Discussion Thread: Heng Long 1/16 Leopard 2A6 Modern German MBT

[RichJohnson]

Taigen
henglong
torro/mato
tongde
none of these brand re compatible with each others parts. Occasionally a part will work on the same tank in different brands or the turret gear might fit between different brands but otherwise they don’t make their tank parts universal. Other than the traverse box, that design seems to be universal except for hooben with their stupid design.

[keilau]

Taigen
henglong
torro/mato
tongde
none of these brand re compatible with each others parts. Occasionally a part will work on the same tank in different brands or the turret gear might fit between different brands but otherwise they don’t make their tank parts universal. Other than the traverse box, that design seems to be universal except for hooben with their stupid design.

Heng Long is the dominant brand in the low end RC tank market. Mato and Torro make metal upgrade parts specifically for HL models and advertise as such.

The Tamiya Abrams hybrid track fits most HL MBT, but not the Tongde. Of the 6 working working HL tanks, I have 3 with Mato track, one with Tamiya hybrid, one with Torro nylon and one with modified HL. The Tongde M60A1 has Tongde metal track which looks off scale, but runs very well.

[tank_me]

Heng Long is the dominant brand in the low end RC tank market. Mato and Torro make metal upgrade parts specifically for HL models and advertise as such.

Be careful with this statement as it's not 100% correct. If you have a HL KV-1 for instance and you try to put Torro sprockets on it or Torro tracks, they will NOT work. The Torro sprocket has a different offset to be used on a different length drive shaft on the gearbox. Additionally, Torro KV tracks only fit Torro sprockets. HL tracks will not run on Torro sprockets. Torro uses a plastic/metal hybrid chassis for the KV series so HL KV wheels/suspension arms will also not fit. It is not a direct upgrade to put a Torro chassis on a HL tank as I stated before, the gearboxes use a different mounting position and different shaft length.

HL or Mato gearboxes also won't work in a Taigen/Torro T-34 as the Torro/Taigen chassis uses a fixed sprocket shaft. The gearboxes can be removed without removing the sprockets or tracks. Torro/Taigen T34 suspension and road wheels are also not interchangeable with HL.

I'm sure there are other parts compatibility issues I haven't thought of.

[keilau]

Be careful with this statement as it's not 100% correct. If you have a HL KV-1 for instance and you try to put Torro sprockets on it or Torro tracks, they will NOT work. The Torro sprocket has a different offset to be used on a different length drive shaft on the gearbox. Additionally, Torro KV tracks only fit Torro sprockets. HL tracks will not run on Torro sprockets. Torro uses a plastic/metal hybrid chassis for the KV series so HL KV wheels/suspension arms will also not fit. It is not a direct upgrade to put a Torro chassis on a HL tank as I stated before, the gearboxes use a different mounting position and different shaft length.

HL or Mato gearboxes also won't work in a Taigen/Torro T-34 as the Torro/Taigen chassis uses a fixed sprocket shaft. The gearboxes can be removed without removing the sprockets or tracks. Torro/Taigen T34 suspension and road wheels are also not interchangeable with HL.

I'm sure there are other parts compatibility issues I haven't thought of.

Your point is well taken. It reminds me of the effort I made to adapt the Hooben nylon track and sprocket to the HL IDF Merkava. I am obsessed with a closed pin track and Hooben is the only game in town. While not a drop in replacement, I actually enjoyed the half day work that makes it possible.

https://www.hobbysquawk.com/forum/rc-cars-tanks-trucks-and-more/rc-tanks/392572-heng-long-3958-1-idf-merkava-iv-basic-version-to-metal-upgrade/page4#post396755

[RichJohnson]

For the Merkava, I thought you used the hooben track that I have, as I am not aware of torro making any Merkava parts. And you had to purchase their brand sprockets as well as they do not fit the henglong sprockets

[eatnupbyatornadr]

hello, I am looking for some feedback. 2nd day of use for the new HL A26 and i'm beginning to realize the BB's don't cycle reliably. I am using the 6MM bb's from motion rc. I've feel that the tank needs to be angled downward and I think the barrel needs to be set at a negative elevation for it to load. If not i'm spending more time poking the bb's through the inspection port by the barrel then actually firing bb's. any advice? different bb's? is there a happy middle ground with the amount of bb's being loaded? let me know!

[keilau]

For the Merkava, I thought you used the hooben track that I have, as I am not aware of torro making any Merkava parts. And you had to purchase their brand sprockets as well as they do not fit the henglong sprockets

You are right on all counts. I have the Hooben sprocket and tracks and like them very much.

The Hooben track has different pitch than the HL track and needs the Hooben sprocket to work properly. The Hooben spindle is a double D shape, so is the Hooben sprocket hole. It is not difficult, but tedious to make the nylon sprocket hole single D to match the Heng Xin drivebox axle. I used a 4 volts rotatory tool and some small files for the job. I worked slowly to assure a slug fit.