Hey all,

This forum is really making me want a couple tanks! It sounds like the HL 1/16 S&S tanks are the best bang for the buck by far.

I've read back through a lot of posts and looked at a lot of vendor websites, but I'm not sure about all the particulars, as many descriptions are lacking in completeness or else just copied and pasted. Here are some questions that I still have:

1) Where are you (in the US) buying these? I've ruled out Hobbytron because of the bad reviews, and am currently looking at Emax Toys or WonderHobby.com. Stocking is an issue, but that's my problem, I guess.

2) Do all the Sound & Smoke tanks have the updated speed controller? I've looked at the Mato site (very well-done, but VERY expensive shipping to the US) --- they indicate as much, but other stores sometimes show descriptions that mention 2-speed only for the S&S versions. Are these just bad examples of web maintenance?

3) The Mato tanks come with a metal gearbox, it seems. Is that standard on the S&S, or do they normally come with plastic gears?

4) I gather that the best off-road are the Bulldog and Pershing/Leopard --- are the guns just as powerful as the German tanks?

5) What breaks first? What parts should I order right away? Not really thinking I need metal tracks, though.

Thanks a lot for any help!
Scotty

1)try raidentech dot com,
They have always dunn right by me(they are in California)
no complaints(bought 5 tanks from them)
2) The tracks break in cold wheather...brittle
3) s/s have a proportional speed controller....works pretty good.
4)metal tracks are better...IMO, M41 has excellent manuevering!!!! Tiger is better for plowing over stuff

SO far, it looks like Mato is the only one selling the HL tanks with Metal gears. Skip hobbytown. My buddy wanted to pick one up and they were selling the HL tiger for $195. I don't think there is a difference in the shooting velocity between the tanks. You either get a good set or a lemon. So far, the pershing my cousin has is shooting about the same velocity as my tiger. On the tiger, I have already broken 3 drive wheels and just 1 piece of track. I like seeing my tank climb steep mounds of dirt and the plastic drive wheels can't seem to take the abuse. I've ordred the metal drive wheels from Mato to cure that problem, My cousins pershing so far has yet to break anything. Spare parts depends on which tank i guess. I would highly suggest you pick up a set of tracks and metal drive wheels if you were to go with the tiger. The HL tanks are great for newbies of all ages. just my .02

my bud picked up his SS pershing from these guys. Only took 2 days to arrive from southern cali to Napa, CA. It did not come with with metal gears though.

http://zhobby.com/rctank.html

1.) Another vote for ZHobby! No problems on my end except a missing battery box cover which they sent out right away, no charge. They are very prompt with correspondence and they were cheaper than all the rest.

3.) Metal gears are overrated. I've heard of NO ONE breaking their plastic gears and even the exalted Tamiya tanks have plastic gears. Mato toys is the only vendor selling the S&S tanks with the metal gears and these are known as "Super Version". I'm not certain if these are a real version offered by the factory or Mato does the upgrade (adds the metal gears) themselves.

5.) What breaks first? Seems to depend on which tank you get. Right now I'm continuing to form the opinion that the Tiger is a real pain in the neck to own... []

I can echo zumzum5150's buddy's experience with his Pershing: I have one too (have had it longer) and have had no problems with my tank so far.

If you wait until Christmas, you can have another tank to think about: the German Panzerkampfwagen III.

-Harq

Awesome guys, thanks. I've put an order in with Emax in SoCal for a bulk pack, and we'll see if they come through. ZHobby sounds like the way to go, though. I'm gonna try to end up with Pershings and Bulldogs for the present, as I'm more interested in operation and durability than the cool looks of the Tigers and Panthers. Can't wait to try 'em out. I'll definitely be doing some "customizing", and would really like to install cams and laser sights down the road. Out here in Nevada, the terrain possibilities are endless.

I second Raidentech(GrandHobby). Go to "SVSM.org/gallery/tanks1946" for some good pics of a bunch of tanks (including the Bulldog and Pershing).

So basically, I've discovered that Raidentech runs several different hobby websites, all of which can show differing in-stock status for the same item. ZHobby is one, Emax is another, and I suspect several more. They are out of all HL S&S tanks except the Panthers, which sucks because I wanted the Bulldog and Snow Leopard....and I take it the Panthers have the same reliability problems as the Tigers due to sharing the same tracks, right? Man, trying to buy anything within 90 days of Christmas is getting to be a pain the arse!

You may have to go with Mato or Hobbytron. I got my tank from Hobbytron, every thing went well in fact I got it a day early. Mato is good but but the shipping is kind of high.

Jeff

That is the reason why I might just order direct from the factory or see who in the US can get those tanks..
Earlier this year Hobbytown USA carried the HL Tiger tanks but they were asking $109!!!! after they sold them out..that was it..no more of those tanks and only the VS tanks which are going for $109 and the large Abrams tank is going for $100!!!!

Shipping from Towerhobbies is a flat rate of $8.99
Mato Toys depends on how much you buy and the weight...but $40 dollars shipping is a bit much for a tank!!!!!

Tower told me that they would charge me $8.99 to send the Tamiya King Tiger 1/16 scale!!!!!

So if I could find a company in the US to supply and send our tanks..I would buy from them..this includes the upgrade parts...

however until Heng Long opens a store for the US in the US..we are stuck with high shipping or questionable customer service.(which I hear BYA is noted for)

Alright, so I called Hobbytron and verified that the tanks were in stock --- a Snow Pershing and Bulldog. They are S&S tanks, but the listings also said 2-speed. I'm hoping that's a mistake, and we will soon see, as I have tracking numbers for the packages heading my way....good price, and very pleasant sales lady on the phone.

That is a very common typo that you see on just about every site. Since the first HL 1/16 tanks (no Smoke & Sound) were two speed they really didn't bother to change the wording in the product description when the S&S tanks hit the market.
They're so similar that the change in the speed aspect was easy to overlook.

I ordered my Pershing under the same circumstances. It was a Smoke & Sound version but the description said 2-speed tranny. I expected the 10-speed/proportional and that's what I got.

-Harq