the best balance of cost, durability, and performance.

2) Much like always checking an airplane's CG after a power system upgrade, you must always check your tank tracks' tension after changing anything to do with the running gear (Motor/gearbox/shafts/drive sprocket/idler/road wheels/tracks). Click *here* for a tutorial to adjust track tension for ideal traction, reduced wear and noise, and longer life on your tank's running gear.

3) The stock 7.4v 1800mAh Li-ion battery provides ~20-25 minutes of use on Original and Upgrade tanks. The heavier Pro versions can experience a shorter driving time due to their higher weight. For Pro versions, we recommend purchasing a spare stock battery, or investing in a higher capacity battery. All Heng Long 1/16 tanks except for the T-72 and T-90 can fit a 2s 4000mAh battery with ease. Measure your battery bay beforehand to account for adequate strain relief for the wiring and large Tamiya connector.