Slope defense is definitely a tactic used at Danville, sometimes at local events too where rocks and hills are present.

It is an unrealistic battle tactic form the looks of it. A tanks muzzle could shoot point blank and "miss" because the apple fins are preventing a horizontal hit.

I have seen two or three tanks try to hit a sloped tank and it looks ridiculous.

The apple encourages horizontal gameplay.

The Tamiya fins can be removed to void the slope defense, so you may want to design the system with removable fins for that option (or every other fin for wider angle hit).