Rumors of Future Releases

[SoCalBobS]

Great ideas. If you use FB, I recommend you visit DKLMRC's page and post your wishes there. Ones here won't be seen by Tongde.

[Meter Rat]

Also on DKLMs Facebook? Carson (TD technical advisor) is asking for what new tanks people would want to see. I asked for the JSDF Type 74 (mainly because of all the monsters movies it has been in) AMX 30 as addition to the "Cold War" era and Leclerc for a modern tank. Given the totality of available tank from one brand or another these tanks are not offered. Actually none of the major brand offer a French or Japanese tank (Tamiya no longer makes the Type10).

Other tanks I spoke directly with Carson about are the M47 Patton and Leopard 1 (round turret) tanks. Don't think the Leopard 1 will happen but through it out just for thought.

South Korean K2 Black Panther for a modern tank.

[Delta_19]

Tongde officially posted their next three releases; Churchill, M109 and M24 Chaffee! No release dates for now. If only there was a local distributor!

M24 let's goo!

[Carl303]

M47 or M48 would be nice
Carl

[MrChef]

A boy can dream...

Black Prince

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Prince_(tank)

Stridsvagn 103

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stridsvagn_103

Char B1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Char_B1

Type 97 Chi-Ha

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_97_Chi-Ha_medium_tank

BMP-1, 2, 3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMP

TOG2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOG2

Panther KF51

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panther_KF51

Panzer 38 (T)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMP

[DavidN]

Tongde officially posted their next three releases; Churchill, M109 and M24 Chaffee! No release dates for now. If only there was a local distributor!

It's time we have an affordable WWII British tank.

[Rubicon99]

Tongde officially posted their next three releases; Churchill, M109 and M24 Chaffee! No release dates for now. If only there was a local distributor!

Also on DKLMs Facebook? Carson (TD technical advisor) is asking for what new tanks people would want to see. I asked for the JSDF Type 74 (mainly because of all the monsters movies it has been in) AMX 30 as addition to the "Cold War" era and Leclerc for a modern tank. Given the totality of available tank from one brand or another these tanks are not offered. Actually none of the major brand offer a French or Japanese tank (Tamiya no longer makes the Type10).

Other tanks I spoke directly with Carson about are the M47 Patton and Leopard 1 (round turret) tanks. Don't think the Leopard 1 will happen but through it out just for thought.

[SoCalBobS]

Tongde officially posted their next three releases; Churchill, M109 and M24 Chaffee! No release dates for now. If only there was a local distributor!

[SoCalBobS]

If you are on Facebook, take a look at the Tongde page. They posted a video of their process, from CAD to CNC to Injection Molds and more. If you look closely at the beginning CAD segment, you'll see an M109 in development.

[keilau]

The TD Centurion was a surprise given that the Haya Centurion at $500 and Tamiya at ~$1000 came out long before TD released theirs. If only we could get the TDs at a lower TYD price they would be easily outselling the other two.

It is the cost of shipping from China (Hong Kong) that is holding back the Tongde RC tank products. Until a US distributor starts TD inventory in North America, Heng Long as sold by Toucan US warehouse has a 40% advantage in total cost.

[Rubicon99]

Tongde seems to be going in the direction you desire. First a Centurion with only the $1000+ Tamiya product on the market, then an M-60 in three versions, an M2 Bradley that nobody ever made, all with either plastic or metal components, and a potential Churchill or others on the way. All these are new to the market in the last year. Even the all metal T-90 is not a rehash of the HL product. It incorporates some unique features, as is visible in the advance photos.

The TD Centurion was a surprise given that the Haya Centurion at $500 and Tamiya at ~$1000 came out long before TD released theirs. If only we could get the TDs at a lower TYD price they would be easily outselling the other two.

[SoCalBobS]

Already have a T72 and a T90 so this is not something I'm even remotely interested in and I own quite a few Russian tanks. That's ironic because I own few German tanks and my heritage is German.

Just another rehash. I really wish companies would bring something new to market if they are going to go through the expense of cutting new molds. A nice Hellcat would sell well in the WW2 space. The Brits are under represented in the hobby and there are so many tanks to choose from there. I know not everyone has a 3D printer and not everyone like's Inkor's tanks, but damn he listens to the people that are buying them and what they want. He's torturing himself right now designing a T28 Super heavy (Yes, the T95 in World of Tanks). Been trying to convince him to do a T29. :)

Tongde seems to be going in the direction you desire. First a Centurion with only the $1000+ Tamiya product on the market, then an M-60 in three versions, an M2 Bradley that nobody ever made, all with either plastic or metal components, and a potential Churchill or others on the way. All these are new to the market in the last year. Even the all metal T-90 is not a rehash of the HL product. It incorporates some unique features, as is visible in the advance photos.

[Rubicon99]

I have been searching for technical specification of the 390 motor without any luck. Mabuchi published full specification of their 380PH and 380SH motors, including torque vs. rpm plots. There is no mentioning of 390 on the Mabuchi website.

The 390 seems to be a Mabuchi 380 knockoff with an internal cooling fan added to allow higher rpm. Some high end RC shop emphasize that their 390 use the same components as the Mabuchi 380 (ball bearings axle, precise balanced armature etc.) Still, nobody publishes 390 performance curves like the Mabuchi spec for 380. The higher rpm of the 390 definitely gives it more torque. The best way to get more horsepower is to move up to the 540/550 series motors like some of the high end Heng Long gearbox.

On the M60 TD uses a completely different mounting approach for the gearbox. I replaced the TD 380 with the Tamiya 380. But there is no room for the 390 even for a very large tank chassis.

The M60s hull is narrower then the T90/72 so fitting 390s is problematic. I also added Tamiya 380s to one of my M60 and found they actually perform less effectively then the stock HL 380 motors I used to replace the TD 380s.

390s have much longer "cans" vs 380s and stronger magnets then 380 motors. There primary use is for added torque and a little better top speed. The 390s with their superior torque curve "smooth out" the all around handling of heavy tanks with aggressive tracks. They do it better then ANY 380 motors can even if the 380s are run at high voltage.

Yes 540 and 550 are superior to 380 and 390 motors running at the standard 7.2v, but they only fit in a small number of tank hulls and need special gearboxes usually running in and around the 4:1 ratio range = medium to slow speed. Running 390s at 9.6 volts our higher actually produces a power output equal to or slightly higher then 540/550s running at 7.2 volts. Plus no special gearboxes with a low speed ratio is needed.

I have good video on my IG that clearly show this depicted in a race between one of my M41s with 390/stock HL gearbox running at 8.4v vs a HL Leopard 2 running with a HL "cross drive" 550 motor gearbox running at 11.1v. The Leopard 2 is only slightly faster. Had I been running at 9.6v which is typically the voltage I run 390s at the Leopard 2 would have not won the race or at least I would have tied it. This is not a one off as part of the "battle days" put on at the Ca. clubs are simple fun obstacles courses and tank racing. In such we have learned a lot by the head to head competitions and diversely different tank set ups.

[keilau]

I can understand the metal hull with torsion bars, though this hasn't proved beneficial in the HL metal hull version of the T90/72. The metal upper hull and turret???. They only add A LOT of weight and to a tank that uses 380 motors stock that can be problematic for handling performance outdoors. Fortunately there is enough room to swap out the under powered 380s for the much more powerful 390s.

With upgraded 390s coupled with what is surly going to be a very heavy tank it should make for good performance off road.

I have been searching for technical specification of the 390 motor without any luck. Mabuchi published full specification of their 380PH and 380SH motors, including torque vs. rpm plots. There is no mentioning of 390 on the Mabuchi website.

The 390 seems to be a Mabuchi 380 knockoff with an internal cooling fan added to allow higher rpm. Some high end RC shop emphasize that their 390 use the same components as the Mabuchi 380 (ball bearings axle, precise balanced armature etc.) Still, nobody publishes 390 performance curves like the Mabuchi spec for 380. The higher rpm of the 390 definitely gives it more torque. The best way to get more horsepower is to move up to the 540/550 series motors like some of the high end Heng Long gearbox.

On my M60, TD use a completely different mounting approach for the gearbox. I replaced the TD 380 with the Tamiya 380. But there is no room for the 390 even for a very large tank chassis.

[tank_me]

Already have a T72 and a T90 so this is not something I'm even remotely interested in and I own quite a few Russian tanks. That's ironic because I own few German tanks and my heritage is German.

Just another rehash. I really wish companies would bring something new to market if they are going to go through the expense of cutting new molds. A nice Hellcat would sell well in the WW2 space. The Brits are under represented in the hobby and there are so many tanks to choose from there. I know not everyone has a 3D printer and not everyone like's Inkor's tanks, but damn he listens to the people that are buying them and what they want. He's torturing himself right now designing a T28 Super heavy (Yes, the T95 in World of Tanks). Been trying to convince him to do a T29. :)

[SoCalBobS]

There is also a video clip on TD's FB page. The links look like they're supposed to be double pinned, but it's hard to tell.

[Rubicon99]

TD doesn't seem to care that the market for T90s and T72s is flooded with excellent option already. Heck they make Abrams, Leopard 2s and a Centurion that all have good quality competing brand options.

I can understand the metal hull with torsion bars, though this hasn't proved beneficial in the HL metal hull version of the T90/72. The metal upper hull and turret???. They only add A LOT of weight and to a tank that uses 380 motors stock that can be problematic for handling performance outdoors. Fortunately there is enough room to swap out the under powered 380s for the much more powerful 390s.

With upgraded 390s coupled with what is surly going to be a very heavy tank it should make for good performance off road.

Now let's hope they use the HL tracks or one dimensional similar so that we can use some of the excellent aftermarket T90/72 dual pin tracks that are available. I suspect that if they are being manufactured by Mato we can 🤞🤞expect the T90/72 Mato tracks and sprockets to work with the TD.

[SoCalBobS]

I've read that the T-90 is a very big seller. I imagine TD does their market research.

[keilau]

I guess they thought there was a need for that?

Yes, there is, for those who can afford it. There are many over $1K RC tanks on the market. Tongde should be able to keep their price well below that.

MotionRC has a similarly configured Torro Tiger 1 and King Tiger at under $600 and sold quite a few of them.

The Heng Long plastic hull is strong and rigid enough for RC tanks, but the Tongde plastic hull is much weaker from my one tank (TD M60A1) experience.

[MrChef]

I guess they thought there was a need for that?