Tamiya are good tanks but they are also expensive. I think the cheapest one is $545 shipped then you need to add a radio system either 4 or more channels. Building is good experience but not necessary, most issues I had in the past were issues with electronics. I had a FET chip go south on a Clark board which needed to be sent back to them for repair. Taigen tanks are pretty simple and I haven't had any issues with the stock electronics either. They do have options to upgrade them with the Taigen V2 system or you can go with a Clark board. I believe Taigen sells the tanks as kits so you can choose your own electronics. I have built and owned Tamiya, Heng long, Mato and Taigen. My personal preference is the Taigen Sherman. I like the full metal lower hull design on that particular unit, I think they are well built and should last. I have two Taigen Shermans and after running them over obstacles and on carpet doing 360 spins the two motors are at 80*f which indicates to me they are not working very hard and that the drive line is efficient. The electronics are pretty good and I have no issue with the sound quality, and I believe the V2 system is suppose to be better and more realistic. I figure it this way the board is made in china so how long it will last is the million dollar question, but at 47.00 for a replacement it isn't the end of the world. It is a hobby that should be fun but at time can be extremely frustrating also. Only you can decide which route is best for you and how involved you want to be and how much you are willing to spend.
Last edited by Bulldogger; 03-13-2018 at 01:25 PM.