Hi Cirus,
Thanks for all the advise - I got the $100 from Robo's links to Imex - the 2 parts came to about $79 then I am sure there is some shipping. I am really already over what I wanted to spend but your suggestion seems sound and I will run it by my better 1/2. I am sorry if I appear to be bouncing around - I don't intend to be and hopefully you guys understand I am not intending to knock anyone nor the hobby - there is clearly way more to it then meets the eye from someone who a week or 2 ago did not even know these existed. I gave you my number in PM so please feel free to call me and again if anyone feels I wasted their time, apologies.

Sorry about the confusion. The prices on the website are list prices. RCU members wont pay that. My link had the entire upper hull, which should be an even easier swap than the turret alone. But, I'm sure that just the turret is cheaper.

No worries, most new guys go through the same stuff and we've seen it before, and we've all been through it ourselves, even though we don't all like to admit it. Who me? I was born standin' up and talkin' back with a 9X in my hand.

Chase provided you with good links, but the prices at those links aren't accurate. At least not for RCU guys. The IR hull top and turret are $68 but I think Erik can get you just the turret and that knocks off twenty bucks, then maybe 10 or 15% discount takes you down to just over $40 so with shipping you're right around $50, maybe $53 to get the Tiger IR ready. It's a complete plug and play swap if you get the new on/off switch (there's an extra wire for the high intensity flash), which is under five bucks, but if you have a solder iron and the skills you can do it yourself. If i have to I'll do one and mail it to you. The Stug is $175 delivered and you just have to swap out the RX-18 for the new MFU I'll send you, put batteries in the new transmitter I'll send you (they'll be bound when I send them), and you'll have two tanks on Taigen 2.4 GHz electronics, both IR, that can battle each other, ad you'll still have the airsoft Panther to play with. And if you bail on me after all that I'll probably have to kick ya in the leg.

Make sure to ask Erik if the IR turret comes with an apple and if it doesn't I have one you can have.

Thanks guys - so I think I may have learned some other things... the IR from Heng Long and Taigen are compatible? Also Heng Long is not longer and or will not for much longer be producing IR units, just airsoft and the prices at IMEX have some discount because of me signing up here...

The equipment is. The IR code on the MFU's is not. That's why we suggest taigen electronics.

Also, I made the suggestion for the entire hull top because the taigen tiger should have the quick release, so it would only take swapping hull tops to switch between IR and air-soft on your tiger.

Chase, Heng Long and Taigen won't fight each other? I know they won't fight Tamiya but I thought they'd fight each other. If not, one more reason to keep the tiger, get the Stug and put in the Taigen electronics. You'd have two IR tanks, both on Taigen 2.4, that can battle each other. I have a video demo of the Taigen system, have you seen that, Tom? I'm sure Chase has.

Here it is. Took awhile to find the dang thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks8Z9PjlB0A

Cirus,

You don't have to send me free stuff - I appreciate it but you don't have to do that.

OK, first, it's Crius, not Cirus. Crius was one of the Titans, Uncle to the Greek God Zeus. No idea who Cirus is, except maybe a cloud.

I don't have a problem with giving away stuff if a guy needs it to stay in the hobby and can't afford it otherwise. If you need it to stay in the hobby I'll give it to you, but if you can afford it I usually sell a second hand Taigen MFU and Transmitter for $45 (that's $25 for the MFU and $20 for the TX) plus $10 for shipping anywhere that has a US zip code.

typo

I didn't say anything until the second typo, and I'm not mad or anything, I'm trying to help you get into the hobby. I think it would be cool for you to end up with two IR tanks that will battle each other and if you're smart you'll make sure the wife kicks your ass the first time she tries them.

My offer stands and I'm here if you need assistance. Got any photos of the airsoft Panther yet?

Thanks Crius,

No photo's of the airsoft Panther yet - I have been remodeling my office - did discover something about the Panther and the "pre" 2.4G - I accidentally left the tank turned on and it was sitting on a shelve, the remote was off but something signaled it to drive forward - it fell about 6 feet - must have landed on it's rear somehow and broke both back wheels off... I just finished using some high quality model glue on it and got the tracks back on it and it drives ok but needs a bit more before I will trust it not to re-break - it broke off at the lower body, both back wheels - they broke right off the body - time will tell.

I am still thinking about your offer which is very kind - I plan on deciding after my office is back to normal hopefully get it done this weekend.

Well, now you have a new offer to think about - I have a spare lower hull for your panther tank so if the glue doesn't hold let me know and I'll fix ya up.

Man, Talex, you're off to a rough start.

Steve

How much would you need for it?

ya, so far not so good... but my office is looking good.

Nothing. Not long ago I needed a PzIV hull and Bret sent me his spare for free, and he even paid the postage. Now it's my turn. Is this what they mean by "pay it forward"? I needed help and Bret was there for me, now you need help so I'll be there for you. Of course, if you bail on the hobby in six months I'll be greatly disappointed, but for now go ahead and PM me with your address and I'll get this puppy in the mail.

Thanks, Does the hull include the back wheels or the mounting part? In the image I am posting with this, the part these wheels attach to is broken off at the hull, that is where I glued them back on - guess you can guess why I am not sure I would trust that as the tracks do put a bit of pressure on that part - still don't know how it landed to break both and nothing else, I was in the other room and keep hearing a noise I thought was my wife using her mixer - then a huge BANG! It drove forward off the shelf but somehow landed and broke the 2 rear wheels (idler wheels?) off at the hull...

Welcome to the "hobby"!

Rule number 1... do not shelve an RC vehicle with the battery installed or TURNED ON unless it is on blocks with the drive wheels/tracks elevated!

Rule number 2... remember rule number 1. Murphy's law will bite you in the azz.




Jeff

The attachment in your post isn't working so I couldn't see the photo.

Here's the lower hull

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDp_Ww0_1VU

Years ago I had one of those Viper USA 1/6th scale Tiger I tanks. I was trying to figure out how to R/C it. Eventually I needed to get it out of the way so I put it up on a shelf about 6 feet up. It was too wide for the shelf but it stayed up there just fine....until the cat walked on the outer edge of it one day. Mostly resin tank that weighed 65lbs...there went $600. The entire deck shattered and the turret broke into a million pieces. I kept a few pieces and junked 95% of it. It is a bad excuse for a 1/6th scale tank so if you ever come across one for sale...pass.

That looks pretty neat - here is an image of what broke and my repair job, hopefully this one shows up.

If I have learned anything so far it's to take more time with this hobby - I am thinking about what Crius offered to get 2 IR tanks going which would get me setup pretty well for evaluating the hobby better - I can see possibly down the road having a couple of Taigen's for use and some Heng Longs mainly for display, but who knows - I certainly need to take a bit more time - should I get this lower hull from Crius it will be my first time disassembling one of these so I am sure that will teach me a lot right there.

Can you elaborate on what a "real hobby radio" is? What is the radio the Heng Long tanks come with called?

Can you provide a link to the Hobby King radio you are talking about?

Steve

Actually Steve, any RTR or entry level radio that is included in the box are referred to as 'Toy Grade'.

Aftermarket radios as such that is being called a "real hobby radio" are 'Hobby Grade'.






Jeff