Rumors of Future Releases

[Tang - RC.Senshado]

If the 3.0 system becomes basically an analog to the HL 7.0 system, I will hope they sell boards and controllers separately as well. It will be good for those who own the first releases to retrofit/upgrade to current standards, as well as allow people like us to brain swap the Tongde electronics to a Heng Long roller.

[Rubicon99]

Tongde posted the following on FB:

TD 3.0 version comes with improved functions below;
1. The infrared battle system is now compatible with Tamiya, HL, or Clark systems.
2. Increased the receiving and transmitting distance of the infrared battle system.
3. Improved the track recoil motion, it's weaker than the previous version to replica the real tank motion.
4. Improve the tank sounds.
5. TD 3.0 version increased the electronic capacitor volume and improved the voltage stabilization circuit to make the output more stable. more reliable than the previous version.

They also posted a video on FB including showing the airsoft firing at a high elevation as well as other features.

Its good to see that they are listening to feedback from the end users and making needed changes. At the rate of improvements TD is making they will soon catch up to HL and in some areas surpass them.

I am keeping my 🤞🤞 that TD actually got the IR improvements right. We will know soon enough once the 3.0 hits the "streets".

[RichJohnson]

This is great news. They need to get that 3.0 into the m60s and other prior releases as they produce more. Now just need people to test the IR with other brands we use.

[SoCalBobS]

Tongde posted the following on FB:

TD 3.0 version comes with improved functions below;
1. The infrared battle system is now compatible with Tamiya, HL, or Clark systems.
2. Increased the receiving and transmitting distance of the infrared battle system.
3. Improved the track recoil motion, it's weaker than the previous version to replica the real tank motion.
4. Improve the tank sounds.
5. TD 3.0 version increased the electronic capacitor volume and improved the voltage stabilization circuit to make the output more stable. more reliable than the previous version.

They also posted a video on FB including showing the airsoft firing at a high elevation as well as other features.

[DavidN]

And it has the new TD 3.0 board too. Hope this new board solves all of the issues from the previous 3 boards.

[SoCalBobS]

DKLM posted a function video of the M109. Pro: main gun can elevate ~45 degrees, great for airsoft howitzer practice. Con: to allow the airsoft function, the barrel recoil is backwards, like that in HL and TD. My observation is that this is not for traversing very rough ground. Seven road wheels and narrow tracks will likely be prone to detracking. Looks like an awesome AFV though! Lots of hatches and movable parts, a flashing external machine gun, etc.

[SoCalBobS]

I guess it's all about the numbers though. They don't care if a hobbyist will buy 40 different tank models if available if they can sell one tank model to 100 people. That's more cost effective for tooling and manufacturing.

It's like that in other hobbies too. See how many r/c P-51 Mustangs or HO Santa Fe F7's are on the market when there are so many other worthy subjects. Well, all we can do is pick the subjects we like with our wallets.

[tank_me]

People like things that shoot stuff... The sad part about the philosophy of selling to the toy market is that those people want something cheap. The hobbyist market will pay higher prices for good stuff. I guess it's all about the numbers though. They don't care if a hobbyist will buy 40 different tank models if available if they can sell one tank model to 100 people. That's more cost effective for tooling and manufacturing.

[Rubicon99]

HL has stated a number of times IR battling is for the "true hobbyist" and they don't build tanks for the hobbyist they build "toys" for the teen and younger masses. The only reason they have IR in their tanks is some country's do not allow "dedicated airsoft" ONLY toys to be imported.

It's no surprise that IMEX sells mostly airsoft tanks. Most people have no one else to "play" with so airsoft is perceived as being a more overall enjoyable and viable option. I would agree with this sales philosophy if the airsoft function was a "gas blow back" action with properly timed recoil, but the current "windup" delay firing and out of time recoil action is so horribly "toyish".

[Rubicon99]

Does anyone know what the gear ratio is for the new m60a3 tank

If I remember correctly it's ~33:1.

[Mulehcmc1@gmail.com]

Does anyone know what the gear ratio is for the new m60a3 tank

[Max-U52]

I guess not everyone is focused on IR.

Bill, who owns Imex, told me that 80% of all the tanks he sells are airsoft.

[SoCalBobS]

Hadn't thought about lobbing, that'd be cool. I guess not everyone is focused on IR. I see 1/16 models on European forums that are hyper detailed but never see the light of day.

[RichJohnson]

I just don’t see a use for the m109 paladin for IR tank battles. No appeal at all especially since it’s not a tank at all, it’s just tracked artillery. Maybe if you like firing airsoft BBs it might be fun launching them far like artillery and trying to hit targets but just not useful for IR battles.

[SoCalBobS]

FYI, as of 6/24 DKLM RC has posted an unboxing video of Tongde's M109 SP Howitzer. He estimates general release by mid-July

[tdriver113]

Found this on the Tongde website. I suspect a slight language problem. Panther 3 ?

[SoCalBobS]

M5 Stuart? Ho hum, old news.

DKLM RC on FB states the M109 is ready for pre-order. However, there is no price listed or release date. Some old and new photos:

[SoCalBobS]

Perhaps scale speed discussion deserves its own thread? And, there is a thread for the Stuart once you have one (or two!) in hand..

[Max-U52]

I use a slightly different method. A scale quarter mile is 82.5 feet. I cross the starting line at full speed and then time how long it takes the tank to travel a scale quarter mile and then do the math from there. Trying to remember exactly how this goes but I think if you cover the 82.5 feet in 15 seconds it's a scale 60 miles per hour. Not the most precise method, but it works for me. Then there's the whole time thing, some people say you need to scale the time as well but I like to keep it simple.

[Meter Rat]

Just to add to the scale speed discussion. Scale speed can be found out using the below formula.

Apparently mathematicians. And engineers who build boats for use in test tanks use this formula for obtaining scale speed.

SS=RS/SQRT(S

SS=Scale speed

RS=Real speed

S=Scale

To calculate a scale speed, divide the real speed by the square root of the scale.

How accurate would this formula be? My view is if boat designers use it, must be right?

Most people on FB have decided that to get scale speed, you just divide by 1/16. So a full size tank covering 16km in one hour is travelling at 16kmh. Their logic is a 1/16 tank will travel at 1kmh as 1km is 1/16 of 16km.

So I am asking for an intelligent response or explanation.