Coolbank Models

[SoCalBobS]

I found this site that shows the Centurion in more detail:

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/2-4G-Centurion-M-K-5_1600551893253.html

[Rubicon99]

Ohmigosh, I saw that 1a5! I remember that as one of my first Airfix kits. Congratulations, and start a thread when it arrives.

I thought Ruch was crazy when he told me he was buying the Hooben Leopard 1 but after we spoke in depth about it I can see why he is taking the plunge. Seems they actually have been listening to customer and offering the options and upgrades people are asking for all be it at additional cost.

The Hooben Leopard seems to check all the boxes needed to build a decent tank (adjustable idler, bearings in road wheels, metal lower hull, metal suspension arms, metal sprockets and so on) after the stock electronics are ripped out and replaced with something less akin to a toy.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that maybe 😬 this time Hooben has a winner like with their T55 because I would sure like to have a working Leopard 1 in my inventory again.

[SoCalBobS]

Ohmigosh, I saw that 1a5! I remember that as one of my first Airfix kits. Congratulations, and start a thread when it arrives.

[RichJohnson]

Yeah his name hit me and I’ve seen it before and it triggered my BS detector. The TD tanks have enough visual discrepancies combined with the surmised, they don’t need false hype. I try to be objective with my assessment of what I have seen, and what I have been told.

the Merkava is a fragile model, it’s really a bit too large to be 3d resin. It needs more support inside the body and turret. Which I added after breaks occurred. The wheel arms had a fatal flaw of a weak point where they would break. I demanded hooben work with me and they did, providing me 3d files to print new parts. I had those files modified to my design and made them on shapeways and they have performed flawlessly.
their radio is garbage. It malfunctioned and caused the tank to drive backward on my bench after firing and broke the neat stowage baskets when it first got it, which I just made new ones last week in brass finally. I have done other things on and on, still the rear of the top of the turret is sagging a bit. I feel I want to tear it down and heat it up again and raise it back a tad and brace it with steel bars like I did in the hull. But for now I, back to battle ready status with it.

being a fan of the leopard 1, I am currently building 3 more Tamiya tank kits. They are very costly and intensive to build into good reliable models like I did with my expiremental Lepard1A7 project. The a4 welded composite turrets are easy to build up. But I have two urethane round turrets to back date two models and that utter kit being a static design is proving increbily difficult even for me with my experience with urethane turrets having no internal stuff at all.

so along comes hooben offering a leopard 1a5. I communicated with them and know what to expect this time around. Also, they are offering 3d printed metal arms and sprockets upgrade which I opted for as it will solve a major endurance issue. The rest we will see. Should be here in January. Yes it was costly but I like the tank model and don’t think I will build one of those so I figured ide buy it. It’s probably largely a copy of the Tamiya. I’m looking forward to it. To me it’s a quality model that may have some weak points I may have to improve upon but I know I can for sure. Compared to the TD tanks which are toys not models.

[SoCalBobS]

Wha'dja get? I think Hooben over reached themselves with bad decisions on the Merkava. So is it a T-55, or another Sherman?

Yeah, I had my suspicions about Gotz too.

[RichJohnson]

I recognized the name Gotz. I’ve seen him before and it stands out to me. I suspect he is a troll, especially since he would not elaborate logically as a person with merits would, Shoddy accusations without facts.
I am not excited about the Tongde models at this point. The people I have communicated with whom I cannot name have told me things I find idiotic and sad for tank model to be released at this point in time. I have not decided yet if I will even buy them. I had initially planned to purchase about 4 at the least to mix and match turrets etc to make the models I wanted. However at this point I will probably just buy one to fit my scale L7 gun barrel I’m producing into them for marketing purposes. I have my DKLM m60a3 so I don’t need it and may just buy and build another one eventually as they are quality models like Tamiya. But for now I blew my wad on another Hooben LOL. Yeah I guess I’m a masochist for buying another hooben after the Merkava project.

[SoCalBobS]

I think there is a wide range of quality between "perfect" and "sh*tbox POS $20 Walmart" as some have posted. It's not only one or the other. I see compromises as others have, but I'm reserving my opinion until they're in hand. I also recall the early Heng Long products I've owned and see the improvements they've made over the years. Considering that a major part of this hobby is user modification like boards, radios, steel components, gearboxes, batteries, and IR upgrades to name a few, I'm not rushing to judgement.

[Delta_19]

Looking at the pics from dklm it's all henglong or henglong clone electronic parts (I.E turret traverse, smoker, speaker).

Main board is unknown but willing to bet its a cheaper v7 or v6.

Suspension is nice, arms look like crap.

battery for an internal unit is a 3/10 IMO. I have no problem with an internal system but would have preferred a BMS controlled system over just balance leads.

All in all I was excited for this but looks like my earlier claims that is was gonna be worst then some $20 walmart POS are true.

[Rubicon99]

Someone on DKLM RC's Facebook alleges he bought one from an importer in Germany. Here's his comment:

"its garbage! Got it from one of the tank dealers in germany which imported a small number and regreted it. The electronics are bad. The plastic is to thin. The roadwheel arms will break easy. The gearbox is the only good thing."

My only caution is if he had unreasonable expectations, like a Tamiya product at Heng Long prices.

Interesting because according to TD the M60 tanks are not even ready to ship. And the fact that he thinks the gearboxes are the only good thing says he has no idea what he is talking about. I am familiar with those gearbox type and they are toy grade junk. If he has one let’s see his photos (?) then I will believe him.

Now I do have it on good authority that a few preproduction M60s are in the hands of some well known “persons” in the tank hobby and they are working on reviews, but have unofficially said not to expect much in value based on initial impressions. But I think we all knew that aways given the stated retail price of around $200.

[SoCalBobS]

Someone on DKLM RC's Facebook alleges he bought one from an importer in Germany. Here's his comment:

"its garbage! Got it from one of the tank dealers in germany which imported a small number and regreted it. The electronics are bad. The plastic is to thin. The roadwheel arms will break easy. The gearbox is the only good thing."

My only caution is if he had unreasonable expectations, like a Tamiya product at Heng Long prices.

[RichJohnson]

Once those tranys eat crap your on your own. They are mounted from the side and it does not appear HL units will fit in despite the claims Coolbank Wang alleged.

[Delta_19]

Well that battery is concerning. No bms just balance right to battery. Atleast the it's balance charging and not the mains.

[SoCalBobS]

Here's a photo I pulled from the DKLM RC website. He states he'll be posting the tanks for sale on his site "soon".

I'm guessing it's early pre-production.

Four posts to connect top and bottom hull.
Turret components appear similar to Heng Long - rotation motor, ring gear, airsoft gun.
MFU looks similar; plug-in slots are in generally the same locations as HL.
Smoker looks similar. Seems to be bolted on to a post.
There is a unit near the top rear that looks like a combined on/off switch and balance tap charging port.
Front hatch opens.
Speaker is like HL's compact unit.
There seem to be LED's in front, although earlier Wang said they were eliminating headlights for cost savings.
There may be a tension adjuster on the idler.
Looks like the road wheels are secured with bolts inside the hull.

The biggest unknown is how or whether the MFU, speaker and battery are secured. Maybe a plate over the torque rods? If not, one will have to be added.




Anything else you can see?

[Delta_19]

Some new posts from coolbank

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0286tJu6TV5gNBd6wEg2HPTabXRmuqQW1phfESbsPNW6k8cWuuFPYfgSmpqRtbVrtyl&id=100085622374165&mibextid=Nif5oz

[SoCalBobS]

(I hate FB) To see DKLM RC's comments I noted earlier, go to his FB page and start with the M60 photo dated 10/26, and check the comments connected to it.

[tank_me]

The direct link Delta posted works. Thanks.

[SoCalBobS]

You have to follow the comment and reply trees a few levels down.

[Delta_19]

Where did you see it, I look at his page and see his latest post was nov 9th about fun driving rc toys and not a class status.

Coolbank wangs profile post on October 26th

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0ZHnUvamdEsjLtNLeR8AJfDdqnb4yaXrziWNbfyrZQF6NTwSfgCnS2JUELuR8crs2l&id=100083341017623

[RichJohnson]

Where did you see it, I look at his page and see his latest post was nov 9th about fun driving rc toys and not a class status.

[SoCalBobS]

Bob, do you remember which group on FB or profile it was on?

Coolbank Wang on FB.