RE: RC Tanks...?
As always I will present the other side.
Nothing wrong with Tamiya, Over all a very good package, You however are not a newbie to RC. Fixing things and the simple maintenance these things require will be well with in your grasp and you have less to be afraid of then a guy who has never dabbled in RC.
Heng Long Panther is a solid tank, and it comes with a basic battling system right out of the box. Not Tamiya compatible. However You could have three Henglongs battling one another for the cost of one Tamiya.
Heng Long Sound is crap. However there are options that will make them sound BETTER then a Tamiya.
The downfall of Tamiya is the cost makes it prohibitive to experiment with. The tank is good enough out of the box to quell the need to improve anything. It is good enough to run as is. This is good and bad as it tends to stagnate the desire to improve. Darryl Turner and others are guys who have upped RC tanks to another level, but again it is the quest for something better then stock the drives the hobby to new heights. Start adding all these upgrade to a Tamiya and the cost goes up quickly
Because of Heng Long we have Elmod, DBC and a host of other cottage industries that cater to the Heng long upgrade market.
I have nothing against Tamiya or their standard IR battling system, but I am continually amazed by people who quickly discount Heng Long as a viable option into this hobby, and that is why I continually stand up for Heng long and everything their existance has done to grow this hobby.
Out of the box, you can have a lot of fun, even with the limited IR system. Taping off sensors, and lenses to further the range of the IR beam can have just as an effective effect on game play as the Tamiya electonics present. Why should a firefly with an upgraded 17 pounder have no advantage in a firefight. Tamiya standards and club rules give you no advantage. However a lens that can extend the range of the IR Beam would give you a realistic advantage over a standard Sherman.
So why not take the cheap Heng long IR system and think of mechanical things you can do to make up for the weaker electonics package. Optically extend the range on the Tigers, and shorten the range of the 75mm shermans. Even with five hits to destroy that all heng longs have these other ideas can more then make up for the shortfall of the electronics.
When I come to Danville I will bring a couple of IR range extenders that I would like to test and demo, just to open up the possibilities of something else. Even if it is not allowed in the field, at least people will see the possibilities a development like this might have on the fun factor. Why shouldn't my Sherman Firefly be able to pick off targets at a greater distance then a 75mm Sherman?. I hopefully will also be able to bring along the new sound system to demo to people. This system will hook up to a stock Heng long and produce sounds better then Tamiya. Nice thing is the same package can be fitted to a Tamiya, and used to enhance Tamiya's as well.
Bottom line
A stock Heng long with a DBC makes a good Tamiya compatible tank, and is a good starting point.
I would never say don't buy a Tamiya, because I feel they are a fair value for the money, but so are Heng Long.
If you like tanking , you will buy more then one, and chances are you will have both brands in your stable anyway
Dan