Heng Long MERKAVA review, build out and field testing.

[RichJohnson]

I received the HL Merkava RC tank for xmas. This is my first RC tank, and based your posts I purchased the parts to upgrade the turret ring, motors, controller to 7.1, and the recoil unit. I purchased the same recoil unit and started working on installing yesterday, but saw that there is no way to connect the barrel to the recoil. Could you please LMK how you did this? Pics would be helpful (if available).

Thanks!
Mike

Mike, you use the bb tube that is stuck inside the airsoft gun. It is held in by an O ring and feels tight but just give it a yank and it will pull free. Then you attach that back to the breech of the main gun and stick the tube into the recoil shuttle.

[huckOhio]

Mike, you use the bb tube that is stuck inside the airsoft gun. It is held in by an O ring and feels tight but just give it a yank and it will pull free. Then you attach that back to the breech of the main gun and stick the tube into the recoil shuttle.

Rich, I tried that and here is what I found (forgive me, I am not mechanically inclined).

Both ends of the BB tube are different sides. The end that is inside the airsoft gun is 8.4mm (OD) and the end that slides in the tank barrel is 7.3mm (OD). The BB tube fits into the barrel with .6mm slop. The barrel is moved by a metal bracket that connects the barrel to a slide on the airsoft mechanism. There is not real "connection" between the BB metal tube and the barrel.

The barrel ID is 7.9mm
The ID of the recoil unit carriage is 8.4mm.

Only one end of the BB tube can slide in the tank barrel with approximately 6mm slop. The other end of the BB tube cannot fit into the barrel opening.

Both ends of the BB tube slide freely in the recoil carriage. I really don't see how this setup will work since it appears to depend on a compression fit between the barrel and tube & tube and recoil unit.

Here is a pic of the BB tube.



I really appreciate any suggestions/help to get this to work.

Thanks
Mike

[Rubicon99]

Rich, I tried that and here is what I found (forgive me, I am not mechanically inclined).

Both ends of the BB tube are different sides. The end that is inside the airsoft gun is 8.4mm (OD) and the end that slides in the tank barrel is 7.3mm (OD). The BB tube fits into the barrel with .6mm slop. The barrel is moved by a metal bracket that connects the barrel to a slide on the airsoft mechanism. There is not real "connection" between the BB metal tube and the barrel.

The barrel ID is 7.9mm
The ID of the recoil unit carriage is 8.4mm.

Only one end of the BB tube can slide in the tank barrel with approximately 6mm slop. The other end of the BB tube cannot fit into the barrel opening.

Both ends of the BB tube slide freely in the recoil carriage. I really don't see how this setup will work since it appears to depend on a compression fit between the barrel and tube & tube and recoil unit.

Here is a pic of the BB tube.



I really appreciate any suggestions/help to get this to work.

Thanks
Mike

I have installed four of the Mod 1B recoils into Merkavas and at least a dozen into other HL and TD tanks without any issues. All of them work great.

For the Merkava all you need to do is re-install the stock HL extension tube into the stock HL barrel as it came out of the tank. The extension should have been attached to the stock barrel with a set screw. The fact that the two HL parts are loose it not the fault of the Mod 1B recoil unit.

The HL extension tube used on the Merkava is loose in the Mod 1B recoil unit because the tube is designed to be held in place with a tight fitting rubber "O ring" seal in the stock HL BB unit. The extension is slightly smaller in diameter then the usual "machined in" extension normally present on HL barrels. A such you will need to "mimic" the "O ring" by simply adding a thin tape (such as electrical tape) around the part of the extension that goes into the recoil.

Don't try to overthink the installation and make it harder on yourself. It really is as simple as I just said.

[huckOhio]

Don't try to overthink the installation and make it harder on yourself. It really is as simple as I just said.

Thank you for the advice. I've been emailing Rich and he helped me figure it out using the BB tube.

Thanks again!

[Rubicon99]

New more correct Merkava tracks have arrived. I will be installing them on the Merkava soon.

Initial impression are good. Detailing is sharp and they are solid links with no hallow segments. Which of course makes the rather heavy compared to the stock HL metal tracks.

[keilau]

New more correct Merkava tracks have arrived. I will be installing them on the Merkava soon.

Initial impression are good. Detailing is sharp and they are solid links with no hallow segments. Which of course makes the rather heavy compared to the stock HL metal tracks.

Is it from Taigen/Torro or Mato? A link to your sales source is much appreciated.

[Rubicon99]

Is it from Taigen/Torro or Mato? A link to your sales source is much appreciated.

Toucan's home site. They are also on eBay under one of the Toucans other names but you have to dig. You have to use the corresponding brand of sprocket to run this track. The HL sprockets have different timing and are slight wider so they do not work.

[keilau]

Toucan's home site. They are also on eBay under one of the Toucans other names but you have to dig. You have to use the corresponding brand of sprocket to run this track. The HL sprockets have different timing and are slight wider so they do not work.

I found 2 metal tracks for Merkava at the Toucan website. The newer track sells for $12 more. The pictures show better details with sharper cast, but it still shows a lot of exposed connecting pins. I may have misunderstood you when you mentioned "solid link" and I was thinking closed pins.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/285657502583

A month after I ordered the part, Hooben just shipped the Hooben Merkava nylon sprocket set. I hope to see it before the end of February. It may be sooner if it comes by air.

[Rubicon99]

I found 2 metal tracks for Merkava at the Toucan website. The newer track sells for $12 more. The pictures show better details with sharper cast, but it still shows a lot of exposed connecting pins. I may have misunderstood you when you mentioned "solid link" and I was thinking closed pins.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/285657502583

A month after I ordered the part, Hooben just shipped the Hooben Merkava nylon sprocket set. I hope to see it before the end of February. It may be sooner if it comes by air.

Solid meaning not hallow like the typical metal HL tracks.

[keilau]

Solid meaning not hallow like the typical metal HL tracks.

Understand and agree.

[RichJohnson]

You are lucky you got it by now because Chinese new year just started and all companies shut down for a month or two to celebrate

[MGTbrOdiE]

Where the IR receiver is mounted on this merkava would that be allowed in tank club battles I ask cause I to have a merkava I would like to add the legodei receiver unit to but seems like the gunners sight which isn’t shown in the photos and the cctv scanner may be blocking the IR for sure would be blocked if commanders hatch was opened, how strict are the IR mounting rules? I know my son’s Abrams with the stock mushroom ir is super hard to hit because the loaders hatch has to be open to plug in IR receiver making frontal attacks a near impossible. Either way the member who posted this did an incredible job providing pictures and entertaining content.

[Rubicon99]

Where the IR receiver is mounted on this merkava would that be allowed in tank club battles I ask cause I to have a merkava I would like to add the legodei receiver unit to but seems like the gunners sight which isn’t shown in the photos and the cctv scanner may be blocking the IR for sure would be blocked if commanders hatch was opened, how strict are the IR mounting rules? I know my son’s Abrams with the stock mushroom ir is super hard to hit because the loaders hatch has to be open to plug in IR receiver making frontal attacks a near impossible. Either way the member who posted this did an incredible job providing pictures and entertaining content.

The Lego IR receiver are actually very sensitive and can be mount rather low on the turret. Just make sure there is nothing obstructing it within 2-3 inches. Any closer and to obstruction will tend to block IR beams.

Here is mine installed just behind the commanders hatch on my Merk.

[MGTbrOdiE]

Thanks for responding it’s helpful to know what others have had success with. It is a nice spot you choose to place it.

[dai phan]

Hi all,

I am about to order this tank. How is the scale fidelity to the real thing? Dai

[Rubicon99]

Hi all,

I am about to order this tank. How is the scale fidelity to the real thing? Dai

Its the most accurate HL tank made with a number of brass etched parts and the first new generation of major upgrades to bring the line closer to a Tamiya level of suspension performance. In short the first HL to have torsion bar suspension as a standard feature.

This one you will like. The paint color is wrong but that is an easy fix.

[dai phan]

Its the most accurate HL tank made with a number of brass etched parts and the first new generation of major upgrades to bring the line closer to a Tamiya level of suspension performance. In short the first HL to have torsion bar suspension as a standard feature.

This one you will like. The paint color is wrong but that is an easy fix.

Yes this offer appears to be more refined than the previous ones. However large silver screws to hold down the smoke grill will have to go. Dai

[tank_me]

Yes this offer appears to be more refined than the previous ones. However large silver screws to hold down the smoke grill will have to go. Dai

I replaced all the screws with mini bolts.

[dai phan]

Hi all,

I just placed an order at MRC. I also ordered the machine gun with light. I have seen some really nice looking HL Merkava on YT. Looks so real ! I think HL really up their game with this one. Dai

[dai phan]

Hi all,

My Merkava is here. What a big tank and I think HL really steps up with this release. Dai