RE: Interested in Starting Out in Tank
There is not much wrong with a Heng long IR equipped tank for under $150.00 Put on metal tracks and you will remove the track problems mentioned above. Also the Heng Long turret rotation and elevation is bullet proof, and trouble free. Parts are readily available, so relax. If any thing breaks it can be fixed.
Are Tamiya worth the money. Sure. Do you have to spend that much money to have fun in tanking, No.
Almost everything about the Tamiya is a quality item. The electronics, sound system , etc all work together well to provide you with a top quality model tank. You have to fuss with the Heng long to get it to Tamiya standards, and in most cases you will have spent almost as much as buying a Tamiya at the end of it all.
The newest Heng Long releases are pretty good though out of the box, and they will help you deterine if this hobby is for you.