Toucan is carrying TongDe tanks now.

[keilau]

Heng Long is still the king of low end 1/16 scale plastic chassis RC tank. After 5 low end HL, I was ready to move to the mid range TD M60 and HL Merkava. With torsion bar suspension, both runs more smoothly on rough terrain. (Don't laugh at me. the TD M60 and HL Merkava was twice the price each compared to the T34 and Sherman so they are the mid range to me.)

I visited the Haya Centurion page again. Their gearbox looks very similar to the cheaper version Heng Long steel gearbox. If true, the gearbox upgrade should be easy and has many options.

https://www.hayaltd.co.uk/details/p191100_22082445.aspx

[tank_me]

Heng Long is still the king of low end 1/16 scale plastic chassis RC tank. After 5 low end HL, I was ready to move to the mid range TD M60 and HL Merkava. With torsion bar suspension, both runs more smoothly on rough terrain. (Don't laugh at me. the TD M60 and HL Merkava was twice the price each compared to the T34 and Sherman so they are the mid range to me.)

I visited the Haya Centurion page again. Their gearbox looks very similar to the cheaper version Heng Long steel gearbox. If true, the gearbox upgrade should be easy and has many options.
https://www.hayaltd.co.uk/details/p191100_22082445.aspx

Haya uses the same gearboxes as HL. I wouldn't recommend the kit though. If you buy a Haya Cent, buy the RTR or ARTR version. The kits have had issues with missing parts. How do I know? Mine was missing a bunch of parts, but yet included a bunch of extra duplicate parts. The instructions to put it together are VERY lacking. You are left to guess which screws go where for the most part. They came all in one bag with no breakdown of what is what. I own two Haya tanks including the Cent and like them, but don't buy the kit. Every person I know that bought the kit was missing parts when they got it and had to have Haya send them the missing parts.

[keilau]

Haya uses the same gearboxes as HL. I wouldn't recommend the kit though. If you buy a Haya Cent, buy the RTR or ARTR version. The kits have had issues with missing parts. How do I know? Mine was missing a bunch of parts, but yet included a bunch of extra duplicate parts. The instructions to put it together are VERY lacking. You are left to guess which screws go where for the most part. They came all in one bag with no breakdown of what is what. I own two Haya tanks including the Cent and like them, but don't buy the kit. Every person I know that bought the kit was missing parts when they got it and had to have Haya send them the missing parts.

The Haya kit or ARTR are both more than I want to spend on a RC tank.

https://www.hayaltd.co.uk/Haya_116_Centurion_Barrel_Recoil_BB_Shooting_Smoking_RTR/p191100_21956889.aspx

I may get a Tongde Centurion if I can figure out how to modify the TD gearbox to accept HL sprocket. (Yes, a glutton for punishment)

[tank_me]

You are free to do whatever you want, I was just cautioning you about the issues myself and other have had with the "kit". I haven't heard of any of the same issues with the ready to run versions. I, like you, thought I could save a little by buying the kit and it cost me a lot in frustration. Just an FYI.

[keilau]

You are free to do whatever you want, I was just cautioning you about the issues myself and other have had with the "kit". I haven't heard of any of the same issues with the ready to run versions. I, like you, thought I could save a little by buying the kit and it cost me a lot in frustration. Just an FYI.

The type of experience from people like you is what we need on this forum. I cannot imagine myself doing the type of mod, 3-D printing, whole chassis rebuild etc. like you. I enjoy very much reading what you do. While I am unlikely to buy a Haya Centurion, but any potential Haya buyer should hack your warning.

[Nfafan]

IMHO, HL would do well with a decent T55. I’m leery of a Hooben T55.