Upgrading Heng Long 5.3 tank to 6.0S

[SoCalBobS]

Good deal. In the meantime I have a message in to see if/when HL may just make a v6.

[TankMon]

Hi

Here some instructions I have collected to understand difference between HG 6.0, 6.0s and 6.1, 6.1s. Check 6.0 for S you need to remove board from plastic case and look on the board. The 6.0s and 6.1s changes separate control of Headlight and Rear light to Both Front and Back On and Off. It also changes Steering Control and Forward, Back from Stick 2 to Both Sticks see photo. The 6.1 the S is printed on the case the "S" handles Higher Amp Motors also case is "Metal" not Plastic. Now kits are available with all parts needed check AliExpress you find those parts their.

Have Fun

Johnny

[karltrek]

The Strug III upgrade from v5.3 to v6.0 required the installation of the v6.0 IR emitter. It was a simple mod.

Before



After

[SoCalBobS]

Ok, I sprung for a 5.3 Stug III, it's on it's way. I''l use it stand-alone until I get around to upgrading it. In the meantime, here's a question: can the 5.3 and 6.0 IR emitters and receivers recognize each other? From this board, I'm guessing not, in which case it surprises me that Heng Long went that way. Granted 6's are the most up to date, but did they just write off all the earlier versions? Just a curiosity thought.

[Rubicon99]

Ok, I sprung for a 5.3 Stug III, it's on it's way. I''l use it stand-alone until I get around to upgrading it. In the meantime, here's a question: can the 5.3 and 6.0 IR emitters and receivers recognize each other? From this board, I'm guessing not, in which case it surprises me that Heng Long went that way. Granted 6's are the most up to date, but did they just write off all the earlier versions? Just a curiosity thought.

No the stock 5.3 and 6.0 IR systems are not compatible.

Heng Long went with the new 6.0 IR protocol to be compatible with the industry leader Tamiya and the systems used in their tanks. These protocols are also used by the wider aftermarket MFU systems like Clark and IBU. By issuing the Tamiya protocols Heng Long can now be used with a much wider tank enthusiast market.

Even still the 6.0 system does not go far enough with the new protocols. It still lacks tank class and battle damage.

You are going to be surprised at the difference in the overall drive experience with the 5.3 vs the 6.0 and will quickly see just how much better the 6.0 system.

We are all going to want to see photos so don’t forget to post some.

[SoCalBobS]

Yeah, I’ve run even earlier systems. I love the slow speed and Traverse in the 6’s.

I picked up the Stug because I’ve been informed by HL USA that “it’s not a big seller, so it wouldn’t be available until winter”. (If then.) By then most of those tanks would be even harder to find. When one is 70 years old, one doesn’t wait for maybes. In IR battles, that low profile would be a real plus! I got the metal track version, seems like they may do better in the sand.

I have a real soft spot for this tank. It was my first Airfix 1:76 tank kit - think the 1960’s! And it was my first HL tank.



I hadn’t realized this was the second most numerous German afv of ww2, after the SdKfz 251, supposedly responsible for over 20,000 kills!

I’ll do mine in a dunkelgelb and grunekringel (my word) camouflage scheme.



The actual upgrade will come after I do my LegoDEI upgrades on my other tanks.

[Rubicon99]

Yeah, I’ve run even earlier systems. I love the slow speed and Traverse in the 6’s.

I picked up the Stug because I’ve been informed by HL USA that “it’s not a big seller, so it wouldn’t be available until winter”. (If then.) By then most of those tanks would be even harder to find. When one is 70 years old, one doesn’t wait for maybes. In IR battles, that low profile would be a real plus! I got the metal track version, seems like they may do better in the sand.

I have a real soft spot for this tank. It was my first Airfix 1:76 tank kit - think the 1960’s! And it was my first HL tank.



I hadn’t realized this was the second most numerous German afv of ww2, after the SdKfz 251, supposedly responsible for over 20,000 kills!

I’ll do mine in a dunkelgelb and grunekringel (my word) camouflage scheme.



The actual upgrade will come after I do my LegoDEI upgrades on my other tanks.

They are used a lot at the LA Tank clubs events and are quite good little tanks when set up correctly. They also do very well at the San Diego clubs field especially when equipped with low profile IR receivers like the LegoDEI ones. Super easy to hide behind low brush that other tanks can’t make use of for cover. I look forward to seeing your build take shape.

[Rob1970]

Don't wanna be a thread necromancer, but is there any news on these upgrade sets, and possibly a thread with a tutorial? (If there is, I might have overlooked it, sorry for that)
Asking because I found a few shops selling 5.x and even older sets for not too much money, and I like to see if it is worth investing in them to upgrade them later.

TTFN,
Rob

[SoCalBobS]

My upgrade thread is “Stug III, don’t do this at home” on this forum.

https://www.hobbysquawk.com/forum/rc-cars-tanks-trucks-and-more/rc-tanks/266458-sturmgeschutz-iii-don-t-do-this-at-home-kids/page4#post308887

[Rob1970]

Thanks Bob, kinda stupid that I actually forgot about that thread. That should help me along quite a bit. Does that method work for any V5.x tank?

TTFN,
Rob

[SoCalBobS]

Sure. A tank with a turret will of course have one or two extra circuits. I eliminated airsoft from the Stug III when I put an upgraded IR bulb in the barrel. Left the pivot, yanked the motor, etc, so I could run the IR bulb in the barrel. The Stug doesn't come with an IR hole in the mantlet, so you either drill one or do as I did.

Toucan is selling “static” tanks (see that thread here) which are a good start. Upgrade the board, maybe the gearing and tracks if you want. It’s a good way to get a tank that isn’t 6.0 available. I did that with the Stug and a Pershing, for my Lee conversion and for a Stug IV conversion I’m working on.