I need help picking a Tamiya Tank

DavidN · Mar 4, 2022, 08:48 PM

In fact, I put in new gearboxes into my panzer III 2 days ago. It deserved it.

DavidN · Mar 4, 2022, 08:35 PM

Originally posted by Hand of nod 59

I love the paint job on your Panther Tank it's not quite the same one that was on the tank I used to play on at APG is more dulled down but almost the same pattern it's very nice

Yeap, it has just come out of the "factory." I put 2-3 coats of clear matte to protect my paint job. So it still "shiny". After the battle on March 12, it surely will become dull :-)

DavidN · Mar 4, 2022, 08:31 PM

I still like my HL panzer III very much :-)

Evan D · Mar 4, 2022, 07:02 PM

I agree with you David. I was just saying I don't like labels and that one person may prefer one thing over the other either way. I didn't mean to start an argument about it.

DavidN · Mar 4, 2022, 06:50 PM

I have 45 HLs. Most of them were static tanks that I slowly upgraded. The rest were RTRs. By the time I put nice stuffs in each of them for battle, each would cost around $350 to $400. I just want to add that each company has its pros and cons. They are still toys from my view. It’s all about how each owner satisfies with his toys.

After I built the Tamiya, I realized its quality. We can’t compare Chinese products with Japanese products :-) We get what we pay for. I bought some used Tamiya tanks and they are still very good. Because I love WWII tanks, accuracy is a little bit of a big deal for me. I also like the barrel recoiled functions. I have to pay for what I want :-)

For some of my HLs, the plastic holes for the screws to connect the two hulls start to wear out (I need to learn to attach the magnets soon). The idlers in some of my HLs are unable to cope with the track tension. They become loosed now. I had to replace the screws with nuts and bolts. The engine sounds and the gearboxes are better in the Tamiya than the HLs.

For my conclusion, I am just happy that there are more than one companies that are making these toys for big boys like us to play in our own interests and our own ways.

Rubicon99 · Mar 4, 2022, 04:57 PM

Originally posted by Evan D

I'm not sure I agree with the labels that you used. I am happy with my "toy" H-L's. Are they perfect, we both know they aren't, but for the price of one Tamiya I can have three or four H-L's and not the basic all plastic versions... So far my biggest issue is the metal treads on the Callenger2, really my only issue. I do admit I am not racing them around but the seven I have have been pretty good.

Unfortunately the fact is HL tanks have been and are even still intended and designed as TOYS as they have been for more than a decade. HL has no intentions of changing this according to information HL has stated. As such HL can take short cuts and these often are the cause of many issues. You are experiencing some of these with you Challenger 2.

The different in “hobby grade” and “toy grade” is the difference in overall parts fit quality, accuracy and execution of engineering. Out of the box “hobby grade” typically requires more “hands on” work vs “toy grade” is more plug and play.

I am in no way saying a HL tank can’t be made into a “hobby grade” tank, I am saying HL tanks do not start out in life as “hobby grade” tanks they start out as toys regardless of the factory upgrades they are marketed with. I have quite a large number of HL tanks that are still “toys” and quite a large number that are along the lines of “hobby grade” tanks. So I have a bit of understanding as to what it takes to go from one to the other.

HL has no doubt out paced Tamiya in 1/16 RC tank sales and is now the market leader (something I predicted five years ago would happen and took a lot of heat for from the RC tank community). Most of this is do to a very low starting price and the fact that the majority of people today do not like to build things from a box of parts any more. Even still it does not change what stock out of the box HL tanks are.

Evan D · Mar 4, 2022, 02:42 PM

I'm not sure I agree with the labels that you used. I am happy with my "toy" H-L's. Are they perfect, we both know they aren't, but for the price of one Tamiya I can have three or four H-L's and not the basic all plastic versions... So far my biggest issue is the metal treads on the Callenger2, really my only issue. I do admit I am not racing them around but the seven I have have been pretty good.

Rubicon99 · Mar 4, 2022, 02:30 PM

Originally posted by Hand of nod 59

Other than fact they're hard to find the great models but the thing is for the price I don't think they're worth it summer a grand or more , and you still have to put together

You obviously have never owned a newer generation Tamiya RC tank. Yes they are expensive but for good reason. Better engineering, higher quality fit of parts, more true to scale and overall much smoother operations.

Tamiya tanks are “hobby grade” and HengLong are “toy grade” that can be brought up to “hobby grade” with some work and additional cost involvements. To bring a HL tank up to equal the overall performance and features of a stock Tamiya will cost about the same as a stock Tamiya tank and involve about the same amount of work (hobby skills) to build a Tamiya tank from a kit.

Tamiyas have their down falls, but they have fewer then HL.

Hand of nod 59 · Mar 4, 2022, 01:30 PM

I love the paint job on your Panther Tank it's not quite the same one that was on the tank I used to play on at APG is more dulled down but almost the same pattern it's very nice

Hand of nod 59 · Mar 4, 2022, 01:28 PM

Other than fact they're hard to find the great models but the thing is for the price I don't think they're worth it summer a grand or more , and you still have to put together