I should have got the whole Mako system ($45), but I just got the $30 one. It's medium with shimmy. The add on board does the damaged reduction like Tamiya, cutting speed, etc. That's a great feature on the Tamiya. It a lot of fun to be out in the open hit and crawling for cover.

I ordered the DBU with the DBC-RC2HL w/sound card as a kit.

You must keep in mind that the HL IR system is ONLY compatable with another HL IR system. You can't battle Tamiya based IR tanks at all. You would still need a DBC2 or DBC3 which is still the best "quick" option IMO. The big plus here is you get to use aBenedini sound card system which you will find is considered the best in the buisness.

ok cool let us know about the DBU with the DBC-RC2HL w/sound card as a kit is i like to get one someday does it allow you to record your own sounds on that one?

I have a HL stock StuG III G IR a few feet from me that I plugged a $30 Mako board in this afternoon. I spent about an hour shooting and being shot be a Tamiya Tiger I. Unfortunately I couldn't use the Tamiya M4 because of frequency conflict with the HL, but as soon as I get a new crystal, that little Stuggie will be lighting up the M4 in a battle of the mediums. [8D]

oh yeah, Iforgot that part about the SLU (that it'll run the HL stuff, including the flash unit). It really is a sweet little unit, even if it is a tad complicated. I'm personally just waiting until it's completely Tamiya-compliant; until then I'm holding off. Though come to think, this set of circuits from Oz and the SLU pretty much act the same; no power drop-off with damage. So now the SLU has other systems that work like it, nice! Or uh oh-hopefully this doesn't mark a diverging trend in IRbattle systems! It'd suck to have to have two sets of tanks...

Airbrushler, Ijust wanted to point out that the Mako set isn't QUITE Tamiya-compliant. By that Imean that it doens't act EXACTLYlike aTamiya; the two boards that are available right now give you weight classes and eliminate the recoil (and a couple other things), but DON'T do the power reduction. The website states that this feature is in development on something they're calling the "mamba" board, but that it isn't in production yet. I don't mean to be splitting hairs and I'm not saying "gotcha", Ijust don't want anyone to be dissapointed in what looks like will be a viable system when they're done. So YHR, the DBC is only like $100 now? That's nice! Is this the kit, or an assembled version? Any advice on how you trigger recoil action and muzzle flash in your DBC equipped tanks? Or do you use servos?

I think the SLU has power reduction after 50% damage, not sure on this maybe someone can comment on that. What is the reduction for tamiya? Is it power reduction on every hit?

Cheers,
Wade

The DBC3 is available now and it is plug and play.

THe DBC has an LED flash output, and recoil is done using standard recoil wiring. i,e micro switch on gun, with the DBC supplying the trigger voltage. All DBC equipped tanks can operate a recoil circuit. THey have always been able to. They are also an inteface between HL electronics and a regular RC receiver, allowing you to use a radio of your choice. IF you are tired of the HL channels then buy yourself a 2.4 gHZ radio and never have to worry about channels again

IF you want to save a few bucks and solder up the kit then that is avialable as well.

All details can be found here. Check out the videos to hear what they sound like with a Benedini attached. I also have a demonstration video showing how easy it is to install.

[link=http://battlearmorrc.weebly.com/]Battle Armor RC[/link]


Cheers

From the IRCTO website

I think the main difference between the slu and the Tamiya system is that the slu doesn't have 45degree defence and slope defence. It is possible to adapt the slu to accept the tub apple or modify the slu apple

I was using the 45 degree defence with the HL StuG and the Tam Tiger couldn't hit it from anything over 10 feet or so out. Rotate the StuG and blammo. It's more realistic with a StuG (or a Jagdanything) IMO since the actual hull has to pivot and duck the shot, not just turning the turret. It's like turning you head to avoid a grenade, It can't hit me if I don't see it.

The DBU uses 4 IR sensors, which I suspect is in the TBU as well. At $100, I wasn't about to look inside it.
I did crack the top off the $11 HL apple (It'll be obsolete to me as soon as the DBU arrives) and it's only 1 sensor with a chromed plastic pyramid to deflect the signal. Pretty cheesy, but it works (kind of sums up HL, huh?)

Just to clarify though, I'm a big fan of Tamiya, I bought the Tiger and M4 back when they first came out and love everything about them, since I recently picked up two TBUs, my sons and I have been using them almost daily. Problem is, 2 sons/2 tanks means someone is left out and it's usually me. I can't justify drop 8 bills on a Tam Panther (+ another $200 for Tx/Rx and TBU) no matter how much I want too. I can justify $130 for the HL Panther G to get me in the game and any of these DBC/Mako options get me on the battlefield. And maybe some other folks too, it's all good.

One of the N.E.A.D. members brought a Mako equipped Panther G to our battleday Sunday and tried it out.
We found a major disadvantage with the system, the tank won't move while the hit indicator is flashing.
Once that was realized all you had to do was get close enough to see the flasher and fire everytime the flashing stopped.
He was unable to move from the spot he took the initial hit, died in place.
Needless to say he switched back to his Sherman rather quickly.

The Tamiya TBU looks very much like the HL. The chrome pyramid is a better quality chrome plating. Heng Long pretty much copied the TBU, but left the LED's out.. The 45 degree defense is because of that pyramid, When the leading edge of that pyramid faces the IR shot, it is not deflected down on to the sensor.

I just assumed Tamiya would use 4 sensors like the DBU kits have. Seems a more accurate system than the pyramid, but I guess in the end it does matter...

Based on the pyramid theory, I guess it's conceivable that as shot could be bounced off the side of a building or some other reflective surface.