herrmill

Sneak preview for release later this year. Comes with lots of metal - far more than just a "chassis".

Not sure who chose the color scheme but overall looks nice. You'll want to watch the video.


https://youtu.be/Jzav17olMoY

tankme

Wonder which will be better, the Hooben or the Heng Long? Would've been nice if it was something not represented in the market or about to be represented. Oh well. At least they are making new tanks.

Ex_Pat_Tanker

Colour me interested, so long as they have a plastic version.

RichJohnson

Well compititon is good. Hopefully the hooben turns out to be a good tank, and if we are lucky the henglong will offer metal tracks and sprockets and they will fit the hooben. Which only had plastic.
Though, have to say from a comparison of photos, the hooben looks like a better model. And it cost a lot more probably.

tankme

I was thinking the same thing. The Hooben details seem to be better from what I've seen so far. I was hoping the HL sprockets and tracks would fit my Hooben ZTZ-99A, but they don't - too wide. Hopefully the parts will be compatible for the Merkava.

herrmill

Metal wheels are shown on this prototype so expect same for sprockets & track. As for compatibility, given Hooben's track record, I would say doubtful.

Panther F

I'm in for the Heng Long!

Fsttanks

Well this is good news. And of course I will be adding one to my line up. But I am still waiting to see the Hooben Rich has inbound next month. The Hooben looks a lot better and is of the most current version of the Merkeva with the Trophy APS.

RichJohnson

Making sprockets fit a different tank is just a matter of figuring it out. If shaft fit is impossible, then swapping the transmissions out is the ultimate answer, not super easy since they have different mounts but not impossible either.

herrmill

I guess when HL said just last month they only plan to release German & Russian models they failed to add in a caveat towards competition. I can't wait until Hooben finally gets around to their long talked about Sd.Kfz 251 or the other company who will remain unnamed brings out the FAMO. That said, Feng was talking about the Merkava for more than 15 years so that 251 may be awhile.

tankme

Has nothing to do with the transmissions for the Hooben ZTZ even though they are a dual flat type shaft and discounting the Hooben mounting holes don't line up with HL gearboxes. I'm aware there are different length gearbox shafts and if it were simply a matter of making one shorter or getting a longer one, that would already be done as I have many transmissions sitting around that I've pulled out of other tanks. I've built custom mounts for non-standard gearboxes. Sprockets and tracks are too wide to fit under the track skirts before even being mounted on any shaft. I have no desire to cut the track skirts off. Even if I did cut the skirts off it would mean the road wheels would need to be extended out further to mesh with the guide teeth of the track. The plastic Hooben suspension arms are already so flimsy that pushing the wheels further out would only cause them more issues. Tried HL Leo sprockets, my HL Abrams tracks/sprockets, and the metal ZTZ HL tracks/sprockets. Even with those sprockets pressed right against the inner hull, they still touch the track skirts. The only sprockets I have that look like they could be close to working are the even the T-72 metal HL tracks/sprockets as they are the thinnest of the bunch. Unfortunately those are the ones I've never seen used on a ZTZ-99A version of the tank. I've only seen the ZTZ-99 Chinese tracks or the Leo/Chally rubber track style. I tried every combo of my metal sprocket options to see if they would work with the stock nylon Hooben track and non of them would mesh right or were the right width. Tamiya Leo sprockets are a no go also as they don't fit HL or Hooben shafts.

So...as you can tell I decided that it will be running on it's stock plastic/nylon tracks and running gear at this point.

herrmill

Word here is the Merkava is expected in November & that's locally here where they are produced. As with any Hooben release, time will tell. Already a few who paid for Hooben's are a tad PO'd upon learning of HL's news. Guess it was meant to be a surprise release at HEC.

tch2000

Count me in for this HL

Imex-Erik

I would put my bets on HL for this one. I have to admit the last few tanks they have produced have been much higher quality than the older WW2 tanks they had just a few years ago even. The molds are a bit higher quality and with the new powder metallurgy they are using for the molds they have a bit more detail to the parts too. I'll be interested to see how this one goes, I'll make sure to get a few for you guys too so you have a trusted vendor here in the US to get some from.

borealis

If that's really a Heng Long, I'm impressed both from the features and the dynamics.

MAUS45

It is calling to me!!! The Heng Long version.

Imex-Erik

It is, I've confirmed it myself. However pretty sure it isn't a 2021 release. I've talked with bossman and we will try to secure some for you guys asap.

Pcomm1.v2

Sign me up for the HL version. John

RichJohnson

Hooben put their photos up, and full price is now $668. Dang glad I pre ordered mine.
photos show a better looking tank than henglong.

https://www.hooben-shop.com/products...43838bef&_ss=r

Pcomm1.v2

Thanks Rich, I’ll check it out, but like many others, after my long ago Elefant Jagdpanzer kit build experience, I do not really enjoy their products.

RichJohnson

I have my fingers cross that I get something at least worth what I paid for lol. But their model looks great. If the drive train turns out to be junk, I could move the top half over to a henglong eventually..... Waste double the money LOL.

Pavel Pankratov

My colleague ordering ... Will be the first in Russia! He has already been reworking a South Korean tank, and it still stands without paint, he likes this
forum.rcdesign.ru/f99/thread567838.html