Dan enjoy your vacation and don't you go worrying yourself about us lol. Two weeks huh? That will give me some time so I can get my ducks in a row then order a system from you. And a question while I am at it. The orange receiver, will that work with the spektrum dx5? That is the radio I plan on getting.

Cheers
Wade

I did have a chance to look at the system Dan and I can see how easy it is too hook up. this is one of the reasons I strongly recommend the DBC3 with the Benedini.For budget friendly upgrades i think this is probably the absolute best bang for the buck.

As long as the radio has DSM2 Technology you should be OK.

Here is a picture showing how the electronics all fit on a easily removable card. All you have to do is hook up the RX18 control wire and a speaker, and you have converted your Heng Long to a Tamiya compatible IR tank with killer sound. It honestly takes longer to take the top off the tank then to get the sound working. You would have to try real hard to fry anything with this set up.

Shown on the card is The Benedini TBS, THe DBC3, and an Orange 2.4 gHZ receiver. This set up can easily be moved around between tanks, and can be used in your fleet, without buying individual sound and battle systems. Yes all in you are looking at $255 for the complete programmed set up, but because you can move it so easliy your total cost to have sound is reduced as you don't have to buy individual systems for each tank. You still need to buy a Tamiya apple to make it completely compatible with the Tamiya system.

Once I return from vacation I will include this set up as an option to buy on the web page. It truly is one of the simplist ways to get a great sounding battle system with 2.4 ghz receiver in your Heng long tank.

Of course you need a Spektrum radio to make use of this combo, and you have to buy a programming cable to upload new sounds into the Benedini.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0jsvUua8K4&feature=relmfu[/youtube]

After much consideration, I am more undecided then before [:@]. I have narrowed it down to 3 systems lmao. The SLU,Elmod, DBC3 w/Benedini. After all is said and done each one has there pro's and con's as with everything on the market I guess. The SLU which airbrushler swears by, pro's it reasonably priced great sounds and control, the thing I don't care for is how the apple is designed and how it is hooked together. Elmod pro's great sound, control, very versatile add own sounds, con's price but not too bad. DBC3 w/Benedini, pro's radial engine sound is great, control and it uses the 5 pin out to use tamiya apple, the con's still uses the rx-18 which I guess isnt a bad thing. So its time to keep looking and make a final decision, the tank will arrive this week, but I still have time to decide as I need to work on my deuce build. Anymore input is welcome. Thanks.

Cheers,
Wade

Just to confuse you even further...

I love the DBC RC3 and Benedini, but I just got exposed to a taste of El Mod with my Ketten. This is bones bare and it's a beauty. I went to their site for some info and their systems really do seem to have it all, including programming different thickness armor by position, shot distances as well as left/right damage. It's enough to grab my attention. I think I need to try one next time. Keep in mind their price includes 19% VAT which we don't pay in the US.

I really think we should be seeing systems that recognize what type tank is firing and receiving damage, as well as customizable damage. It'll never happen as long as the Tamiya apple is the standard, but I can dream can't I?

A 75mm M4 from a distance shouldn't be scoring hits on a KT from head on. Same token, it should kill with one from the back.

It doesn't hurt to check them all out. I know I have. They all have something slightly different.

I made my decisions based on flexibility and sound quality

I encourage people to find out what they need.

Many people have varying opinions over IR battling. For me it is important to have them all co-exist and then each system can knock itself out over other features

Dan,

In the past I have read if I recall correctly that you needed to add a switch to the transmitter and a switch on the recoil to have everything work (flash,recoil,sound) all together. Using the dbc. Now with the new dbc and using a hobby grade radio, this is all plug and play, and one can use mini servo's. What I mean is can everything flash, recoil, firing sound all work together without any other mods? Hope that made sense.

Cheers
Wade

There are a couple of ways you can go. Leave it stock to run the recoil mechanism, and the DBC3 will handle the flash and gun sound. PLug and Play, and everything is synchronized, or you can use a Tamiya style recoil if you choose. This will require 3 electric wires to be soldered.

On the DBC The cannon will fire before the next IR Round is ready meaning you get recoil and gun flash everytime you fire the gun, but the IR shot only fires at the prescribed times. I am trying to convince David we need the DBC to flash the apple once to let you know when the next shot is ready, like the EL Mod does. This means you will know when the next IR round is loaded and can be fired without counting down seconds

Another plus with the DBC is that it uses a removable PIC. David can write new code to keep the DBC current with advancements. To upgrade you just buy a new chip, and install it

Finally I am looking at a cheap basic digital sound card that will store the cannon, hit, and end game sounds for guys who don't want to spend the money on the Benedini right away. So you can have all the digital battle sounds, but won't have the engine sounds. There is an ELV card from Germany that can do it, but I had a high failure rate with these cards and quit using them. I have sourced out another one, and will be doing tests with that. However the Benedini is a slick unit, and the sound architecture creates awesome engines sounds. You will be hard pressed to find anything that accomplishes the smooth transition of engine revs like the Benedini delivers, or easier to hook up to your existing HL. Because it does piggy back on the RX18 it keeps the installation super simple

The competition between electronics is really muddying the waters. I can only do my best to answer questions about the system I sell.

All the systems have a certain uniquiness, so it makes it very hard to compare them side by side,

On features, of price, flexibility, sound quality and ease of hook up, the DBC/Benedini combo is a solid system

I know how tough the decision is. For some you will just have to buy a couple of different systems and see what you like the most. You will find a preference for one of the systems, and then most likely thst will become your system. Because most systems have adopted the Tamiya as standard, you won't be saddled with a white elephant.

Tamiya
DBC
El Mod
IBU
SLU

All use the same frequency and slow down the tanks when damage has been taken. This is crucial. Once the MAMBA gets released it too will have this, so no matter what you end up buying it should play well with others. You then just have to get the apples similar. I have done this by adopting the Tamiya apple, and include the cable to allow it to be used with a DBC3. There are a lot of clubs with Tamiya standards, and for me it just made sense to adopt the TBU, so I did

Thank you Dan for responding. The more I see your vids the more I am impressed. Besides the basic sounds engine, cannon, etc. I heard with the jagdpanther vid the clanking tracks, are sounds like this included with the Sherman or do these have to be loaded after purchase and can various sounds be loaded in addition to the normal sounds? Also you stated about end game sounds? My situation is that my in-laws want to participate but are unwilling to buy anything (cheap s.o.b.'s) lol. I don't mind because they will be my tanks then. But I do have to keep costs down. So this system is really looking good. I do plan on a Pershing most likely Tamiya and a HL Panther G for the future, but for now I need to concentrate on the Sherman and my Deuce build. Thank you again Dan

Cheers,
Wade

All the track noise you hear is generated from the track, the Benedini does not reproduce track noise,

There are varying opinions on that as well. Some guys like all the extra recording including voices, others feel it is overkill. Only you know what you like

Interesting thread.....My e50 has the DBC/Benedini combo that I got from phil at rctankwars.......I love the sound. The only issueI have is if the tank is not moved every 20 seconds, the motor sound shuts off....If you go to move thetank, it will move but you get the startup sound while the tank is moving( must be one of those new hibread tree hugger tanks).....this was phils first shot with this kit and I have read thatif the card issetup differently you can get around this...the other option is to keep the tankmoving......If you get this setup,I sugest you request the card keeps the motor running if possible.

Yes I supplied Phil those cards. It is a software setting that needs to be changed. If you buy a programming cable, and download the benedini software, it is easy to change. Currenty I ship all the cards out so they don't automatically shut down.

As you have the autoshutdown setting selected, you have to remember to "start" the tank prior moving it. A quick blip up on the throttle stick will start the tank, Once the tank has moved past the start up sequence, and the idle kicks in, then you can move it

So you have a couple of options. You can buy the programming cable and unlock all the Benedini potential, or you could send the unit back to me, and I can turn the shutdown feature off.

I suggest everyone at sometime gets the programming cable, as it allows you to change the sound sets and program all the lighting features of the board. i.e Along with sound the Benedini has the ability to turn on LED circuits. When the death sound is played you could have the Benedini start flashing other external LEDs to signify the tank has been knocked out.It is simple to use, and once you have the programmng cable, I can email out Benedini programming files that allow you to just download the files to upload into the Benedini.

Cheers

Thanks Dan. Sorry I kept bugging you on this. I do really like your setup and this is most likely what I will go with for the Sherman. I checked out the other systems, but I keep coming back to this combo. I was checking out your Sherman build on another forum, to get some ideas on the recoil and elevation, but haven't decided on how I want to go with that, I do have a spare tamiya Pershing recoil that I might use. Thanks again

Cheers
Wade

Hey no problem. Electronics are a scary thing, and they are fragile when hooked up wrong. I set out to combine what I found worked for me, and offer it as a simple to use option for others.

This combo isn't as advanced as El Mod with its own ESC and multiple tracks with track squeaking etc. However I will say when it comes to producing engines sounds and battle sounds it is second to none.

I have also found with proper gearing in place the RX18 works fine, and because you keep the RX18 in place, it makes the hook up and easy removal possible. This is where it becomes cost advantaged over the others. This combo is easy to move around between tanks, and is as easy as adding a new battery. Of course when you remove it, all the stock electronics are still there and the tank still functions like a Heng Long, so there is really no reason to have to buy multiple expensive sound, IR and Rx's for all your tanks. A couple of these packages can be purchased and moved around as you desire. A Ford V8 in one and I Maybach in the other will cover a lot of tanks without even having to change the soundfile. Benedini also has RR Meteor sounds for those Britsh tanks

Re DBC3

David designed a really good piece of hardware and code. A DBC3 can be used just like a DBC2 and still has the separate trigger outputs to use with an inexpensive sound card. For guys like you who want to get others involved on your dime this make it really attractive. You can buy the DBC3 (Factory stuffed now), use it with a cheap $10 sound card and have a basic battling tank. You can always add the Benedini later to upgrade it if you desire. Other systems are just not as flexible, adaptive and upgradable as this. The DBC3 can do it all now for $100 .(OH ya the Tamiya apple can also be used for people that already have one) Apples are something else you don't need a lot of for personal use. You just swap the apple to the tank you are battling. I took this concept, and just figured if you can do it with an apple why not make the whole IR/Sound/ hobby grade RX, thing as transferable as well.

Dan,

The Sherman I ordered from Phil, has the Mato airsoft gun, rotation, and elevation. Can these be used, or do I have to use the heng long parts? I would imagine that they are wired differently, but thought I would ask. If they can't I need to order some parts, along with some RX-18 boards.


Cheers,
Wade

You need to modify the Mato elevation unit. It has a stop on it that needs to be removed so the gun can cycle up and down with the HL electonics, iF you are keeping the airsoft the Mato gun can be used. If you are adding recoil, think about using up your spare Tamiya unit,

Yes you will need an RX 18 if you want to use the DBC3, Mako or IBU units,

Find a way to add the Mato metal suspension. It is more to scale and works great.

Cheers

lol I forgot already that I had the tamiya recoil, man old age is creeping up. I pretty much answered my own question (wow). I am going to get a stug elevation and incorporate that, I just like that system better or maybe use a mini servo. Not sure if I will use the inner barrel or get the one from rctank.de. And yes I do plan on getting the metal vvss. Also while I am bothering you, once the system is set up (eg superspin off,recoil off etc) do you have to set it up every time you turn on the tank or does it save it. Oh and I will use the mato gears for now, but plan on the 4:1 gear set forgebear sells.

Cheers,
Wade