Being new to RC tanks, I'm wondering what sort of surfaces I can run on without damaging the tracks. Apparently carpet is out, or does that only apply to shag-type carpet and smooth carpet is fine? What about various outdoor surfaces such as grass or pavement (that has some grit here and there)?

If it matters, my tank is a Heng Long with metal tracks.

Shag carpet, tall grass beside entangling your track just puts strain on your model's drive train. At best it will drain batteries
faster than a smooth surface. At worst then can cause you to break something; gear, link. Sand is another environment I avoid.
Sand is abrasive that's all. I'd avoid deep water unless your model is water tight. Only because the control electronics usually don't take kindly to water. I understand snow can be fun but takes preparation to run in.

Bottom line is all environments will take their toll as they do with all land based vehicles.; it's just a matter of how fast you're willing to wear out or break parts. Fortunately tank parts usually won't break the bank. You can run anywhere you want, it's really up to you. Over the years I've been chided that I baby my tanks; it's true. Even so I like to churn up dirt as much as the next guy. I stay out of mud only because I don't want it in the house.

Jerry

What type of HL tank? They all have various degrees of aggressive tracks and various issues with tracks depending on model. Some have slick tracks that slide well on carpet and indoor materials, others might have issues.

Otherwise you can run them just about anywhere except thick mud, gritty pebble like dirt/sand and deep water. Check out the Tank Photo Gallery, there are bunches of examples of HL and other brands running outdoors in all kinds on terrain.

Thank-you both for your replies.

It's a Heng Long 1:16 M4A3 Sherman 3898 with metal tracks. Warnings are fine, but it's nice when you know the "why". I imagine the treads having wider spacing as they go around the front and rear wheels could pick up something solid, and then when the treads close up, the grit keeps them forces apart and they break apart. Wear from grit is more easily understood and avoided.

The M4 is a pretty durable HL tank so you should not have any issues as long as you take it easy at first and build up to harder terrain. It will not take long for you to learn the limits of the tank and you will have a fun in the process.

Don’t forget to post some photos of the fun.

The problem with driving through grass with a Heng Long or a Taigen Tank especially one fitted with metal tracks is that the sprockets will get grass wrapped around them and stall the motors and because the makers of these Tanks have not built a fuse or cut out into the control board the Tank will stop because of the overload on the motors and there is a good chance that the famous "Magic Smoke" will come out of the MFU and that is game over.
Carpet in general is fine, The only problem I have ever had with using that surface was when she who must be obeyed caught me doing it, Paving and garage hard standing as well as compacted earth is perfect but wear and tear is inevitable,
I would avoid water although as "Cruis" will advise you as long as the control board is isolated from it all should be fine.
Soft sand is the killer it gets everywhere and it just grinds away any moving surface it comes into contact with.

Are you kidding? It's a tank, drive it anywhere!

Seriously though, just be careful locking up the tracks with something caught in the tracks.

I drive my tanks everywhere, just observe if the real tank can't do it, then probably bad for the model to do it.

That's what I thought.... until I read the instructions. Then my imagination went wild and I started to over-think it.....

Stay out of mud, you do drive through mud, drive straight as you can with minimal turning. Also, take it apart and wash it with a hose as soon as you are done. I mean take the track off, and unscrew the wheels and take them out and wash the mud out of them. You can do it but the more extreme you drive the more maintenance you will need to do. The sherman is quite amazing and nearly unstoppable. It took a 3 year old pushing it to break the rear idler off the hull when he got a rock stuck in it. Normal driving wont do that because the tank will stall before that must tension happens.

When on softer surfaces like sand, grass, and carpet, avoid those zany "super 360 spins". Rather, turn gradually while moving forward. As everyone else already said, just keep an eye on things and you'll quickly learn what your Sherman can and can't do in various surfaces. One thing I've learned, especially with a stock tank, is to avoid worsening a bad situation. If you find that you're stuck in a clump of grass, rather than gun it to push through the obstacle, walk over and inspect the tank to see what is bogging it down. Sometimes it could be something simple, that takes a couple seconds to remove or reposition the tank, rather than risk stripping something then having to spend a while repairing it or waiting for replacement parts in the mail.

It's all about learning the constraints of your specific tank, in its specific configuration, in your specific environment. Increasing your maintenance skill helps offset the increased risks you may take as you become more confident and start pushing the envelope.

And as Fsttanks said, please share pictures of the FUN!

If you try snow, crusted hard snow is best, and cool the tracks before you drive in the snow so it won't melt onto the warm tracks and then re freeze locking stuff up. It may anyway, if so stop and thaw out the tracks. Silicone spray on the tracks will lessen the icing up problem.

Click the link below and scroll down to see movies of a Sherman, Leopard, Panther and Abrams driving outside.

Here is a slow mo movie in snow.

I try and stay away from any kind of manure (ex. dog, cat horse, cow, ) wet concrete, hot tar, silica sand, quagmire, fresh cut lawn (unbagged), powder snow, mulched leaves, pulverized black dirt, cat tails, wet gray clay, and anything that contains fertilizer..

Its -5*F here, so it doesnt take long to cool the tracks before running in snow

Enjoy,
Shad

You only "try"? I have no doubt that dog poop will be like Charlie Brown's kite-eating tree.

Overall, I feel much more comfortable after reading all these posts and watching the video. I saw some others with the tanks in grass (fairly short grass).

As far as pictures go, I actually bought this as a present for my grandson. He's a bit young for it, however his father (my son) is, or at least was, a keen RCer. So adult supervision will be there. Nevertheless, running it outdoors where's there more room to make mistakes would be prudent. Hence the question on terrain. Hopefully I will be able to get a video of it running.

Reading up on these tanks, and knowing my son, I did take the liberty of applying the decals. Yes, a bit fiddly, but they went on OK. All the accessories that glued on were done as well. I left the double sided tape accessories for them to do together.

All in all, I kind of wished I had bought it for myself. I did test it on hardwood floors) and it was a lot of fun. Maybe I'll buy one and we can use the infrared stuff.

All in all, I kind of wished I had bought it for myself. I did test it on hardwood floors) and it was a lot of fun. Maybe I'll buy one and we can use the infrared stuff.[/QUOTE]

and before you know it, you will have 1 more and then.... and then... and then 10....

Enjoy,
Shad

I run mine on the powdered bones of my enemies..... as all tanks should be run

"All in all, I kind of wished I had bought it for myself. I did test it on hardwood floors) and it was a lot of fun. Maybe I'll buy one and we can use the infrared stuff."

Sounds like you are hooked. Welcome to the tank hobby.

I run mine on the powdered bones of my enemies..... as all tanks should be run

Defiantly hooked. I agree, that's the best surface to run tanks on.

I like to drive anywhere, excepting sand.Sand is worst surface to drive.
I am driving 99% in the natural battlefield.Village with lots of grass (short grass) and ground.
My tanks are all equipped with plastic tracks.Just need to watch for potentially dangerouss places when i want to turn more aggressively.

The only no-go zone for me is mulch beds, and places with lots of sticks. I've burned up a few control boards, and broken track links in there, so I treat them like mine fields now.

As for snow, just need to let the tank sit outside for 15ish minutes before you start, and it should be fine.