Hey, I'm a newcomer too.

You all should lighten up. I think everyone understands the issues with quality.

If you want a HL, buy a HL. If you prefer Tamiya, buy a Tamiya.

I owned three HLs (there was a 4th, the Panther, but I returned it as it didn't arrive with some components, like the radio crystals).

They were fun but I decided to go to a larger scale (1:8), so I sold them to forum members, and hope they are having fun with them as I did.

My own advice is this: If you want a higher quality 1/16th scale tank, and can afford/want to spend the money on it, then invest in the Tamiya. Otherwise, buy a HL and expect to have to replace/repair on a more frequent basis (and this will vary from owner to owner). Either way, have fun with what you have.

Personally, if you can save a few more dollars, the larger scales rip.

Cheers...