TONGDE TANKS

[RichJohnson]

Tongde has addressed the weak torsion bar brackets and they no longer break like they did on the first runs. You still should be careful backing up and watch your rear wheels while you’re backing up to make sure they don’t drop down and torque forward, but it’s not as much of a problem as it was on the first run of 60s You can make a limiter and put it around the arm for the wheel Rubicon 99 showed last year when he developed that but it’s really not necessary. Just watch your rear wheels. If you back up over serious obstacles

[dai phan]

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.

I have an excellent charger that I use for all my R/C planes and ships. Dai

[Rubicon99]

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...d&_ss=e&_v=1.0

If you have the "know how" adding red motors does help the tank drive better with metal tracks. It's still "wallows" in turns and stops but that is actually what the real M60 does. It will just look odd compared to what you are used to seeing with HL tanks.

The M60 with red motors is still going to be a power hog especially if you drive it on soft soils or make a lot of turns. No way around the very heavy weight of the metal tracks needing lots of power. Keep in mind the TD tracks are not like the metal HL tracks. TD track have solid pads not hallowed out pads. This solid pad makes them nearly twice as heavy as the heaviest of HL tracks.

Metal tracks are good for the most extreme cases of use, but plastic are better for the majority of use and are far easier and quicker to replace than adding 390 motors.

Lastly it is not known how well the TD control system will handle the extra AMP draw of the 390 motors when under a lot of use as it was designed around the draw of 380 motors. When I did my original testing with 390 motors I was using a HL 7.1 control systems which is rated for a much higher amp draw.

[keilau]

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

There is plenty of space for the Admiral 7000mAh battery in the Tongde M60 lower chassis, but there is NOT much floor space due to the torsion bars. I cut a piece of 1/8" plastic sheet and laid it over the torsion bar bracket which created lots of space for battery and parts. There are a few unused plastic poles on the lower chassis, and I use one to fix the plastic floor plate.

@Robicon99 modified the rear panel to be hinged to allow in-place battery charge. You can look up his M60 review for that.

I magnetized the M60 lower and upper chassis to facilitate removing the battery for charging. It is a poor alternative to @Robicon99 hinged panel approach.

[dai phan]

If you have the "know how" adding red motors does help the tank drive better with metal tracks. It's still "wallows" in turns and stops but that is actually what the real M60 does. It will just look odd compared to what you are used to seeing with HL tanks.

The M60 with red motors is still going to be a power hog especially if you drive it on soft soils or make a lot of turns. No way around the very heavy weight of the metal tracks needing lots of power. Keep in mind the TD tracks are not like the metal HL tracks. TD track have solid pads not hallowed out pads. This solid pad makes them nearly twice as heavy as the heaviest of HL tracks.

Metal tracks are good for the most extreme cases of use, but plastic are better for the majority of use and are far easier and quicker to replace than adding 390 motors.

Lastly it is not known how well the TD control system will handle the extra AMP draw of the 390 motors when under a lot of use as it was designed around the draw of 380 motors. When I did my original testing with 390 motors I was using a HL 7.1 control systems which is rated for a much higher amp draw.

I think I will buy the plastic track from Rich as I am not into aggressive driving. In fact I drive my tanks alone because there is no one to do battle or chase with. I will use stock battery first to see how well it suits me. On all my tanks except for the T72/90 all sport 7000 mAh and I have yet to run it down. Dai

[dai phan]

Hi all,

My 2 new Tongde tanks are here. Also bought some stuff to dress up the tanks and a stand to work on the tanks easier. Dai

[dai phan]

I found these 1/16 sand bags on Amazon for about 1 dollar a bag. Dai

[dai phan]

Hi all,

Start working on the ERA this morning. Man, this tank is HEAVY !!! I can tell the stock battery's stamina is not enough for this tank but I will find out. Dai

[dai phan]

Hi all,

I read the 2023 thread on RCU when Coolbank was starting to develop the M60 as toy grade 200 USD tank. The feedbacks were not very positive at all. I guess Coolbank has listened to the buyers and now produces a tank that could be seen better then HL in some aspects? Dai

[Rubicon99]

Hi all,

I read the 2023 thread on RCU when Coolbank was starting to develop the M60 as toy grade 200 USD tank. The feedbacks were not very positive at all. I guess Coolbank has listened to the buyers and now produces a tank that could be seen better than HL in some aspects? Dai

Cool Banks was not the one developing the M60, TD was. Cool Bank is not TD. He is just an independent guy that had connection at TD and exploited them. He also no longer has any hand in TD tank development as it was found he was more of a hindrance then anything else.

TD has now partnered with DKLM RC for tank development work. DKLM RC is a top notch RC tank company with far more experience in tank development, a superior understanding of CS and listen to what the customer wants. Hence why the TD line up has seen huge improvement in the last year. Many of which those on this forum were directly and indirectly responsible for. Had Cool Banks being in place instead of DKLM these changes would not have happened because he wanted "cheap toy tanks" not something that could be easily turned into a "hobby grade tank"

[dai phan]

Cool Banks was not the one developing the M60, TD was. Cool Bank is not TD. He is just an independent guy that had connection at TD and exploited them. He also no longer has any hand in TD tank development as it was found he was more of a hindrance then anything else.

TD has now partnered with DKLM RC for tank development work. DKLM RC is a top notch RC tank company with far more experience in tank development, a superior understanding of CS and listen to what the customer wants. Hence why the TD line up has seen huge improvement in the last year. Many of which those on this forum were directly and indirectly responding for. Had Cool Banks being in place instead of DKLM these changes would not have happened because he wanted "cheap toy tanks" not something that could be easily turned into a "hobby grade tank"

Wow that is interesting to know. I thought Wang is the main player in TD tank development. Ok, now to the TD tanks. My impression is the TX is so cheap way inferior to HL. The tanks are not as refined with seams noted along the turret. The battery charging hatch is flimsy and does not lock in. And very heavy with metal tracks. I am sure in the expert hands of Rubicon, these can be masterpieces but OOB not as refined as HL offerings. Still charging 4 hours to go that is not going to be acceptable to me. Dai

[dai phan]

Hi all,

On the HL tanks you can turn the turret when power is off. On TD tanks it seems the thing is glued in and does not want to budge. Is that normal? Dai

[dai phan]

Does DKLM put out any tanks? Dai

[Rubicon99]

Wow that is interesting to know. I thought Wang is the main player in TD tank development. Ok, now to the TD tanks. My impression is the TX is so cheap way inferior to HL. The tanks are not as refined with seams noted along the turret. The battery charging hatch is flimsy and does not lock in. And very heavy with metal tracks. I am sure in the expert hands of Rubicon, these can be masterpieces but OOB not as refined as HL offerings. Still charging 4 hours to go that is not going to be acceptable to me. Dai

I did clearly say in an earlier post on this thread that you would not like the TD M60 in stock form. I have always said they are not perfect and have some detailing issues but are nice base tanks to custom "build up" into good looking models.

Everything you pointed out has already been addressed a number of times by myself and others with solution available for when you do your custom "build up" even if this is as minor as a new paint scheme and weathering. Heck just those two alone can dramatically change the look and feel of the M60. With your painting experience it should be easy to completely transform the M60s look as so many other have done with less experience.

The TD radio system is adequate for basic testing of the tank, but I have always recommended replacing it with at least a HL 7.0/7.1 system.

The turret is a bit tighter, but will turn when powered down as it uses a HL turret rotation unit.

DKLM makes some very high end 3D printed tanks and tank turrets. The tanks are equal to Tamiya prices and you have to be comfortable assembling them with only minor directions.

[dai phan]

Hello all,

I started to assemble the M60A3 last night and I have some questions.

1. Part A16 (the machine gun on the turret) is missing and it is not molded in the tree. Looks like this gun was removed in later productions? Photos on the Net indicates some have the machine guns and some do not.

2. James on MRC suggests the use of foam tac glue to glue the hub caps as well as the parts. The detail parts have lots of play due to the attachment holes being too big and even after 4 hours drying the parts fall off when I ran the tank. What cement do you suggest? Below is the glue that I use.

Dai

[dai phan]

Ok gang,

I found an answer to #1 question. The part A16 is NOT molded in the tree and is separate as seen on the right of the tree. This is missing and I already contact MRC. Also the 2 silver plastic for the controller is missing as well. Tongde does not have very good QC control I can see. Dai

[Rubicon99]

Hello all,

I started to assemble the M60A3 last night and I have some questions.

1. Part A16 (the machine gun on the turret) is missing and it is not molded in the tree. Looks like this gun was removed in later productions? Photos on the Net indicates some have the machine guns and some do not.

2. James on MRC suggests the use of foam tac glue to glue the hub caps as well as the parts. The detail parts have lots of play due to the attachment holes being too big and even after 4 hours drying the parts fall off when I ran the tank. What cement do you suggest? Below is the glue that I use.

Dai

There are two machines guns on the turret. One is in the mantle and the other is in the commanders copula? Only the commanders copula has a MG barrel that needs to be installed. It is usually shipped in the parts bag that contains the TX control sticks.

For small accessories parts try using CA glue. For the hub caps many of us have found a small amount of automotive silicon gasket seal/maker "RVT" works wonders on tank hub caps. It can also be used to hold accessories parts on. Keep in mind it does take time to fully dry.

[dai phan]

There are two machines guns on the turret. One is in the mantle and the other is in the commanders copula? Only the commanders copula has a MG barrel that needs to be installed. It is usually shipped in the parts bag that contains the TX control sticks.

For small accessories parts try using CA glue. For the hub caps many of us have found a small amount of automotive silicon gasket seal/maker "RVT" works wonders on tank hub caps. It can also be used to hold accessories parts on. Keep in mind it does take time to full dry.

The control sticks are missing and that is why the machine gun is not found. Dai

[keilau]

The control sticks are missing and that is why the machine gun is not found. Dai

Tongde did not pack the control stick and machine gun plastic bag in the cardboard parts box. It is hidden in a hole in the large packing foam. It took me a while to find it.

[dai phan]

Hi all,

I do not understand why the attachment holes are so oversized making the parts wobble and VERY un-scale !!! On HL tanks, parts fits precisely and you do not see these over scale holes. Hard to believe QC did not pick this up? Dai