Need some direction with HL 1/16th Abrams.
I have found both versions on Amazon...Stock $208.98 Shipped
And a "Upgrade version w/ metal gear and tracks" $302.98 shipped.
So what I would like to know is given what I can find be looking round Tank Army dot com carries quite a few "Mod's" to get it going with metal parts.
I would really like to know what you guys think or how you would do this?

Thanks in advance...

What is your ultimate desire? Driving around the yard or battling? (asks the CO of DAK the PHOENIX rc tank club)

Both...I would like to get a solid, well built tank that can handle it self well with out coming apart while playing hard.
And at some point get up there to see you guys and join in...

I would go for the metal upgrades. Just the metal tracks are worth the extra cost, and the metal gears are a must for serious off road driving. You should go see the DAK folks at one of their battles, It's worth the drive.

The metal track upgrade is worth considering, but when they say metal gearboxes they're usually talking about zinc gears and you'll end up replacing those anyway. If you can find metal tracks for less than the $96 price difference it might be better to get the plastic tank and then upgrade to steel gears and metal tracks.

So if I did the math right...

Tankarmy dot com

Metal...

Rollers $66.00
Sprockets $17.00
Tracks $61.00

Total $145.00 With out shipping.(About)

This is what I'm thinking will give me a good start.

IMEX still has a few HL Abrams if you are interested. We install the brand new Taigen 4:1 gearboxes with bearings on each shaft and it gets checked by us here before it leaves. Ours is $229 but once again it does come with STEEL gearboxes and not the zinc ones. Definitely worth the upgrade IMO PM me if you are interested, I still have a few of them left.

So you have 4 shaft gear boxes with bearings on all shafts?

The ones I have are already installed on the Abrams, they are not available for purchase yet. They should be on the next container. I had to perfect just a few more things There are a few guys here with them already and it is definitely worth the wait for both the 3 and 4 shaft versions that's for sure.

Erik PM sent...

Next DAK battle is this Saturday, May 2 2015. Bring your questions. (we have loaners!)

HEHEHE...I have a Tamiya Tiger...But working till 2:45PM...

I was gonna suggest the Imex version but I checked both Imex and Island enterprises and couldn't find them. I guess it pays to be an RCU forum member, eh?

Dan, that's why I keep saying that the only way to get four shaft boxes with bearings on all shafts right now is to buy an abrams. I'm still thinking about it, just for the gearboxes. I could just put some regular boxes in the HL plastic tank and resell it.

I do want an abrams but I'm holding out til Imex comes out with theirs. I made the mistake of not waiting for the King Tiger, I won't do that again. I should've waited for the Imex/Torro but got impatient and now I regret it.

Their next battle starts at 2:00 pm. It would be worth your while to go see.

http://www.desertarmor.com/DAK2/DAK_HOME.html

Yes I need to put that online, I just wanted to make sure everyone here had first dibs. And YES, the Taigen Abrams is still being worked on. A bit delayed, but this was for a VERY good reason A small change was made that will make a very solid tank if you get what I'm saying... If you guys want one just hit me up, I will have to put them online soon so I would rather you guys got one first.

Opinion: I have a couple of early HL Abrams from IMEX Taigen, both are very nice and am waiting for the Taigen Metal Hull Abrams to do a Tamiya TBU conversion.

Ordered in December 2014, the first HL Abrams tank was converted to a Hen Long - Tamiya TBU Hybrid and a local guy bought it before I could joy it! I have a second HL Abrams, also from Taigen, that is stock HL 2.4 with the 4 to 1 black gearboxes and it amazingly worked great out of the box! Couldn't believe it! No issues months later, so I have left it alone for all to drive & enjoy, which I won't do with my Tamiya's, loan them to others to drive.

I did not find metal sprockets or metal tracks necessary, yet. The very light weight Abrams TBU tank works OK on grass, running the plastic track setup (as compared to the much heavier Tamiya Leo 2).

The Abrams is way to slow running the 4 to 1 black gearboxes. Lacking scale speed with a battlefield infrared tank is a major issue for me and I believe that should be corrected in the Taigen metal hull version and hopefully they have addressed that issue. The Abrams is a 45 mph (72 km/h) on paved roads and 30 mph (48 km/h) cross-country main battle tank and many crews have operated it at much faster speeds on good roads.

John

Hi! I am new here, so I do not understand some terms. What do you mean by 'TBU'? Also, what do you plan to make your M1 faster, truer to scale speed? Thanks in advance.

Erik...Thanks!...Got it on Thursday. Haven't even had a chance to open the box!...Work keeps gettin' in the way.
I still think looking back at the order process, you were waiting for me to purchase it...From the time I finalized the order until you had FedEx picking it up could not have been more 3- 4 hours!
Thank you for the fast service!

Yes I believe the three shaft boxes work best for a modern tank. I have the 3 shaft set with bearings on all shafts in my Leo and it runs greats. It is the only gearbox that will actually coast and roll downhill. I am setting up an Abrams soon with bearinged up three shaft boxes and a BARC4.

The four shaft boxes will work best in WWII armor. So if you are listening ERIK those four shaft boxes would be best packaged along with your Tigers

Oh I'm listening and yes they will be packaged with the mid version Tiger 1 coming soon The Jagdtiger will also come with the new 4 shaft steel gearboxes too The EU versions will have zinc, so just a warning