ORIGINAL: C4ISTAR
I enjoy running my HL Pz3 in the backyard. When the plastic hull, tracks or suspension fails, I replace those parts with new plastic parts.
It is far less expensive than going to a all metal HL hull setup. But most importantly the plastic hull parts require no real setup tweaking; run great right up to the point of breakdown and I can live with that.
The Tamiya Pz4 kit, as you guessed, combines metal to metal suspension parts with a few plastic parts and seems very robust after a couple of years of running it around.
John<br type='_moz' />
I agree John. You can buy an HL lower Hull for about $20. If it fails, the repair is simple. A whole new tub. That is what differentiates these tanks from so much other Chinese RC stuff. They have realized there is money in being a parts supplier, and because of this we seem to have an endless supply of inexpensive parts to rebuild from.
This also puts into the question of re-engineering. If you can buy a complete new replacement for so little, is there really a point to the engineering upgrades. Is rolling resistance that important in IR battling. With the new 7 amp batteries and low gear boxes on the market, a slightly modified Heng long can be on the battlefield a long time even if it has been hit a few times, it will still move along.