Tongde Models

[Rubicon99]

Ran across what appears to be the factory for a bunch of our 1/16 scale models. Their website is under a "Made-in-China" wholesale company. It's "Shantou Tongde Craft Products". The Mato metal tanks are all listed there under their name, as well as the Tongde tanks and the metal upgrades. What does that mean to me? After CNY is over, I'll get my M60 running, maybe with metal gearing.

https://stplane-tongde.en.made-in-ch...catalog-2.html

They are a bulk wholesaler. I think you have to place a minimum order of an unusable amount.

[SoCalBobS]

Ran across what appears to be the factory for a bunch of our 1/16 scale models. Their website is under a "Made-in-China" wholesale company. It's "Shantou Tongde Craft Products". The Mato metal tanks are all listed there under their name, as well as the Tongde tanks and the metal upgrades. What does that mean to me? After CNY is over, I'll get my M60 running, maybe with metal gearing.

https://stplane-tongde.en.made-in-china.com/product-group/cbTQXIVOCgkz/Tank-Models-New-Item-catalog-2.html

[tank_me]

The paint definitely makes it look much better.

[Rubicon99]

A few close up photos of Bobs M60 taken at the San Diego tank battle day on Jan 22 2023. Bobs paint work makes a inexpensive tank look like an expensive tank. Good job Bob 👍👍

[Vaseline]

Bob
That thing looks great on the battle field

[SoCalBobS]

At the SD battle:

[SoCalBobS]

You did a great job Bob! Looking forward to see it live in person during next tank battle in SD. BTW, what is your technique of making those tarp, bag on the tank. Thanks.

It's Value Gear. Resin cast, very detailed. Friendly seller.

[RichJohnson]

Value gear makes great tarp rolls and cammo net rolls and crates.

[ArmorBolt]

[By the way, this is not MY thread. Anybody with info is welcome.]

First, I have to say to prospective buyers, WAIT! Wait until we know more. I've had a lot of problems, the last being a broken sprocket! I'm working with DKLMRC and he will be talking to the factory to resolve the issues. It'll be a nice tank if they get fixed. Witness the following:

A couple more photos, now that the sun came out. It sure changes the perceived shade, doesn't it?

You did a great job Bob! Looking forward to see it live in person during next tank battle in SD. BTW, what is your technique of making those tarp, bag on the tank. Thanks.

[SoCalBobS]

Have you found a way to reposition the suspension arms to give the tank more lift? As in to make it look more like it's supposed to? It would probably require adding a track link or two. That would be my guess.

A FB post by DKLMRC states the metal upgrades raise the tank to a more prototypical height. No idea how, and he'll probably be offline until after CNY.

[SoCalBobS]

So close! As you guys can see from my posts, I'm not letting go so easily on this challenge. Heng Long gears almost fit. The HL gears with the short shafts, like from my Panzer IV chassis, are the right diameter for the sprocket, the driveshafts are the right length, the axle screws are the same thread, everything would fit EXCEPT the mounting holes and some protrusions in the hull that brace the stock boxes. Both of these could be remedied but I won't do this unless as a last resort. After all, I've only had it for six days. (...ohh, so close...)

I will probably buy the metal kits - in for a penny in for a c-note - when they hit the market.

[SoCalBobS]

That’s good to see the metal upgrades. But it will most likely be a while before they are actually available.

A while ago I found online the wholesale company that is manufacturing them. They wanted to know how many I wanted, minimum order 10! I'll wait for DKLM after CNY though.

[Rubicon99]

Carson from DKLM RC just posted some metal upgrades that are coming soon for the TongDE tanks. Sorry about the order as I don't know why they randomly show as they do.

That’s good to see the metal upgrades. But it will most likely be a while before they are actually available.

[SoCalBobS]

Has promise! From my experience though, two concerns: The gearbox cases are metal but what about the gears? And, the weak point would now be the idler. I see there is a metl tensioner to replace the plastic one, but how it screws into the plastic hull will take more stress. Fingers crossed.

tank_me, to your earlier post, to raise the height may be difficult with the torsion bar suspension. I'll leave that to others to figure out.

[tank_me]

Carson from DKLM RC just posted some metal upgrades that are coming soon for the TongDE tanks. Sorry about the order as I don't know why they randomly show as they do.

[Rubicon99]

Since the M60 gearboxes are dead, there's no point in swapping stuff. Maybe I can just push the M60 around? Actually I haven't set up the IR anyway. I will bring it for show and tell.

Wait...what? The gearboxes are dead!!! When did that happen? I have only been away for a few days I must have missed that post.

[SoCalBobS]

Bob its not the width you need to look at it’s the sprocket hub “backspacing”. If either the Abrams or M26 have even a close to the M60 backspace then they should work. Given you will have to use Abrams or M26 tracks but will have a running tank (for Sunday 😉).

Since the M60 gearboxes are dead, there's no point in swapping stuff. Maybe I can just push the M60 around? Actually I haven't set up the IR anyway. I will bring it for show and tell.

[Rubicon99]

Good thought. But both are too narrow. The Abrams is the closest, but it's 40mm and the M60 is 42mm.

Bob its not the width you need to look at it’s the sprocket hub “backspacing”. If either the Abrams or M26 have even a close to the M60 backspace then they should work. Given you will have to use Abrams or M26 tracks but will have a running tank (for Sunday 😉).

[SoCalBobS]

Will an Abrams or Pershing sprocket fit.

Good thought. But both are too narrow. The Abrams is the closest, but it's 40mm and the M60 is 42mm.

[SoCalBobS]

Have you found a way to reposition the suspension arms to give the tank more lift? As in to make it look more like it's supposed to? It would probably require adding a track link or two. That would be my guess.

No, doing something like that is in the future, when the gearboxes run the tank.