It seems that all our weight problems are over, take a look here:
The link to the great auctions site is posted with informative purpose only, don't know if it is forbidden by the forum rules, if so, please give me advice and I'll edit the post.

http://cgi.ebay.de/Neu-entwickeltes-...QQcmdZViewItem

Regards

Nice, who is making these? Heng Long or TamToys? I could use 4 of them right now!

just sent them an email, and note that Asiatam is the recipient.

Looking for something better. Really getting fed up with Mato's metal gearboxes. [:'(]My new Pz III worked fairly well on a weak battery when I got it, but now that I have 50% of the chassis converted to a Jap Ch Ha, the left side is really stiff and doesn't want to move without help. Right side is better but still very slow, but maybe that's the metal upgrade kit. [:-]Is this normal with some metal gear boxes and is there a solution to this problem other that replace the trash it? [][]

Just had a look on their main website can't see them on there look good though
heres a link http://www.asiatam.de/shop_content.php?coID=3

Asiatam is selling them:

http://www.asiatam.de/index.php?cat=...7c6aa6642d1d1c

They still don't advertise the gearboxes in his site. I got the advice from this Panzerketten thread: http://www.rc-panzerketten-forum.com...threadid=12483

and the first images from http://modellbaukooperation1.privat.....de/laufp1.jpg

Cheers

Oh! and take a close look to the Stug gearboxes and the Stug itself...
Regards

looks like they'll have the stug before hl cool[8D][8D]

Where's a picture of their Stug at?


Jeff

Did you break in the gearboxes Bill with gritty hand cleaner or toothpaste? Wire the motors to run directly off a battery outside the tank, put some paper over them to contain the mess and do something else while listening for slow downs. When the gearbox encounters resistance, add more toothpaste, and more and more until about an hour has past. I also run them backwards for about 30 minutes too. Still, even with that and after taking readings on my watts up meter they still sometimes act up. I liberally coat them and the bearings after cleaning with white lithium grease and run them in making sure there aren't any squeeky spots, then fasten the grease splash covers.

Murphy is in China right now trying to get the quality issues with the gears resolved.

WOW !! Looks like someones been listening to our problems. As long as they dont price gouge us for these ; this hobby could really take off.

It's nice to see those gearboxes! I hope they come out relatively quickly. 3:1's really made a difference in my HL Tiger. I'd really prefer to just buy these than have to make more. Thanks for the lead.
Perry

James, thanks again for the info. I'm really getting tired on paying for a tank than having to through so much hassle to get it running. My last three problems have been centered pn the metal gear boxes. My earlier models with out the metal gearboxes did well and are still going strong. I wanted the metal track on this one because the Japanese tanks always had real loose track and I felt the only way was to use the metal track with an extra link. I'm going to order a couple sets of the Asiatam models and see how they work. The ad says for HL Tiget/Pershing but will send them an email to check if they are OK for Pz III. I'll try to dismount and run in these boxes IAW your advice. Thanks again
Bill

James,

I dismounted the gearboxes and tried to check them out with no load, still attached to the tank..and neither one want to move. The motors hum and the drive gear on the motor wants to move, but nothing else does. Tried another good transmitter but samo samo. I'll try and unsolder the connections and rig them up to a battery, but right now, I'm waiting for Asiatam to respond to get a couple sets of the new gearboxes they have. They are in the catalogue, if you click on Uhu's link and go to the Asiatam store....they are there. I asked if they will fit the Pz III. If they do, I'm ordering a couple sets and a few of the nice sparking MG's they have.

James, Good luck....would you believe the whole mess was due to a bad battery? I charged it up and the Pirannah said charge complete, but apparently the charge didn't take. I put a 2000 on and after charge, the tank took off like wildfire. After dismounting and runing in the gear boxes....oh hell, they needed lube anyway, right?. It did some good anyway, as the gears seem to roll easier by hand, where before, they were pretty tight. Now I start carving up the upper chassis....that's gonna be a bear. Going to be a bit inaccurate because the Ch Ha turret sits off to the right side but the PZ III traverse ring and chassis width won't allow moving more that a half inch, so not worth all the affort for that little bit. Looking at it to see if there some other way, but moving the ring gear to the inside of the turret would be the only way, and that would entail a totally different gear connection, which is beyond my mechanical scope. Thanks again for your advice.

Bill

Bill, Heng Long wants you to remember what it was like getting a real tank up and running fresh from the factory, you remember don't you? hehehe Full realism in their models, something Tamiya cannot replicate!

Sounds like the gears are really bound up, I had that happen with a couple of sets, blew a board on one tank. I took a dremel tool to that one before they told me about the toothpaste. Careful running plastic gears with metal tracks, I split the final drive gear and the tank would drive straight but didn't want to turn in dirt. Any resistance and the seam would open up and the gear would slip on the shaft. CA didn't work either, swapped in another plastic gear and broke that one in short order too, had to go metal.

Mato is aware of the issue and is staying in China until they correct them.

Just got a reply from Asiatam....the new gearboxes won't fit Pz III. Oh, well, maybe they will eventually design them to fit.

Someone on the forum will I am sure....

Perry's fit. I never noticed, is the drive shaft on the Tiger different then a PZIII?

I think its the same (Tiger/Panther/PanzerIII), its only the Bulldog/Pershing which have a different (longer) output shaft

from what I can see, mine fit because I moved every gear to be stingy with the space. Looks like they did most of the arrangement on the back, by the pinion. I'll still buy a couple of sets. Otherwards right, the patton axle is about 5mm longer
Perry