TONGDE TANKS

[Rubicon99]

Hi all

Just ordered the TD M60A3 Professional version. Dai

No doubt you will absolutely hate it. The base tank is just too elementary for your discerning taste.

But if you use some of your 47 years of modeling experience and are willing to add a few aftermarket detailing parts, like those sold by RichJonson or DKLM you might just end up loving it.

[dai phan]

No doubt you will absolutely hate it. The base tank is just too elementary for your discerning taste.

But if you use some of your 47 years of modeling experience and are willing to add a few aftermarket detailing parts, like those sold by RichJonson or DKLM you might just end up loving it.

Can you give me a link to his site? Thanks Dai

[Rubicon99]

Can you give me a link to his site? Thanks Dai

You can contact him through this forum. He is very active here. His user name in RichJohnson. Send him a PM and he can get you squared away with great detail parts. He is very well respected in the RC tank world and many of us have purchased from him.

Or you can search: RichJohnson Models N Stuff, his site should pop right up. Not everything he offers in on his website.

DKLMRC.com is another great source for M60 detailing parts.

[dai phan]

No doubt you will absolutely hate it. The base tank is just too elementary for your discerning taste.

But if you use some of your 47 years of modeling experience and are willing to add a few aftermarket detailing parts, like those sold by RichJonson or DKLM you might just end up loving it.

I saw some of your paint jobs and modelling modification skills. Quite impressive to say the very least! Dai

[tank_me]

I saw some of your paint jobs and modelling modification skills. Quite impressive to say the very least! Dai

It is amazing what some detail parts and a paint job can do for a TongDE M60. I initially passed on buying one because it was toyish, but then I built this after seeing all the nice TongDE builds:

[RichJohnson]

Nice desert Merdec. Not enough of these cammo jobs out there.

Thats is DKLM A2 starship turret. He and I are the only ones making after market stuff for the m60. His are turret kits and my stuff is all detail parts.
link to my site is below.

[dai phan]

The Israel is too cool so I just ordered it too. Dai

[dai phan]

Hi,

Does anyone know if the Admiral 2 cell 7000 mAh Li-ion will fit into the hatch of these 2 tanks (M60 and M60 ERA) ? Dai

[keilau]

Hi,
Does anyone know if the Admiral 2 cell 7000 mAh Li-ion will fit into the hatch of these 2 tanks (M60 and M60 ERA) ? Dai

The Admiral 7000 mAh Lithium Ion pack is a 4-cell, 2S2P battery. There is no chance in the hatch, but the lower chassis has plenty of room for it. I use DIY 2S26650 LiIon pack on my TD M60A1.

[Rubicon99]

Hi,

Does anyone know if the Admiral 2 cell 7000 mAh Li-ion will fit into the hatch of these 2 tanks (M60 and M60 ERA) ? Dai

The space inside the hull can easily accommodate a 7000 battery.

There is no bottom battery hatch / access point on the M60 like you find on the typical HL tank because of the full width torsion bar set up. The battery is only accessible by completely removing the top hull of the tank. This is common to how the most of the Tamiya tank are.

There are no easy fast work arounds for quick removal of the battery at this time so best to plan on leaving the battery inside the tank for both charging and storage.

[dai phan]

The space inside the hull can easily accommodate a 7000 battery.

There is no bottom battery hatch / access point on the M60 like you find on the typical HL tank because of the full width torsion bar set up. The battery is only accessible by completely removing the top hull of the tank. This is common to how the most of the Tamiya tank are.

There are no easy fast work arounds for quick removal of the battery at this time so best to plan on leaving the battery inside the tank for both charging and storage.

How does the stock battery perform? Adequate run time? Dai

[Rubicon99]

How does the stock battery perform? Adequate run time? Dai

Nope! The stock battery matched with the heavy metal tracks drains quickly IMO. What is quickly?, ~15 minutes depending on terrain type. I use at least 5000 mah NIMH batteries in my M60s. Older style of battery but safer to charge and store in tanks. I routinely see 35-45 minutes of run time from my 5000+ mah batteries when running the metal tracks.

You can get a longer run time ~25 minutes from the stock battery by switching over to the plastic TD tracks. The plastic tracks are equal in strength to the major of Tamiya tracks which are far superior to HL plastic track. RichJohnson stocks the plastic tracks on his website.

[keilau]

How does the stock battery perform? Adequate run time? Dai

Stock Tongde and Heng Long Li-Ion battery use similar, very low quality 18650 cells in 2S configuration. They typically measure 900-1100 mAh which can provide 20-30 minutes of continuous run time. The Admiral 2S2P 7000mAh LiIon battery you mentioned earlier is very good. It uses high quality LiIon 18650 cells from Taiwan that have built-in protection circuit and true to its capacity rating. Many of these battery topic were discussed recently. You can easily find them doing a search.

[dai phan]

Nope! The stock battery matched with the heavy metal tracks drains quickly IMO. What is quickly?, ~15 minutes depending on terrain type. I use at least 5000 mah NIMH batteries in my M60s. Older style of battery but safer to charge and store in tanks. I routinely see 35-45 minutes of run time from my 5000+ mah batteries when running the metal tracks.

You can get a longer run time ~25 minutes from the stock battery by switching over to the plastic TD tracks. The plastic tracks are equal in strength to the major of Tamiya tracks which are far superior to HL plastic track. RichJohnson stocks the plastic tracks on his website.

So if I buy the 7000 mAh I can easily place it in the hull of the A60 and I still can charge from outside? The charger that comes with the tank has Tamiya connector right? Dai

[dai phan]

Greetings,

I watched YT video post by Rich Johnson and he brought up some flaws with the M60 and how to address them. I will need to order the plastic track as the metal is too heavy for use. He also mentioned about the attachment points that tend to break and will need to be reinforced. However those parts are back order at this time. That means when I get the tanks, I must be very careful until these are addressed. I will run gently on carpet only. I hope Tongde will note of the metal track issue and offer the version with metal gears, wheels but with plastic tracks. Dai

[keilau]

Greetings,

I watched YT video post by Rich Johnson and he brought up some flaws with the M60 and how to address them. I will need to order the plastic track as the metal is too heavy for use. He also mentioned about the attachment points that tend to break and will need to be reinforced. However those parts are back order at this time. That means when I get the tanks, I must be very careful until these are addressed. I will run gently on carpet only. I hope Tongde will note of the metal track issue and offer the version with metal gears, wheels but with plastic tracks. Dai

The Tongde metal tracks are the best all round performer for the TD M60 and the only one that can run well on grass lawn. It is heavy but NOT TOO heavy. You just need to pair it with the correct gearbox and drive motor. @Robincon99 had detail description of it in his M60 review.

https://www.dklmrc.com/product/dk-fmpdsgb

If you are mechanically handy, you can also do what I did at 1/3 of the cost pairing the 390 motor with the TD metal gearbox.

https://www.hobbysquawk.com/forum/rc-cars-tanks-trucks-and-more/rc-tanks/410297-optimize-the-tongde-m60a1-to-run-on-grass-lawn-with-390-motor-and-metal-tracks

[keilau]

Your actual upgrade cost is only $15 for the 390 motor since you already have the TD metal gearbox. Toucan Hobby direct website has the lowest price for the pair of 390.

[dai phan]

Your actual upgrade cost is only $15 for the 390 motor since you already have the TD metal gearbox. Toucan Hobby direct website has the lowest price for the pair of 390.

So just keep the metal and buy a pair of RED motors? And the Admiral 7000 mAh will fit inside the hull? This apply to BOTH the M60A3 and M60 ERA Israel? Dai

https://www.toucanhobby.com/products/th16464-dzn1?_pos=2&_psq=henglong+red&_ss=e&_v=1.0

[keilau]

So just keep the metal and buy a pair of RED motors? And the Admiral 7000 mAh will fit inside the hull? Dai

Yes and yes. I PM you @Robicon99 comment on that.

However, if your pocket allows and you want the ultimate in performance, the PDSGB gearbox from DKLMRC is the way to go.

[Rubicon99]

So if I buy the 7000 mAh I can easily place it in the hull of the A60 and I still can charge from outside? The charger that comes with the tank has Tamiya connector right? Dai

The charger provided with the TD is completely inadequate to charge a 7000 mah battery. If you don't already have a quality aftermarket charger it would be money well spent to acquire one. Also expect to have to change batteries and charging leads to ones you prefer to use.

Will the battery fit? It should but you might need to move a few internal items around to make room as they are spread widely throughout the hull.