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

[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.

[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!

[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

[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

[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]

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.

[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]

The newest Leopard 2 by HL are torsion bar now. Also you know the quality level you can expect from HL.

That's what I am thinking too. The HL is a more sturdy RC tank.

I have completed the metal upgrade of an older version HL 2A6. The biggest con is its road wheel design. The swing arm axle is under sized for the ball bearing road wheel. I have to use copper foil to wrap around the axle to make a tight fit. Even so, HL metal road wheel axil alignment is much poorer compared to the Tongde M60.

The biggest con of the Tongde is its lack of parts compatibility with major RC tank brands such as Tamiya, Mato or Torro. Its scale fidelity is poor too. I cannot use the Tamiya hybrid track on the Tongde 2A7 easily.

[Rubicon99]

What are the pros and cons of the Heng Long German Leopard 2A6 winter camo upgrade version vs. the Tongde Leopard 2A7. I am drawn to them by the torsion bar suspension.

The newest Leopard 2 by HL are torsion bar now. Also you know the quality level you can expect from HL.

[keilau]

another thread revealed the new 2A6 snow version at least has a torsion bar suspension, anyone have experience with it to know if it;s easily upgraded to a full bearing like say the Tongde M60?

What are the pros and cons of the Heng Long German Leopard 2A6 winter camo upgrade version vs. the Tongde Leopard 2A7. I am drawn to them by the torsion bar suspension.

[Roaming Gnome]

another thread revealed the new A26 snow version at least has a torsion bar suspension, anyone have expereince with it to know if it;s easily upgraded to a full bearing like say the Tongde M60?

[MaverickTank]

I have an XT60 adapter that allows me to run 2 batteries in parallel. They both just fit the compartment under the tank. If you are looking for a simple solution to longer run times, give it a try!

[TejasHawk]

I am just saying hi as I am now an owner of Heng Long Leopard 2a6 rc tank. So far it looks cool as ever!

[keilau]

I am getting parts to implement servo barrel and servo elevation for the Leopard 2A6. I ordered and received the Canshuo YK26/TK26 radio instead of the HL TK-7.1 just to try something different. I have not decided on which servo recoil unit to get yet. This video shows the recoil action of a 2A6. (Time 1:50 on)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_ePeJM9koA

The 2A6 has an automatic loading gun system. The gun tills up for the next round at the end of the recoil. A combined servo recoil and servo elevation is required. Any hands on experience you can share about your servo recoil system?

I will install the Canshuo YK26/TK26 radio to replace the HL TK-6.0S to test it out on the 2A6 later this week. (I am still finishing up the paint job on the TD M60.)

I purchased the Can Shou Metal Barrel Recoil Lifting System for use with the YK26/TK26 radio,

https://www.hobbysquawk.com/forum/rc-cars-tanks-trucks-and-more/rc-tanks/397262-can-shou-metal-barrel-recoil-lifting-system

I still have detail work to do on the M60 and the Merkava. It will be a little while before I return to the Leopard 2A6 servo recoil.

[Naveda08]

First test run after waterproofing, full video

[Naveda08]

Testing out the waterproofing job

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TD_hlvIccmo

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1rlx3JZN_cw

[keilau]

I am getting parts to implement servo barrel and servo elevation for the Leopard 2A6. I ordered and received the Canshuo YK26/TK26 radio instead of the HL TK-7.1 just to try something different. I have not decided on which servo recoil unit to get yet. This video shows the recoil action of a 2A6. (Time 1:50 on)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_ePeJM9koA

The 2A6 has an automatic loading gun system. The gun tills up for the next round at the end of the recoil. A combined servo recoil and servo elevation is required. Any hands on experience you can share about your servo recoil system?

I will install the Canshuo YK26/TK26 radio to replace the HL TK-6.0S to test it out on the 2A6 later this week. (I am still finishing up the paint job on the TD M60.)

[Naveda08]

Might be OK for a Sherman, but a Pershing is too big for that transporter.

Yeah I am thinking maybe the T34 will work, for $90 I was surprised it could haul my Leo 2 with metal upgrades on the hardwood. Best guess would be a full plastic tank to have any chance of pulling it off road

[tank_me]

WPL B36-3 Transporter RTR
https://www.wpl-rc.com/products/b36-3-transporter-rtr?ref=Naveda08


https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Zga-PSP9o1s

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/X-vBQ5FBnLA

Might be OK for a Sherman, but a Pershing is too big for that transporter.

[Naveda08]

WPL B36-3 Transporter RTR
https://www.wpl-rc.com/products/b36-3-transporter-rtr?ref=Naveda08


https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Zga-PSP9o1s

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/X-vBQ5FBnLA