I'm brand new to the R/C tank world. I've got my eyes set on a Marui/VS Pro M1A2 tank. One thing that I don't really like about them is that the controller is push button. I'd like to mod the system so that it can run off of a R/C aircraft stick style controller and beef up the motors and maybe tinker with the suspension if need be. Have any of you tried doing that yet? I'm thinking that an entire rebuild is in order? If possible, a list of the parts I would need would be nice . Also, could you recommend some sites that sell detail parts for the tank?

try toyeast.com for some parts.

not worth it modifying it, go get a tamiya one.
but if you want to do it that way its your choice.
good luck

Check the yahoo group called maruitankgroup. Some people have converted their 1/24 tanks to full proportional controllers.

Yeah it would be capital if tamiya made full option, fully proportional tanks in 1/24 or 1/35 scale. Unfortunately they don't, and probably never will.