Torro American M16 Half-tracks are back

[tank_me]

Get them while they are hot. Torro just sent me an Email saying that the M16 Half-tracks are back in stock. These haven't really been for sale since 2018 from what I remember. The are more expensive than they used to be though. Not sure if they are worth the price they want for them now: 229,00 € - EUR incl. 19% VAT. I think I got mine with shipping in 2018 for like $150 total.

https://www.torro-shop.de/1-16-RC-M16-Half-track

Derek

[oldwolf]

I am astounded that they keep producing this, relatively rare, AA version instead of doing a 1/16 scale rc model of the much more common and important troop carrier versions. I suspect they would sell at least twice as many of the troop carriers as they do this one.

[CountChocula]

Glad to see it back. Personally, I’d like to get six of those front wheels so I could scratch build an M8 armored car.

[tank_me]

I am astounded that they keep producing this, relatively rare, AA version instead of doing a 1/16 scale rc model of the much more common and important troop carrier versions. I suspect they would sell at least twice as many of the troop carriers as they do this one.

Torro is basically paying WSN for the rights to put the Torro name on this half-track. In fact, Torro is probably just putting the money up for the production of the RC version and WSN is probably still the producer of the half-track since they were the original producer of the M16 RC version. WSN is the RC side of Trumpeter. WSN has produced RC kits based off of the Trumpeter Tiger I, the Trumpeter T-34/85, and the Trumpeter M16 half-track. WSN never released the Trumpeter MRAPs as RC vehicles, but Torro did so they were probably just made by WSN also. Don't get me started on those total piece of crap vehicles. I own them and they are complete s***t.

It can cost $10K to produce one injection mold and these kits have many molds for the parts. Changing just one mold to remove the hole from the rear deck to convert it to troop carrier instead of an M16 can cost a lot of money. They want to make money with the least amount of investment.

Derek

[keilau]

How does it compare to the Trumpeter static model kit?

http://www.hobbylinc.com/trumpeter-m16-halftrack-with-multiple-gun-plastic-model-military-vehicle-1:16-scale-911?source=froogle&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI08ngks2J_QIV3hbUAR0MUw49EAQYASABEgKks_D_BwE

The Torro seems like an excellent deal if they can agree on no adding VAT for US order.

[RichJohnson]

I don't think the torro half-track is made or designed by WSM. I have two halftracks. One I converted to a T12 tank destroyer but stalled out after an injury to my hand while working on it years ago. The motor on it burned up and I got a new one but haven't got back to it. The other I got from a friend that rebuilt it into an M3. They are much higher quality than the junk wsn makes. Seriously. I punted the first of 3 wsn trucks I bought together because it went two feet and spun it's drive gears off the drive shaft. I never did anything with the other two in the box. I gave one to my kid when he was young and let him push it because they are total crap.
The torro half-track is a quality built rc vehicle.

[DevilDog77]

Glad to see it back. Personally, I’d like to get six of those front wheels so I could scratch build an M8 armored car.

I know it’s not an M8 but the drive train might be useful

https://www.zandatoys.com/1-16-german-puma-sdkfz-234-2-rc-vehicle-assembly-kit/

[DevilDog77]

I think I found a distributor here in the US. Anybody have experience with Zandatoys?

https://www.zandatoys.com/1-16-torro...adruplet-flak/

[tank_me]

I don't think the torro half-track is made or designed by WSM.

You are entitled to your opinion. The original release was most definitely WSN. I bought this one in 2018 and it was copywritten in 2017. As far as I know, that was the last release of the half-tracks prior to this one. The product number is 00806 which is very similar to the 1/16 scale kit numbers that Trumpeter puts out for example the Trumpeter M16 part number is 00911.

I think I found a distributor here in the US. Anybody have experience with Zandatoys?

https://www.zandatoys.com/1-16-torro...adruplet-flak/

I've bought from Zandatoys. A little slow on the shipping, but it did arrive. Bought several items from them on different occasions.

[tank_me]

The original release didn't have the two figures that came with mine. You can see in the pic below that there are no solders in the box art, but in the box art of mine there are:

[ezmoneychuck]

Ordered one last nite. I plan on modeling my 1:1 scale M3. Will be much cheaper to charge a LiPo battery and run the Torro since Miss LEAD" gets 2 MPG with a tailwind!

[ezmoneychuck]

[Milspec1]

I ordered one today and can't find the rechargeable batteries for them. Any ideas?

[tank_me]

Only place I know of that stocked the rechargeable that fits in the battery box under the half-track was Torro, but they aren't showing anything on their site at the moment. Zanda Toys is showing out of stock. I remember trying to find an alternative battery that would fit in the battery box and came up with nothing because when I got mine the battery box didn't work with normal batteries even after I resoldered the battery posts. The battery is basically a 9.6V 500mAh eight AAA sized NiCD cells in a long square pack. The pack is the reverse polarity than the MRAP battery they sell. You could buy the MRAP version and swap the pin positions in the MRAP battery connector.

https://www.torro-shop.de/

https://www.torro-shop.de/Battery-an...Torro-Maxx-Pro (comment on the reverse polarity right on the Torro site)

https://www.zandatoys.com/torro-u-s-m16-halftrack-rc-truck-rechargeable-battery-9-6v-500-mah-jst/

Derek

[sclui56]

Haven't been over on IMEX for awhile and stumbled on the M16 tonight https://www.taigentanks.com/collecti...m16-half-track

[tank_me]

IMEX has a sale going on also...10% off I think. I know...not much.