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Old 03-03-2015 | 05:48 PM
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Default What to look for

I am going to buy a Tamiya tank, how do I know if I am buying a latest edition. I see some with the words "Full Option" and some without. If I buy a full option tank, will I be safe. Thank you
Old 03-03-2015 | 06:43 PM
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That is the latest offering from Tamyia. Check with Natasha at AAF Tank Museum PX. They usually have very good prices on Tamyia tanks.
Old 03-03-2015 | 06:55 PM
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The ones that say full option mean that they have turret rotation, gun elevation, sound and the like. the ones without are the older versions. IF your looking for a tank that can do everything a tank should shoot, move and make noise then go with the full option. IF you looking for a chassis to build off of then a tank without full option should suit you.
Old 03-04-2015 | 06:11 AM
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Thanks for the info guys. With all of the hype about Tamiya, just have to try one.
Old 03-04-2015 | 07:36 AM
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One other point - full option does not mean 'including radio' - so you will have to buy a TX and RX to drive the vehicle. Unless you order from Japan where for some reason, they do come with the radio included for a few more bucks.

Cheers

CaptB
Old 03-04-2015 | 08:08 AM
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Tamiya RC tank kit have model numbers. They start at 56002 (Leopard 1a4) and currently end at 56037 (Type 10). The lower the number, the older the kit.
Old 03-04-2015 | 09:23 AM
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Yes, I'll have to do that along with a couple of servos. Thanks for the reply CaptainB
Old 03-04-2015 | 09:24 AM
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Good info Jeff489, thank you.
Old 03-04-2015 | 09:30 AM
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No servo's needed for tamiya tanks.
Old 03-04-2015 | 09:45 AM
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Originally Posted by TheBennyB
No servo's needed for tamiya tanks.
What activates barrel recoil?
Old 03-04-2015 | 09:45 AM
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Originally Posted by TheBennyB
No servo's needed for tamiya tanks.
What activates barrel recoil?

Sorry hit the leave page button= double post.
Old 03-04-2015 | 10:24 AM
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The kits have there own re-coil unit that plugs into the MFU (Muliti-Function Unit) along with the traverse,gun elevation, and speaker. Go to this site. It is the Manual for the Tamiya 1/16 Panther G. Scroll through it and you will get an idea of how the Tamiya tanks go together before you buy one.

http://www.tamiyausa.com/pdf/manuals/56022ml.pdf
Old 03-04-2015 | 11:58 AM
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You will need a Tamiya TBS if you plan on IR battling. You can grab one on ebay or at the AAF tank museum PX.

http://shop.aaftankmuseum.com/Produc...ductCode=53447

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tamiya-1-16-...item259fb027aa
Old 03-04-2015 | 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by MAUS45
The kits have there own re-coil unit that plugs into the MFU (Muliti-Function Unit) along with the traverse,gun elevation, and speaker. Go to this site. It is the Manual for the Tamiya 1/16 Panther G. Scroll through it and you will get an idea of how the Tamiya tanks go together before you buy one.

http://www.tamiyausa.com/pdf/manuals/56022ml.pdf
Thanks MAUS45, looks like it's going to be fun.
Old 03-04-2015 | 12:06 PM
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Originally Posted by TheBennyB
You will need a Tamiya TBS if you plan on IR battling. You can grab one on ebay or at the AAF tank museum PX.

http://shop.aaftankmuseum.com/Produc...ductCode=53447

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tamiya-1-16-...item259fb027aa
Thanks THEBENNYB, no one around to battle with. But if I want a cup of Starbucks coffee, they're on every corner. Looking at the club list, I'd have to drive to socal. About eight hours away. Thanks for the links however.
Old 03-04-2015 | 08:29 PM
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It is fun and maybe the best way to educate yourself on how most all tanks work wether its a HL with a clark or BARC system they are similar, but building a tank is the best way to learn how they work so when you want to strip down that Panzer III L from HL and add your own electronics you will have been prepaired for what to expect after building a Tamiya from the ground up.
Old 03-05-2015 | 04:01 AM
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Your best bet is to go to banzaihobby.com prices are excellent, tanks come with radio and battery. You can get a TBS there too, even with shipping will be cheaper than buying in the states.
Old 03-05-2015 | 05:51 AM
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Originally Posted by raceeng18
no one around to battle with. Looking at the club list, I'd have to drive to socal. About eight hours away. Thanks for the links however.
If you are eight hours from so cal, are you close to Phoenix? We would be glad to show you the ropes.
Old 03-05-2015 | 06:43 AM
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Originally Posted by edoubleaz
If you are eight hours from so cal, are you close to Phoenix? We would be glad to show you the ropes.
Hello edoubleaz, no, I am in northern ca. north east of Sacramento. Phoenix would be longer. Thank you for the invitation, that was kind of you.
Old 03-05-2015 | 06:44 AM
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Originally Posted by tomhugill
Your best bet is to go to banzaihobby.com prices are excellent, tanks come with radio and battery. You can get a TBS there too, even with shipping will be cheaper than buying in the states.
Thank you tomhugill, I'll take a look.
Old 03-05-2015 | 06:47 AM
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Originally Posted by MAUS45
It is fun and maybe the best way to educate yourself on how most all tanks work wether its a HL with a clark or BARC system they are similar, but building a tank is the best way to learn how they work so when you want to strip down that Panzer III L from HL and add your own electronics you will have been prepaired for what to expect after building a Tamiya from the ground up.
Agreed MAUS45, I've taken a couple of my Taigen tanks all the way down to bare bones just to learn. Amazing what you sometimes find when you do that.
Old 03-05-2015 | 07:01 AM
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Originally Posted by raceeng18
Hello edoubleaz, no, I am in northern ca. north east of Sacramento. Phoenix would be longer. Thank you for the invitation, that was kind of you.
Well come on down for spring training, the Giants are in Scottsdale. My cousin lives in Sacramento as well.
Old 03-05-2015 | 09:50 AM
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I have bought numerous tank kits from the AAF Museum including the flagship Tamiya Leo 2, they are great people and true rc tank enthusiasts too.

Though, for a new guy thinking about his first Tamiya rc tank kit, this is my tip: Checkout and compare this Tamiya rc tank vendor's prices, Banzai Hobby:

http://banzaihobby.com/radio-control...a-1-16-rc-tank

I have bought a couple of Tamiya JS-2s and a Tamiya Jagdpanther from them and the experience was problem free. Plus shipping to the west coast from Japan is way quick! The kits are Japan market, instructions are in English, the same as found in USA kits. The kits include a Tamiya branded 4 channel radio, which is made by Futaba. The newest kits like the JS-2 use a 2.4 radio, the earlier kits use Futaba FM or more often the Futaba AM radio, again depending on the kit. The Sherman kit delivers with a less than desirable 2 channel radio. A useful rc tank battery is included, but the Japan electrical system only battery charger that is included in all the kits is NOT useful, which means don't use it in the USA, unless you have a converter, but even then, I just toss it.

John

Last edited by Pcomm1.v2; 03-05-2015 at 10:59 AM.
Old 03-05-2015 | 10:01 AM
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Only thing you have to watch for is if your buying a tamiya kit from oversea's you may not get customer support in the U.S. on the DMD or MF. Have heard a couple accounts of people trying to
get their DMD or MF replaced by tamiya USA and they are turned down siting the electronics were not from the U.S. I have never compared but guessing they can tell by a serial number perhaps.
Old 03-05-2015 | 11:14 AM
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Perhaps I am reading market trade protectionism thought into this previous post, but my experience is completely different. A good experience too. During the summer of 2014 Tamiya USA had no problem receiving and servicing my well used DMD-MF set from a Japanese market kit. Seemed it made no difference to the tech guys as they did not ask or say anything to me about the source of the units. And we chatted on the phone a couple times and they solved the problem, never asking where I bought the items They just fixed the problem.



John


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