timslocum

I've heard some negative comments on Mato electronics, some saying that they'd rather have HL electronics. Question, do I get the Mato Sherman or wait for the HL Sherman? I guess I need pluses and minuses for both. Discuss.

swathdiver

I goofed earlier in saying this was a Matorro product. It's all new Mato Toys Sherman. It will have all new electronics! The board, receiver and radio! Better sounds too!

timslocum

Very cool, thanks Swath, maybe I'll get both.

swathdiver

Do we have ANY evidence that Heng Long has one in the pipeline? It's been mentioned before but they kept coming out with other releases.

B/Man

That has just raised my interest considerably.

YHR

No. The close relationship between Heng Long and Mato could easliy lead to either one of them being confused with the other. I think the rumored Sherman to be coming out of China is the one you were working with Mato on. I thought you were cooking something up with Heng Long, and fed the Heng Long Sherman rumor. Mato/Heng Long/Matorro, all kind of blur together. I think the fact that a new line, "Mato Toys" is marketing the Sherman means we may have a new Hobby quality tank being delivered. Murphy Ma's passion for quality, his understanding of this tank market combined with the likes of you and possibly a few other hobbyists could mean we see a line of tanks that are elevated past the toy stage. Dare I say maybe even to a level where Brick and Mortar stores start wanting to carry them. Good quality IR ready to run right out of the box for a 1/3 of the cost of the other guys. I noticed all the tools were seperate pieces. Another thing we have all wanted. Somebody is listening.

philipat

Can you tell us more about the "new electronics"? What's different from the HL electronics? And could these "new electronics" be used to run the HL tanks as a simple swap?

swathdiver

YHR - Yeah, that was me come to think of it! I never paid attention to the name it was going to be under, I was wrong until last night even!

I don't know much about the new electronics, only that it's all new. I had some input as to features but not the hardware. The real fancy stuff will come later with the IR version. I would imagine that you could swap out boards and radios to retrofit HLs, why not?

shenlonco

My Feedback: (2)

Looks like we all may be swapping out the old HL electrics soon!!!

kclank

Is it still 27mhz? all 6 channels worth?

CarreraGTSCS

My Feedback: (2)

This is good news. I really like the way my old HL tanks drive. I wasn't thrilled with driving the Wasan/Trumpeter T34. Beautiful model but not fun to drive. In any event, this new Sherman should really be something.

Mike

philipat

Do you know what features were added/changed? If new, I'd like to see:

-no herky-jerky recoil
-more robust FETs that can handle higher throughputs for bigger motors, especially for my Bulldog or use with a 3:1 gearbox.
-better (clearer) sound
-proportional turret traverse and gun elevation
-gun elevation that goes up and down with the stick (not a cycle, but reversible)
-frequencies in either the 2.4 GHz or 75 MHz for more tanks running at the same time

Any of that included? [8D]

kclank

ANY RELEASE NEWS

heatround

Just looked at the Shantou Mato page and checked out the pics. 'Ish not very fond of the M4A1 hull design with its curving, rounded lines. Hope they decide to release an A2 or A3 series. Perhaps I'll just wait for a used one to appear on Evilbay and go on the cheap. Or perhaps I'll just stay axis...muuuhhaaahaha.

PAX

timslocum

I've heard the suggested retail will be around $160.00. Why is this twice what HL are? I got my HL Tiger and Pershing S&S from RC Command for $95.00 each, shipped to my front door.

YHR

HL Jagdpanther is $155, so $160 seems fair.

herrmill

Tim, those models you purchased are from tooling that have long been paid for many years before when HL was shipping 10,000 tanks a month off their lines. Given the improvements seen in the latest models I think you'll see prices inching up as you are seeing with the Jagd & Sherman. If they sell well in this present economy then prices will remain as they are; if they don't & dealers are sitting on inventory 3-6 months later, expect to see some major discounting. Besides, Mattoro tanks have always come out higher than HL so just sit back & see what happens.

thomasjohnmurphy

the day before Swathy announced that Hl is coming out with a sherman I ended up picking an old Tamiya Sherman off ebay to convert it to airsoft. Well, I'm pretty much done, Wasn't as hard as I had thought. here are some pics. With a minimum of dremeling I was able to fir Hl gear boxes in. I used the speed 400 motors I got recently with an 8 tooth pinion. It has lots of power despite the heavy metal tracks

thomasjohnmurphy

The solution to the turret traverse and turret ring was easy as well. The turret ring just needed to be snugged using a strip of sprue. I don't recall the thickness as it was an older strip. The traverse is sold with no play what so ever.

thomasjohnmurphy

the airsoft was a little tricker. I had to dremel the opening a bit and the gun elevation motor (but the did fit as you can see. I used a bb tray form an older 1/24 HL tank. All in all it fit quite nicely

borealis

Nice fit as usual, Thomas. And with that short barrel it should also shoot hard I think.

Panther F

Yeah, why does a 2009 Corvette cost more than one 3 years ago?

thomasjohnmurphy

it does shoot really hard. looking forward to battling Nitro's Tiger with paintballs

NitroAssassin

well if we're playing by realistic rules then I already win by default haha you could shoot at me all day with no effect..

thomasjohnmurphy

lol

I know, but I like giving you a big target (you don't realize how tall the sherman was and what a good target the Tiger's had (lol)