Rumors of Future Releases

[keilau]

Yeah, but if you call 'em on it they'll just say they meant ready to run, or some other cheesy excuse.

But that does raise a question, I wonder what the fastest stock tank is? I mean right out of the box. I imagine it's an all plastic tank. It's probably one I would never expect, like the pantiger.

The stock Heng Long RTR tanks have 380 motors running at 14000 to 16000 rpm and a gearbox of 1:39 gear ratio. Typical scale speed are 23 to 26 mph dependent on the motor rpm and the track length. Larger tanks run slightly faster due to the longer tracks.

My fastest Heng Long tank is the German Leopard 2A6 with the Heng Xin ball bearing gearbox and Mxfans 390 motors. It measures a scale speed of 46 mph.

[Rubicon99]

The stock Heng Long RTR tanks have 380 motors running at 14000 to 16000 rpm and a gearbox of 1:39 gear ratio. Typical scale speed are 23 to 26 mph dependent on the motor rpm and the track length. Larger tanks run slightly faster due to the longer tracks.

My fastest Heng Long tank is the German Leopard 2A6 with the Heng Xin ball bearing gearbox and Mxfans 390 motors. It measures a scale speed of 46 mph.

Going to hijack the thread for a post or two. If people want a thread to discuss this topic in more depth I will start one.

Speed depends on many factors. Gear ratio, motor size and brand, final drive sprocket diameter, type/design of tracks, surface being driven on, not being to light weight and most importantly battery voltage.

A stock HL metal upgraded tank lets say a Merkava for example. By simply jacking up the voltage to 9.6 or higher will easily outrun a similar HL Merkava with 390 motors and bearing gearboxes running on 7.4 volts.

The fastest HL stock tank is not any of the plastic versions they are all to light weight and do not transfer power to the ground well. As crazy as it may seem, consistently the KV1 in what Motion RC calls "professional" version (metal upgrades) is the fastest. I am no big KV fan, but given making tanks stupidly fast is something I have a reputation for, the KV came as a surprise and just by happenstance had the best mix of the above list.

Now add 390 motors and a 9.6+ volt battery and you have a ridiculously fast tank that will outrun almost anything not substantial upgraded. Want it even faster drop in a high speed "dual current" drive and run it at 9.6+ volts and it will give a 1/10 rc off road truck a run for it's money. Just be ready folks to break stuff while laughing your back end off doing so.

[SoCalBobS]

I imagine the KV geometry helps, with a large sprocket and a short track length. I'd love to see a "Hyper-KV"!

[keilau]

I imagine the KV geometry helps, with a large sprocket and a short track length. I'd love to see a "Hyper-KV"!

The size of the sprockets do not matter. Here is the equations for calculating the scale speed.

1. motor rpm x gearbox ratio = track rpm
2. track rpm x track length (inches) x 16 = scale speed in in/min
3. convert in/min to miles per hour (or kilometers per hour)

The 380 or 390 motor rotational speed are all over the places. I highly recommend using matched pair for any RC tank.

[Rubicon99]

The size of the sprockets do not matter. Here is the equations for calculating the scale speed.

1. motor rpm x gearbox ratio = track rpm
2. track rpm x track length (inches) x 16 = scale speed in in/min
3. convert in/min to miles per hour (or kilometers per hour)

The 380 or 390 motor rotational speed are all over the places. I highly recommend using matched pair for any RC tank.

With all do respect we are not talking scale speed on a modified tank we are talking flat out unrealistic toy fun speed of an off the shelf HL tank. That said the size of the sprockets absolutely does matter. Repeated real world side by side testing proves it does. I swap sprocket and tracks types often on tanks. Yes many tanks have sprockets with similar backspacing to allow this. Example is running an M41 sprocket on an Abrams (with M41 tracks) and running Abrams sprocket on an M41 (with Abrams tracks).

The M41 is substantial faster with Abrams sprocket then with it stock sprockets. The Abrams when used with a M41 sprocket is much slower. These has been demonstrated in front of numerous people some with mechanical engineering backgrounds and they agree the sprockets make a substantial difference.

Another example is the stock Panzer vs stock Sherman top toy speeds. Both use the same gearbox, battery and are about the same weight yet consistently the Panzer is faster. The Panzer is faster because of it sprockets size. This is a problem we often have to contend with at all three Ca clubs during battle days and why we require tanks to be driven in low power mode.

Simple undeniable fact is the sprockets size changes the overall final drive ratio (something your formula does not account for nor does it take into account torque and rolling resistance) and this effects the maximum speed that can be obtained given a stock metal HL gearboxes running a stock voltage battery.

Sure with better motors, gearboxes, tracks and batteries higher speeds can be obtained but that is a discussion for its own thread.

[keilau]

With all do respect we are not talking scale speed on a modified tank we are talking flat out unrealistic toy fun speed of an off the shelf HL tank. That said the size of the sprockets absolutely does matter. Repeated real world side by side testing proves it does. I swap sprocket and tracks types often on tanks. Yes many tanks have sprockets with similar backspacing to allow this. Example is running an M41 sprocket on an Abrams (with M41 tracks) and running Abrams sprocket on an M41 (with Abrams tracks).

The M41 is substantial faster with Abrams sprocket then with it stock sprockets. The Abrams when used with a M41 sprocket is much slower. These has been demonstrated in front of numerous people some with mechanical engineering backgrounds and they agree the sprockets make a substantial difference.

Another example is the stock Panzer vs stock Sherman top toy speeds. Both use the same gearbox, battery and are about the same weight yet consistently the Panzer is faster. The Panzer is faster because of it sprockets size. This is a problem we often have to contend with at all three Ca clubs during battle days and why we require tanks to be driven in low power mode.

Simple undeniable fact is the sprockets size changes the overall final drive ratio (something your formula does not account for nor does it take into account torque and rolling resistance) and this effects the maximum speed that can be obtained given a stock metal HL gearboxes running a stock voltage battery.

Sure with better motors, gearboxes, tracks and batteries higher speeds can be obtained but that is a discussion for its own thread.

The size of the sprockets do not matter. Here is the equations for calculating the 1/16 scale tank speed.

1. motor rpm x gearbox ratio = track rpm
2. track rpm x track length (inches) = actual RC tank speed in in/min

When you use a larger diameter sprocket, you need to increase the track length to go around it. A longer track means faster tank speed. It is simple mathematics. Please, let me know how my equations were wrong if you are not convinced.

On a wheeled RC car, we all can see and understand how a larger diameter set of wheels run faster. Same principle.

[Rubicon99]

The size of the sprockets do not matter. Here is the equations for calculating the 1/16 scale tank speed.

1. motor rpm x gearbox ratio = track rpm
2. track rpm x track length (inches) = actual RC tank speed in in/min

When you use a larger diameter sprocket, you need to increase the track length to go around it. A longer track means faster tank speed. It is simple mathematics. Please, let me know how my equations were wrong if you are not convinced.

On a wheeled RC car, we all can see and understand how a larger diameter set of wheels run faster. Same principle.

You just agreed with my point. Larger sprocket equals fast track speeds and thus FASTER tank. What more is there to discuss.

[SoCalBobS]

large sprocket and short track length = faster speed from equal rpm. Envision the track as another gear, and the gear ratio will affect the end speed.

[sclui56]

Sucker is too fast https://youtu.be/SDAUYGq6-ac?si=k78S2kJ-gDf3ccJx

[SoCalBobS]

Sucker is too fast https://youtu.be/SDAUYGq6-ac?si=k78S2kJ-gDf3ccJx

Is that on the fast or slow mode?

[RichJohnson]

I really gotta say, while making an Abrams or leopard ludicrous fast is fun for a moment, like when I out ran Rubicons fastest tank with my prototype Leoaprd 1 drive, it was just insane to try and drive in anything but a straight line or a huge open field and quickly became boring and useless for any other kind of running or operation.
Speed also tends to cause you break parts, especially with the temptation to get airborne!

[Handy Lance]

Speed is fun. My tank isn’t actually that fast on 3s, but it is a great scale unstoppable torque monster. But agreed, in these tanks there is to much wear associated with high speeds. Especially on suspension components.

[tank_me]

Speed is also a detriment on the real tanks which is the exact reason the Abrams is speed limited to 45mph. Higher speeds than that are bad for track life and track retention.

[keilau]

Speed is also a detriment on the real tanks which is the exact reason the Abrams is speed limited to 45mph. Higher speeds than that are bad for track life and track retention.

The 45 mph limit for US Abrams M1A1 is its highway transport speed limit. The Abrams battlefield speed limit is 25 mph for gas consumption consideration. Abrams has a gas turbine engine which is simpler, reliable and runs more quietly, but it is also gas Hungary. Only the US military can afford it and support the logistic. Cool war era tanks such as Patton, Pershing usually have 20+ highway speed. WW2 tanks were much slower due to track integrity consideration.

[tank_me]

Welp, my Banggood order for Stuarts has shipped. Says it's slated for arrival on 7/11 so that sounds like the slow boat...

[Ziptar]

I've been following this thread and telling myself "No, Ziptar you are already 5 tank projects behind. You don't need another just yet." but I caved... Just ordered one from Banggood. For the price it's as cheap or cheaper than the static Classy Hobby kit and I'd be kicking myself later when they were out of stock or the price hiked.

It'll be a fun project to turn it into an M8 HMC or M8A1 tank destroyer prototype later on. I've already scheduled it for a Fender-ectomy!

[keilau]

Shantou Tongde post several 1/16 scale new tanks on their website, including 2 versions of Abrams with torsion bar suspension and several Shermans.

https://www.stplane.com/tank

The Abrams have made it to the Toucan Hobby China inventory. I have not seen an online review yet. I hope that Tongde would make the Abrams to scale so that I can use Tamiya tracks on it. Price is very good for a torsion bar suspension MBT.

[tank_me]

Shantou Tongde post several 1/16 scale new tanks on their website, including 2 versions of Abrams with torsion bar suspension and several Shermans.

https://www.stplane.com/tank

The Abrams have made it to the Toucan Hobby China inventory. I have not seen an online review yet. I hope that Tongde would make the Abrams to scale so that I can use Tamiya tracks on it. Price is very good for a torsion bar suspension MBT.

The TongDE Abrams, from what I've seen from pics, has the worst scale details of any of the Abrams on the market including the Tamiya, the Heng Long, the Hooben, the Trumpeter static kits in 1/16, and even the Hobby Engine. It's your money though.

[keilau]

The TongDE Abrams, from what I've seen from pics, has the worst scale details of any of the Abrams on the market including the Tamiya, the Heng Long, the Hooben, the Trumpeter static kits in 1/16, and even the Hobby Engine. It's your money though.

I am very disappointed to hear your comment. What I am looking for is an inexpensive 1/16 scale Abrams with torsion bar suspension and well fitted suspension arms. I have the Tongde US Patton M60A1 which met the above 2 expectations, but the track is completely off scale. Well, when I go for cheap, I can't have everything. My bottom line question is whether the Tongde RC Abrams looks like an Abrams. The Tongde Patton does not look like a Patton because of the extra wide track. But it is one of the best running tank in my small collection. I am surprised that there is not an aftermarket track/sprocket set that corrects the problem yet.

[Max-U52]

If the lower hull with tortion bar suspension is of sufficient quality, perhaps you could mate it with a heng long or trumpeter upper and Turret? Maybe both, even, if you have deep pockets? This is one area where building RC tanks is kind of like building muscle cars. Really nice tanks cost money, how nice do you want yours to be? That doesn't sound as cool as "Speed costs money, how fast you wanna go?", but I think you know what I mean.
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