Does anyone know anything about this RC 1/16 Leopard 2A5? It's not made by Tamiya.

http://www.hobbytron.com/RCTankLeopa...ftJHC0807.html

How's the quality, detail, features, etc of this tank? I'm sure it isn't in the same league as my Tamiya 1/16 Leopard 2 A6, but this one looks pretty good overall and I may consider this one if it's is. The price is affordable and I could run this one outside in the elements while my premium Tamiya Leo 2 A6 can stay safe inside! [sm=teeth_smile.gif]

Also, anyone delt with Hobbytron before?

Feedback appreciated.

I can't say any thing about the tank. But I bought my HL Tiger I from Hobbytron, I had no problems with my purchase in fact the tank got here day early. If I remember right I was just short of a week from the time I order it till I got it. That leopard dose look pretty neat.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff for your feeback with your experience with Hobbytron. The Leopard 2 A5 does look tempting doesn't it. Just might go for it. If anything for an "outside" Leo and the fact it says it can acutally fire something sounds pretty neat. Keeping my Tamiya Leo 2A6 safe inside!

I kept looking at that tank and something looked familair....it was the rear sprocket.
It is the same as my 1/16th Abrams made by Giga Toy.
My Giga Toy M1 was grossly underpowered and had no suspension.
Let me know how it turns out.

Found some more pics of this particular Leo 2 A5 at the following links:

http://www.tankzone.co.uk/cart/hobbye_16.htm

http://supplier.tradeeasy.com/nf/p42...D-2A5-2A6.html

Found out the company who makes this, and they make NATO and Desert color Abrams too, is called Hobby Engine out of Hong Kong. Is the Abrams the same as yours I wonder?

Exactly the same as the camo version.
Like it said the rear sprocket gave it away.
It was my first 1/16th tank.
It was geared too high resulting in high speed but no torque.
I put the rear sprockets in a lath and reduced the diameter which helped.
With the suspension on the A5 ,I am curious to see what the tank is like.

Yeah, I posted a few days back about how I wish one of us would be a sacrificial lamb and buy one! It is definately the same company as the HobbyZone tanks that Hobbytown sells. The Hobby Engine versions seem to have more model detail, and less of a toyish look like the HobbyZone Abrams tanks. I have to say, the Leopard looks pretty wicked (of course, any model of the Leopard looks cool because the Leopard IS cool).

No offense, but what's the point of buying an R/C tank (regardless of price) if you're not going to use it? It would've been much cheaper to get the static display version if it's just going to be a display piece... sorry if this sounds harsh, but it just pains me to think of that Leopard not being put to use when I know that I personally wouldn't even be able to afford one.

Dynamike- So the Abrams is the same one you got. Sounds like good work you did with the rear sprockets to improve the performance. I thougt I saw a pic of this particular Leo 2A5 where they showed the middle wheels has a suspension to some degree, but I can't find the website now. I'll keep looking for it, but I suspect this Leo may have improved upon their earlier Abrams maybe?

Update: Saw this on HLJ. I think this may be the same Leo, but it's packaged by Doyusha. It has the drawing showing the suspension that I remembered and it also has an barrel extension to make it an A6. Looks like it has everything in the box like the Hobby Engine version. What I'm guessing is it may be made by the same company (Hobby Engine), but is packaged and marketed by Doyusha in Japan. Kinda like how Tokyo Mauri's tanks are made by the same company in China, and has split off and formed VSTanks. Not completely sure, but both of these Leos look literally the same. Anybody know for sure?

http://www.hlj.com/product/DYS29804

titan20- Who knows, I'm tempted to get one down the road. It does look very nice and the details very good for something that probably wasn't made to be a super detailed model in the first place. And I'm sure if one wants to detail it with touchup paint and such, it shouldn't be a problem. And yes, the Leo for me is hands down, the best looking modern MBT I've ever seen!

Bhop73- No offense taken buddy! [sm=wink_smile.gif] The point I bought and paid for for my 1/16 RC Tamiya Leo 2A6 to be built serves me two objectives: To own my favorite tank as an RC and a display model. I run my Tamiya Leo mainly inside the home now to protect it because I've paid a lot for it. I have ran it outside mainly on the driveway and street quite a few times (I've posted a few pics on a thread I made a while back). But now, it's inside. Secondly, When I commissioned my Leo built, I asked it to be built brand new as if rolling out the assembly line. No weathering. No worn out look. I like the brand new look so to also serve as a display model when not in use. I know this comes down to a matter of tastes and I realize many people like their tank to look dirty and worn, like it's been through a lot, even putting them through their paces in all sorts of conditions outside. I understand that and know that is one of the purposes of having one of these things. But like a new looking car, a new looking tank is my favorite look and the best way for me to keep my expensive investment is to keep it inside and enjoy it there, but it's still running around though.

Also, it is a reason why I'm eyeing this Hobby Engine Leo 2A5. Don't get me wrong, I would love to run a 1/16 Leo out in the elements, all over the place outside, and not care if it gets dirty or not. That is why this Hobby Engine looks like it'll be a good candidate to do that. Hope my reasoning to protect my Tamiya Leo 2A6 make more sense to you now.

Looking at the box I see it has the same controller as my old M1.
Back when I bought mine 2 -3 years ago there were no 1/16th M1's.
Kenny and a few others were building aluminum hull's and using this tanks upper hull to finish them.
This left many lower hulls laying around and I was able to pick up some dirt cheap to try my mods on.

I agree with both of you about the Leo being the sexiest looking beast around.
I wish they would have seen some action in the middle east to prove their worth.
My original Marui Leo is my favorite.

The New Leopard looks nice except for that rear sprocket (which is actually a wheel not a sprocket).
The price is alittle steep $200 +.
Hopefully they did some gear and motor updates since the M1 and having a suspension now is a plus.

I think it is $96 at Hobbytron, and their shipping is pretty reasonable.