RE: Inexpensive IR sensor
This will work well with Tamiya and David's DBC. However it will not work with the Stock Heng Long system because of the different IR frequencies involved.
I have never tired changing the IR sensor in a Stock Heng Long system to see if that would make it compatible with Tamiya. I think David tried it but the info packet sent in the IR beams must be different because I believe he had no luck with the Heng Long picking up the Tamiya signals.
Eggman
One of the things I find fascinating about this hobby, is the ideas and opportunities it provides for us tinkerers. I cut my teeth on these tanks on this forum, and I had lots of help along the way. I am happy to pay it back to help out others.