Something that I don't ever see mentioned but will be very important tomany potentialcustomersis that these SLU units don'tbehave exactly like Tamiya Battle Systems. They send and recieve Tamiya IR codes (sorry HL players) and can be programmed to have the same reload times and hit points as per Tamiya standard. They can ALSO be programmed for a slew of things that nothing else can (including El Mod, if I understand correctly) and have a groovy, programmable light show , all of which is cool and attractive. HOWEVER,and this is a BIG however, they do NOT have the same power-loss schedule as the Tamiya (and DBU, IBU, El Mod, etc.)! The Tamiya loses 50% power to the drive motors after the first few hits and then an additional 25% (for a total of %75) at a further designated number of hits (depending on the size class) before being completely destroyed. The SLU NEVER LOSES THE LAST 25%!!! This is an important point for those who run in competitive clubs! Because it does NOT lose this last 25%, SLU equipped tanks have a distinct advantage over Tamiya Compliant tanks (to coin a phrase). This may become an issue with tanks clubs as the SLU gets more popular (though I am unaware of any current bannings, to be fair).

For the most part the SLU appears to deliver everything it claims and more, but I feel that the advertizing has been mildly deceptive in saying the SLU is "Tamiya Compatible"; while generally true in that it sends and recieves Tamiya IR codes and can be programmed for ALMOST everything else, it is NOT Tamiya Compliant. I'm a little upset at this since I went ahead and bought a unit before I found this out, and decided (for myself, this is all on me) that I wanted perfectly compliant tanks. I sold it on Ebay and took a $50 hit for my impulsiveness, and I don't want anyone else to burn themselves like I did. Please understand, I'm NOT saying the SLU isn't a good unit; every report says it is, and I believe them. I just want YHR and Yellowshaker(and everyone else on the forums) to be completely informed before they purchase. Just my two cents, adjusted for inflation.

Andrew


EDIT: Oops! Ijust read a post two up from me by Hulu saying that there's a simple way to make the SLU Tamiya Compliant, with losing that last %25 of damage. This is contrary to what Iwas told before (by Hulu, Ithink, though it may have been Fireman Tim), so I'm all ears as to what this solution is. Please, post it here! I've always been lead to believe (inposts and communicationsfrom the importer, Fireman Tim) that it did NOT lose that last %25.

Andrew