Red or blue motors

[Rubicon99]

I am looking for a source for 2x Mabuchi RS-380PH-4045 motor. Judging from the rpm at 7.2 volts DC, I believe HL use a knockoff of this model. Since HL do not test or spec their motors, it is just a guess.

https://product.mabuchi-motor.com/detail.html?id=99

I want something that runs cool at 15000 rpm, but no faster than 20000 rpm when connected to a 2S Lithium battery. The internet seems to have sold out on surplus Mabuchi RS-380PH-4045. The Tamiya RS-380PH by Mabuchi fits the bill, but is being sold from Japan for almost $30 a piece.

There are too many version of Henglong blue motor 380 on e-bay selling from $7 to $18 each. It is not practical to buy all of them to test it out.

You can find the Tamiya “380” motors at TamiyaUSA.com under the 1/16 tank parts. Look at the Sheridan spare parts and you will find the motors. Granted you will have to change the leads but I suspect that will not be a problem for you.

[keilau]

Some of the 380 knockoffs have very poorly designed cooling fan or leave it off completely. The Heng Long grey 380 is one example. It runs fairly warm, but is still safe to use if it is not defective. A genuine surplus Mubachi RS-380PH motor will run much cooler.

In this plot, HL stock is the HL grey 380. I also tested the Mubachi RS-380PH-3270 (a 15 volts rated motor) with a 3S Li-Po at 12 volts. It gets fairly warm too. Both stabilized at 40°F above ambient. With the HL steel gearbox (non ball bearing) on a M26 Pershing RC tank, the 3S Li-Po has too much vibration for my taste. I did not test with the Heng Xin gearbox with 3S. I decided to use the Mubachi RS-380PH-3270 with the Heng Xin gearbox and a 2S Li-Io battery. It gives me plenty of torque and the best drive quality and the motors run cool.

I am looking for a source for 2x Mabuchi RS-380PH-4045 motor. Judging from the rpm at 7.2 volts DC, I believe HL use a knockoff of this model. Since HL do not test or spec their motors, it is just a guess.

https://product.mabuchi-motor.com/detail.html?id=99

I want something that runs cool at 15000 rpm, but no faster than 20000 rpm when connected to a 2S Lithium battery. The internet seems to have sold out on surplus Mabuchi RS-380PH-4045. The Tamiya RS-380PH by Mabuchi fits the bill, but is being sold from Japan for almost $30 a piece.

There are too many version of Henglong blue motor 380 on e-bay selling from $7 to $18 each. It is not practical to buy all of them to test it out.

[keilau]

While waiting for Toucan to ship me a replacement red motor from China (they ran out US stock at the time), I went ahead and ordered a pair of reds from MotionRC. Order was placed on Monday, these were shipped out from IL and I got them in the Abrams on Saturday, they seem to run just fine by eyeballing. Under $25 shipped, comparable to fleabay.

The Red Motor (Heng Xin gearbox) I tested stabilized in 15 minutes and did not go 19°F above ambient. I expect the Admiral 390 to do equally well or better.

Running at 25,000 rpm, the 390 motor should be considered a precision instrument that should be tested individually during manufacturing. A slight imbalance may result in friction that can cause the motor to overheat quickly. Even the biggest Heng Long tank seller was suspected of shipping "fake" red motor which may just be a defective motor. We do not need precision thermocouple to do the testing after purchase, our figure tip is sensitive enough to tell whether the motor overheats.

Some of the 380 knockoffs have very poorly designed cooling fan or leave it off completely. The Heng Long grey 380 is one example. It runs fairly warm, but is still safe to use if it is not defective. A genuine surplus Mubachi RS-380PH motor will run much cooler.

In this plot, HL stock is the HL grey 380. I also tested the Mubachi RS-380PH-3270 (a 15 volts rated motor) with a 3S Li-Po at 12 volts. It gets fairly warm too. Both stabilized at 40°F above ambient. With the HL steel gearbox (non ball bearing) on a M26 Pershing RC tank, the 3S Li-Po has too much vibration for my taste. I did not test with the Heng Xin gearbox with 3S. I decided to use the Mubachi RS-380PH-3270 with the Heng Xin gearbox and a 2S Li-Io battery. It gives me plenty of torque and the best drive quality and the motors run cool.

[sclui56]

Be interested in your feedback on the ED setup.

[Zippersnapper]

While waiting for Toucan to ship me a replacement red motor from China (they ran out US stock at the time), I went ahead and ordered a pair of reds from MotionRC. Order was placed on Monday, these were shipped out from IL and I got them in the Abrams on Saturday, they seem to run just fine by eyeballing. Under $25 shipped, comparable to fleabay.

I like them as well.....

I got a wild hair and installed the Ultimate Edition II Gearbox & Motors.....been rainy all day, so havn't had the chance to give it a shakedown..

[sclui56]

My CROWS from DKLM took 5 weeks......not exactly breaking land speed records. As long as they ship Hong Kong Post, there not getting any more of my money.

While waiting for Toucan to ship me a replacement red motor from China (they ran out US stock at the time), I went ahead and ordered a pair of reds from MotionRC. Order was placed on Monday, these were shipped out from IL and I got them in the Abrams on Saturday, they seem to run just fine by eyeballing. Under $25 shipped, comparable to fleabay.

[Zippersnapper]

DLKM is in Hong Kong not the US. They don’t have the option for USPS. Their shipping though is reasonably fast coming from Asia.

My CROWS from DKLM took 5 weeks......not exactly breaking land speed records. As long as they ship Hong Kong Post, there not getting any more of my money.

[keilau]

DLKM is in Hong Kong not the US. They don’t have the option for USPS. Their shipping though is reasonably fast coming from Asia.

Make sense. Thank you for the clarification.

Now, it makes more sense to wait for the Tamiya track to come back to stock. I don't think that Tamiya is leaving the 1/16 tank business anytime soon.

I remember that good old days (2004 era) where I could get 1/16 scale metal parts was from Germany. Not only the postage is high. The postal service from Germany to US was much, much slower than from Hong Kong.

[Rubicon99]

I would have ordered my Leopard track from DKLM if they provide the USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Medium Size box shipping option like AAF does. A metal track is heavy, but relatively compact in size. Flat Rate Priority Mail box is the fastest and cheapest way to ship. I am puzzled that DKLM would not do it. They have only one expensive shipping method.

DLKM is in Hong Kong not the US. They don’t have the option for USPS. Their shipping though is reasonably fast coming from Asia.

[keilau]

And I thought you scored one for us. I tried ordering over the weekend and it wouldn't go through after clicking place order, reached out to AAF on Monday and was told that they didn't stock these and looked like it has been discontinued. I might just go ahead and get the DKLM ones, they are out of the Abrams so I will just get the Leo's.

Guess I can wait for the motor, have plenty of time to pull all the metal wheels & arms to paint, and probably weather the crude HL metal tracks for the time being.

I would have ordered my Leopard track from DKLM if they provide the USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Medium Size box shipping option like AAF does. A metal track is heavy, but relatively compact in size. Flat Rate Priority Mail box is the fastest and cheapest way to ship. I am puzzled that DKLM would not do it. They have only one expensive shipping method.

[sclui56]

Alas, I celebrated too early. I just got the AAF email to inform me that my order was cancelled. They confirmed my order 2 days ago so I am not sure what happened. Anyway, I am back to square one.

And I thought you scored one for us. I tried ordering over the weekend and it wouldn't go through after clicking place order, reached out to AAF on Monday and was told that they didn't stock these and looked like it has been discontinued. I might just go ahead and get the DKLM ones, they are out of the Abrams so I will just get the Leo's.

Guess I can wait for the motor, have plenty of time to pull all the metal wheels & arms to paint, and probably weather the crude HL metal tracks for the time being.

[keilau]

He sure did. I waited too long and guess I will go with the DKLM ones. Speaking of missed opportunity, I received a pair of red motors with jst from Toucan on Saturday. One of them failed to start, though it would start spinning if one helped to spin the pinion, off to wait for a replacement now.

Alas, I celebrated too early. I just got the AAF email to inform me that my order was cancelled. They confirmed my order 2 days ago so I am not sure what happened. Anyway, I am back to square one.

[sclui56]

Then you got the last pair!!!! AAF is now out of stock and has no time line to when they will have more.

He sure did. I waited too long and guess I will go with the DKLM ones. Speaking of missed opportunity, I received a pair of red motors with jst from Toucan on Saturday. One of them failed to start, though it would start spinning if one helped to spin the pinion, off to wait for a replacement now.

[Rubicon99]

A Tamiya track for the German Leopard 2A6 is on its way to me from AAF, total $104. Thank you for sharing your insight.

Then you got the last pair!!!! AAF is now out of stock and has no time line to when they will have more.

[keilau]

DKLM tracks have an excellent performance record. Tamiya tracks are even better and cost about the same.

A Tamiya track for the German Leopard 2A6 is on its way to me from AAF, total $104. Thank you for sharing your insight.

[Zippersnapper]

Rubicon is right; we took our time in 2019 and 2020 to test a few different "red motor" suppliers with input from HL and other persons/sources. I know of at least six suppliers.

Of the ones we tested, there was a wide variation of performance and value, even to the point that we were advised to specifically avoid certain suppliers, citing concerns over performance, value, materials, consistency, availability, or a combination of all of the above. As with all our products, we selected the red motor supplier that best fit the balance we intended to achieve between those and other aspects.

I bit on a couple, ya'll shipped them out today....Let's see how they will do in the Bulldog.....On to more important things: When will the Torro stuff be in stock? ETA? That Jagdtiger is high on my want list, and I'm the worlds greatest impulse shopper..

[Rubicon99]

I found Kenny Kong's website. The Leopard 2A6 metal track is $150 plus shipping which could be very expensive too. DKLM has a track for only $80. It may be good enough if it does not have the Mato problem.

DKLM tracks have an excellent performance record. Tamiya tracks are even better and cost about the same.

[keilau]

I found Kenny Kong's website. The Leopard 2A6 metal track is $150 plus shipping which could be very expensive too. DKLM has a track for only $80. It may be good enough if it does not have the Mato problem.

[RichJohnson]

As an engineer, I think you would really enjoy building and operating a Tamiya tank. They really are the connoisseur level of rc tanks. Especially the more modern ones like the Abrams and the leopard and type 10.
I’m working my way into an m51 super Sherman right now which I will be substituting a urethane cast A1 hull and the whole MFU system for a servo operated system.

”Every time before I used the Mato track, I inspect each pin and seat them properly. But it does not help much. I have to admit that Mato made a very good looking track. For now, I am back to the plastic track. I am thinking using the plastic endcap on the Mato track. What do you think?” Keilau

if you want to try and see how it works, it’s up to you. Mato’s metal sprockets for a Pershing would not fit a Tamiya shaft, and their track will not run on a Tamiya sprocket. I took measurements of their metal pads and they were nearly the same dimensions as Tamiya where it mattered So I made an experiment of tearing down a Tamiya Pershing track and inserting mato metal chevron pads. A few nights of work and I proved it was a very bad idea as it did not roll on the Tamiya sprocket and a waste of a side of mato track as the pins often bent coming out. All in all, it was something I wanted to try but went very badly....

[keilau]

I suggested Mato tanks because they have different tranny style of mounting than Henglong which you don’t like. They are the only ones that are a bit different other than Tamiya. I have owned a few Mato Sherman’s of the early run and have my reasons for not wanting to own them again but not for anything regarding issues you have raised. Also, most mato metal tracks need to be run on mato metal sprockets. Pershing and Sherman fall into this category..
And yes, lots of brands of after market track come loose as they break in. Rubicon mentioned the solution we commonly use.

Please take a second to consider that some of us have been in this hobby for many years and have serviced and or built many tanks.
I for example, have owned every single rc Sherman produced in 1/16 scale, and purchased nearly every single aftermarket track, detail bit, accessory, body hull kit, turret upgrade kit etc etc that has been made by every small manufacturer out there that relates to a Sherman tank.

Rich, thank you for the advice. I retired after working as an engineer for 40 years. Making measurements before drawing conclusion just come natural to me.

I still call some of the components that HL used on their tank borderline crap.