Toucan is carrying TongDe tanks now.

[Rubicon99]

Looks like Toucan Hobby is jumping on to the TongDe wagon now. They should be showing up on EBay any time.

[keilau]

Toucan Hobby has a direct website where you can find their lowest prices:

https://www.toucanhobby.com/

The search function of this website left a lot to be desired. Everything can be ordered here if you can find it. You can find all their Tongde inventory, tanks and parts, by just searching "Tongde".

Unfortunately, they only ship Tongde tanks from China, typical shipping cost per tank is $100 plus/minus 20. They are considering adding Tongde tanks to their US store, but it won't happen until later this year.

[Rubicon99]

Toucan Hobby has a direct website where you can find their lowest prices:

https://www.toucanhobby.com/

The search function of this website left a lot to be desired. Everything can be ordered here if you can find it. You can find all their Tongde inventory, tanks and parts, by just searching "Tongde".

Unfortunately, they only ship Tongde tanks from China, typical shipping cost per tank is $100 plus/minus 20. They are considering adding Tongde tanks to their US store, but it won't happen until later this year.

Following Toucans history of adding new products and releases. They will be on eBay soon enough through one of Toucans many eBay names. Shipping will be the same as it is for HL tanks from China nowhere near $100 because Toucan unlike DKLM does not ship via air freight. Huge difference in cost. Once they start eBay sales they will as usual start to stock them at their US warehouses.

Even with Toucan entering the TongDe field, Motion RC will have overall very competitive pricing given free shipping and for many states like Ca. no added sales tax that eBay automatically collects when purchasing from Toucan (or one of their other names).

[keilau]

When I purchase from the Toucan direct website, I buy from their US stock only. I am considering buying a plastic version HL Challenger2. The direct website price is $117 with a checkout price of $150 (including shipping and tax). I cannot find similar price from their ebay store. Yes, the ebay protection is very important too. Most Toucan sales person are eager and try to be helpful, but their RC tank knowledge were very limited. After sales service is ok because they always refer me to a Heng Long technician who helps me directly, sometimes using face time.

https://www.toucanhobby.com/products/th17734-dzn1?variant=43539279806714

The shipping cost is shown only during checkout.

[Max-U52]

Good find, I might have to pick one of those up myself. Way back when I tried to buy a challenger from eBay. I checked the sellers details and it said he ships by USPS so I bought the tank. Then he went and shipped it by FedEx, which is a major hassle for me and they ended up having to send it back. There was no way I was going to drive over an hour just to pick up a tank, so back it went. But with a price like that, maybe it's time to try again.

[Max-U52]

Well, for some reason it doesn't seem to like my phone so I guess I'll have to try from the PC when I get home from work tonight.

[keilau]

The standard version TD Bradley at Toucan direct website is $253.90 USD, but the shipping is high.

https://www.toucanhobby.com/products/td-m2121-m2a2-bradley-320-po-y-dzn1?_pos=1&_psq=bradley&_ss=e&_v=1.0

The standard version TD Bradley at Toucan ebay store is $378.90+$45.90 shipping from China.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/326065894122?itmmeta=01HTJ2F0H2CP6JK3F24J74WTM5&hash=item4beb0ab2ea:g:5aoAAOSwy-5mAQep&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwON9TP4DUHu74YgtblGBk9MxFJUGCFtgoFE8ufKDZRePzem6l2D3X7BB9Ys0wCrmn%2B38DVjtb9RJeqqk%2B44eTbfZEGVLHGkuJoS19Wj8p5cCwfcvc5kvBNkzif3F5pnZBsSxRQ4F8%2FI7k%2FsmjAW8%2FZ%2BN%2BzdHlasUXJgiAq4EhJsKIcnySwX2XvIZ4NbHhRGhYFVeqp5jph%2B0g15BoksQqbSGBSYWQMiGqHlRgF1X8RDREpsxFC7TTuAvSN3lgOy9wA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9CIvMLUYw

I still believe the Toucan direct website is cheaper than their ebay store in total cost.

[keilau]

Good find, I might have to pick one of those up myself. Way back when I tried to buy a challenger from eBay. I checked the sellers details and it said he ships by USPS so I bought the tank. Then he went and shipped it by FedEx, which is a major hassle for me and they ended up having to send it back. There was no way I was going to drive over an hour just to pick up a tank, so back it went. But with a price like that, maybe it's time to try again.

Make sure you registrate before you order. The Toucan direct website still has many bugs. It works ok for me after some learning curve to find the product I want.

[Rubicon99]

The standard version TD Bradley at Toucan direct website is $253.90 USD, but the shipping is high.

https://www.toucanhobby.com/products/td-m2121-m2a2-bradley-320-po-y-dzn1?_pos=1&_psq=bradley&_ss=e&_v=1.0

The standard version TD Bradley at Toucan ebay store is $378.90+$45.90 shipping from China.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/326065894122?itmmeta=01HTJ2F0H2CP6JK3F24J74WTM5&ha sh=item4beb0ab2ea:g:5aoAAOSwy-5mAQep&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwON9TP4DUHu74YgtblGBk9 MxFJUGCFtgoFE8ufKDZRePzem6l2D3X7BB9Ys0wCrmn%2B38DV jtb9RJeqqk%2B44eTbfZEGVLHGkuJoS19Wj8p5cCwfcvc5kvBN kzif3F5pnZBsSxRQ4F8%2FI7k%2FsmjAW8%2FZ%2BN%2BzdHla sUXJgiAq4EhJsKIcnySwX2XvIZ4NbHhRGhYFVeqp5jph%2B0g1 5BoksQqbSGBSYWQMiGqHlRgF1X8RDREpsxFC7TTuAvSN3lgOy9 wA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9CIvMLUYw
I still believe the Toucan direct website is cheaper than their ebay store in total cost.

Both those prices are higher then Motion RC when shipping is added in given that Motion has free shipping. But I suspect the price will come down as it did with the Merkava and others. Toucan has always started new products high and then dropped prices especially on eBay.

Once Toucan has US stock of TongDe tanks their website will not be cheaper. Especially if you have any experience "making deals" with Toucan on eBay and just don't pay the listed asking price. Easy to get them to drop 10-20% on a US stock tanks you just have to haggle a little and call their bluff and walk away. Shortly there after they will most likely send you and offer at or very close to your price. The more you buy from them on eBay the more then tend to "meet" your price. This is not so with their direct non eBay sales.

What is good about their non eBay website is spare parts and the odds and ends one find themselves needing and which are not available EBay.

[MrChef]

Once Toucan has US stock of TongDe tanks their website will not be cheaper. Especially if you have any experience "making deals" with Toucan on eBay and just don't pay the listed asking price. Easy to get them to drop 10-20% on a US stock tanks you just have to haggle a little and call their bluff and walk away. Shortly there after they will most likely send you and offer at or very close to your price. The more you buy from them on eBay the more then tend to "meet" your price. This is not so with their direct non eBay sales.

What is good about their non eBay website is spare parts and the odds and ends one find themselves needed and which are not available EBay.

This is Exactly my experience.

But at least for me I had to get to know the hobby and market pricing as well as shop around and compare when adding shipping etc. As a first timer Motion RC is IMO the best bet. But I have gotten 2 very good deals on the last 2 tanks I've gotten from Toucan, 1 an Ebay auction and the other a sale on a U.S. warehouse stock tank they upgraded. It doesn't hurt me that they ship from their warehouse in Cranberry N.J. either. I'm in N.Y. and I usually get deliveries in 3 days or less. I have heard they also have a west coast warehouse but don't know more about that.

As per parts I also agree. The only challenge with this is the shipping and wait times since it's mostly coming from China. But I did grab some Plastic Tiger I tracks for $3.95 per set.

[keilau]

Tongde sales number is trailing far behind Heng Long product. The latest news of MotionRC messed up with the "upgraded version" using poorly designed brass bushings is not helping. Toucan Hobby is considering adding TD product to their US stock if TD sales number justifies that, but it is far from a done deal.

The saving in buying Toucan direct is the ebay fee which is about 10% of the tank cost.

[Rubicon99]

Tongde sales number is trailing far behind Heng Long product. The latest news of MotionRC messed up with the "upgraded version" using poorly designed brass bushings is not helping. Toucan Hobby is considering adding TD product to their US stock if TD sales number justifies that, but it is far from a done deal.

The saving in buying Toucan direct is the ebay fee which is about 10% of the tank cost.

One, TD is a very small RC tank manufacturer and in no way trying to compete with HLs numbers. That is why they are turning out tanks HL does not sell or that HL has any interest in selling.

It's NOT Motions fault with the brass bearings issue that happened with one TD Centurion so far. Chinese toy manufacturers are well known for substituting parts if they have run out of specific parts the customer ordered installed. Toucan has had this happen many times with Heng Long having substituted zinc gears for steel gears or using plastic bushings when the packing says SS bushings. The list can goes on and on.

[tank_me]

I am considering buying a plastic version HL Challenger2.

You are a glutton for punishment aren't ya? The Challenger is another tank that is not great with track retention. It seems those are your favorite tanks...

[keilau]

You are a glutton for punishment aren't ya? The Challenger is another tank that is not great with track retention. It seems those are your favorite tanks...

I never intend to keep the HL track on the Challenger2 IF I get it. I have a pair of recently acquired Tamiya original track for Challenger2 in waiting. I am a big fan of the Tamiya nylon/metal hybrid track after using it on the HL Leo2A6. Am I still a glutton for punishment? I also have the Heng Xin gearbox with 390 for the Challenger too.

Yes, I like to explore new upgrades. I am glad that I have people like you to guide me to the right direction.

It is not a done deal for me. I am more attracted to the TD Centurion Mk5 than the HL Challenger2 in term of subject. But the Challenger2 has much more upgrade options that are higher quality. (Yes, I am limiting myself to the low end budget.)

On my 7 working tanks, I have 2 Tamiya tracks, 2 Mato metal tracks, one Torro metal track and one TD plastic track. I use a modified HL metal track on my very old Pershing and do not have de-track problem.

[MrChef]

Am I still a glutton for punishment?

Only You can admit to that.

I suggest talking to Meter Rat. He's got LOTS of experience with his Chally issues. But like a true British sports car he swears he loves it. Well maybe he just swears about it a lot...🤣🤣🤣

[SoCalBobS]

I replaced my metal tracks for plastic on my Challenger with metal sprockets. The plastic tracks were 2mm narrower where the sprocket teeth engaged. More clearance, less pinching and therefore much more reliable. Quieter too.

[keilau]

I never intend to keep the HL track on the Challenger2 IF I get it. I have a pair of recently acquired Tamiya original track for Challenger2 in waiting. I am a big fan of the Tamiya nylon/metal hybrid track after using it on the HL Leo2A6. Am I still a glutton for punishment?

Only You can admit to that.

Hobby is for fun and challenge. A boring hobby is worse than no hobby at all. I enjoy doing what I am good at.

[keilau]

I never intend to keep the HL track on the Challenger2 IF I get it. I have a pair of recently acquired Tamiya original track for Challenger2 in waiting. I am a big fan of the Tamiya nylon/metal hybrid track after using it on the HL Leo2A6. I also have the Heng Xin gearbox with 390 for the Challenger too.

In the 2 pictures below, the Tamiya sprocket is on the left and the Heng Long is on the right. They are identical in diameter, gear pitch and width, but very different in the motor drive mounting. The Tamiya sprocket is a single piece design and the HL sprocket has 4 pieces and middle teeth guide.

The next 2 pictures show how well the tamiya track fits the HL Challenger2 sprocket.

I believe that Tongde made a major marketing mistake by not keeping their RC tanks spare compatible with Tamiya and Heng Long. I probably would have had 3 TD tanks now (instead of just one M60A1) if they were spare compatible with the major 1:16 scale tank makers.

[keilau]

Yes, Heng Long made some major mistakes too. They left 2 of the most popular tanks of all time, US Army M60 Patton and UK Centurion, out of their lineup. And market many tanks of little appeal.

[Rubicon99]

Yes, Heng Long made some major mistakes too. They left 2 of the most popular tanks of all time, US Army M60 Patton and UK Centurion, out of their lineup. And market many tanks of little appeal.

OH YES they did make a mistake. HL did actually look into the M60/M48 and Centurion. They even had "working" (?) prototypes built. This was around the same time they were working on the Merkava (which was ready for production) in late 2019 early 2020 and then COVID hit and everything stopped cold in China.

A couple of reason HL did not continue development afterwards was that they decided there was not enough interest or demand for those two tanks plus they were looking at going a different direction with growing their 1/10 all metal scale line and upgrades to existing tanks.

This gave time for Tamiya and Haya to release two very good Centurions and for TD to listen to consumers and design a M60. At this point HL would be to far behind the curve on a Centurion having to complete with three other offerings. As far as the M60/M48, insider information indicates HL still has no interest in producing one. But then who knows it's HL?

I would suspect if HL ever released an M60/M48 they would follow something along the route that TD has done to overcome the track to hull alinement challenges as it is the most cost effective option to achieve a reliable running M60.