I am bored with my 1/144 scale tank collection, and I would LOVEto get my hands on the latest and greatest R/C tank.

I don't know anything about R/C vehicles. Can someone help me decide what is best for me...

I live near SanFrancisco, CA. Are there any R/C tankcommunities near me?

I want the most commonly used scale. What is it?

I want a tank that can battle with others. Do some battles have projectiles? Or is it all infared?

I want a Stug III or IV with side skirts. I have $700 - $1,000 to spend...what's the best brand/model I can get for that?

Thanks in advance!!!

You will definately be receiving a dozen or more replies. If you are into electronics and have the time, Tamiya is the most expensive ($900-1000)and you have to completey assemble the whole tank but with very good electronics. With HL, you will find the M-26 Pershing, M-41 Walker Bulldog, Pz III and recent Pz IV to very good tanks at a much more reasonable price. The New Russian KV-1 and the new VVSS Sherman have all the new improved electronics and are pretty sturdy. You can go with the airsoft pellet shooting guns for general shooting fun, or get into the more expensive IR battle gear, fully compatable with Tamiya at a much lower price. There are many upgrades and conversion kits for the HL and with the same outlay of money giving you 3 to 4 tanks for the price of one Tamiya. ( Guarenteed, you will NOT stay with only one!) You will also find many built and used tanks for sale in some of the RCU sites. Stay away from the earlier non S&S from HL: They have no sound have poor electronics. The Russian T-34/84 from WSN is a very good tank...when fitted with HL electronics. There is a wealth of info on this site and a lot of guys available and willing to assist with any problems.

God luck and wait 'til you get a few dozen replies. welcome to the "collectors corner".

Thanks for the pros and cons on the two companys.

Is 1/16 the scale most people end up with?

Do any companies make a Stug III or IV? Or a Panzer IV with the side skirts?</p>

Heng Long http://www.rccommand.com/tanks.php makes both the StuG III and the PIV, but you'll have to scratch the side skirts. Depending on where you buy your Tamiya tank and add to it, here's a good example of them only costing $700.00.

http://www.aaftankmuseum.com/panzer4RC.htm

Very reputable companies too to deal with!


- Jeff

This looks to be the Stug you are refering to:<a href="http://www.tankzone.co.uk/cart/hl_inf_stug.htm">

http://www.tankzone.co.uk/cart/hl_inf_stug.htm</a>

Does this particular tank have the newer components discussed in the earlier post? Any US companies that have this model? Tankzone is great...but, shipping kills.

I believe the StuG III has the better version of electronics than earlier Heng Longs. The best US dealer is [link=http://www.rccommand.com/tanks.php]RC COMMAND[/link]. I have purchased 4 tanks from him.


- Jeff

I just bought a HL Pershing S and S full metal upgrades from Phil at RCTANKWARS.COM. He has taken the time to explain many thing with this. As always in RC Hobby customer support is the most important thing for me and Phil is top notch in my book. I am sure RC COMMAND is good but haven' had any dealing with them so I can't give pros or cons. But again I am a newbie to RC Tanks (Not RCing) and Phil is friendly, knowledgable, and goes out of his way to help.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

La Dora.. it depends what you are looking for. If you want to blow the whole wad on one tank and spend the time to build it [it is a plastic model] go with the Tamiya. Very detailed, excellent models... but you need to also purchase a radio for the kit to run it. I guess you could convert one, but the Tamiya option is going to be IR only.

If it were me with a $800 - $1000 budget, I'd get both models you mentioned from the HL lineup. I believe all shoot airsoft BBs, but some are available with IR system options. Also, although inexpensive, they come with a transmitter ready to run out of the box. Modeling and detailing is still possible to a degree with all the extras available for them. You mentioned projectiles, but if you are going to get into IR battling, especially in a club, check to see what type they are using. Most require Tamiya or Tamiya compatible and the HL system is not compatible with Tamiya systems so you could only battle against other HL tanks [someone correct me if I am wrong - I am an airsoft shooter at the moment]

Either way they are fun little models and you will love 1/16 scale - over a foot long! and if you add the metal tracks, wheels, etc they are pretty beefy little tanks. I'm rebuilding a Tiger now with a lower metal hull, tracks, wheels, gears, and other bits and it's around 12 pounds and will run over just about anything. Check out youtube and search 1/16 RC tanks - there are a lot of videos ofthese things in action.

Welcome and enjoy the hobby!
Ernie

HL and Tamiya systems are not compatible. You would have to buy a Darkith DBC for about $100, to convert an HL to a Tamiya compatible system. Phil at RC Tankwars is probably your best bet, if you are looking for an HL RTR Tamiya compatible IR system. There is no smoke billowing out about Phils customer support, and he has been a reliable source for quite some time.

Bill at RCCommand has been good, and many are very loyal to him. However my advice right now is to communicate with Bill ahead of time, and ensure you are satisfiead with the responses you are getting prior to ordering anything.

Mato Toys is probably your best bet mass distrubutor. Great prices, and they tend to make the customer happy in the end. The only real issues are when a Tank arrives damaged. Then it gets a little costly and time consuming attmepting to return one. As I am always quick to point out, nothing about these tanks is rocket science. Parts are available to repair them and this forum is a great source of experience. If you have some bad luck with a damaged one, Mato will send you the parts you need(They are excellent in this regard) and we can help you fix it. THat ends up being the most cost effective way of dealing with a damaged tank,

Again I can't stress enough you have to be prepared to tinker and fix. I don't care if it is a Heng Long or a Tamiya. These are RC models with moving parts, that play out in the real world. Things do break and will need to be fixed. Anybody getting into this hobby must realize this or you will be disappointed. You have to be prepared to learn the mechanics and electronics ,and once you do this the hobby will be a complete enjoyment for you. For some of us fixing is half the fun!!!!!

Thank you ALL for the VERY useful information!  Gotta love forums.

My local tank club bayareatankers.org uses Tamiya tanks for battles.  So, if I decide on the Stug, I need to do the following (correct me if I am wrong):

1.) Purchase the tank: right now I only see the Stug at Matomart ($159) and RC Command ($170 for the super series, $255 for a custom), I am leaning towards this one (although I want to make sure it has the metal upgrades): http://www.rccommand.com/custom_stuh42.php

2.) Purchase a Darkith DBC at RC Tankwars - can someone post the link for the item that will fit the stug above?

3.) Any other upgrades you would reccomend for this tank?

4.) The tank club also uses 1/6 scale...anyone have experience with that scale?  Is it becoming more popular?  Should I just start with a 1/6 scale tank?

Hello La Dora,

My name is Bret Armanini and I am the CO of Kelly's Hero's. (http://kclank.googlepages.com/)

We are a group of RC tankers that live in the San Francisco bay area. We meet and battle our 1:15 & 1:16th scale tanks at members homes. Our philosophy is to minimize formalities and maximize fun. We use Tamiya compatible battle systems for our battles but welcome modelers and airsoft tankers to enjoy what we have to offer.

We typically meet once a month from Feb to Nov on the third Sunday of the month.

Additionally, in the last month we have had a joint combat with B.A.T., which was extremely fun.

Feel free to contact me for more information.

Cheers,
Bret
[email protected]

Looks fun, although, Sunday is the one sayI can't attend It looks like B.A.T. does battles on Sundays too. I'll have to wait for the occasional Saturdaythat will give me some time to practice.

Can anyone comfirm exactly what I need to purchase to make the HL Stug compatible with the Tamiya battle system? Thanks!

Hey La Dora,

For me I would get the regular Stug III from Matomart or RCCOMMAND and then upgrade and paint myself (I have an air compressor). On upgrades for the Stug III I would get new 3:1 gearboxes ( High torque, low profile gearbox set for all variants of Panzer III and IV from RCCOMMAND/RC Tankwars/Matomart for about $80), the Asiatam Aluminum hull kit for Panzer III and Stug III from RCCOMMAND for $205, both here: http://www.rccommand.com/asiatam_upgrades.php and then the DBC-DBU IR Battle system Tamiya compatible from RC Tankwars for $119 (you install it yourself). You can get the Schürzen for your Stug here for 31,60 Eur: http://www.tank-modellbau.de/ And later if you want metal tracks I like these: http://www.rctank.de/product_info.ph...4316b0bc3b2778 (you don't see the pics of them but they are wider than what is on your Stug when you get it, it's called "OSTKETTE"). That's about it, I have a Heng Long Stug III I gutted and use Tamiya electronics (wouldn't recommend you go that route yet) and I plan to get the tracks, lower hull and the new high torque low profile gearboxes, but not yet. Check out Desertarmor.com and see our tanks.

Edit seems Bill at RCCOMMAND is not responding to emails or filling orders, please be aware of this and plan accordingly.

Pzjgr

You need a DBC from Phil at RCtank wars. I think you can buy the stug from Phil and have Phil add the DBC so when you get it, it will be Tamiya compatible.

Does anyone know of a shop that does custom paint work?  I simply don't have the skills or resources.  Thanks!</p>

La Dora,

I'd recommend that you start with a used Tamiya that is ready to go.  I would absolutely NOT start with a project tank. 

You can purchase a used Tamiya full option tank for 400-500 dollars, add a radio, battery, and battle system for about 200 more.  Then start having fun.  Let the second tank be the project...

I know Phil at RCTANKwars.com offers that service. He is at least in your neck of the woods. I have a guy that does RC car shells that is going to attempt to do my pershing.

Finding a good USED model requires a lot of patience...being from generation X...I seem to want everything NOW.  But, I continue to search FleaBay, craigslist, and here.  Let me know if you know of any used Panzer IV or Stug models out there.

Thanks!</p>

I looked into this a few months ago... it can get pretty expensive depending on what degree of painting and detailing you want. From what I recall I only found one site that does this, and it was in the $300 range for a three color German camo pattern + more for detailing. I'll see if I can find the site. I elected, after some encouragement here, to get an airbrush but haven't tried it yet. Still working on the Tiger and using a base coat of Tamiya dark yellow as a the base - pattern to be applied later.

Here's a link to the thread where I was asking a similar question... Faded Armor is the company's name and you'll find a link within the thread. You have to send an email requesting the price, and as you will see their work is simply awesome!
Good luck whichever way you go!

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_86...tm.htm#8638828

I've got an airbrushed and weathered Panzer IV for sale, scroll down 3/4 the way down

http://www.rctankwars.com/Products.asp


The Blitz

My company blocks the rctankwars websiteso, I'll check it out when I get home.  I will purchase either a Stug or Pzr Iv from you (Blitz)...with some upgrades.

While I wait for everything to be built, I purchased a HL Tiger locally.  It doesn't have Sound or Smoke; but, it does have metal tracks and gears.  I plan on opening it up and learning the art of RC on this model.  I recall friends, who work on computers,  use some sort of "ground" when working with electronics.  Do I need to purchase anything other than the basic tools (screwdriver, wrench, etc.)?

I plan on investing about $150 into the Tiger (as I wait for the other model).  Any suggestions on best upgrades for under $150 that will help me learn my way around these tanks?

Thanks!</p>

A soldering iron! Can't own a Heng Long without one!

You can always change the main board to a Smoke and Sound board, that way you get the full range of speeds (and hook up the DBC-DBU IR Battle system)....Phil at RC Tankwars has the RX-18 boards but remeber you need the cables to, talk to him through PM. And if it was my Tiger and I wanted to upgrade to fight IR battles I'd get the DBC-DBU IR Battle system Tamiya compatible from Phil and I'd upgrade to the Asiatam lower hull. This will cost some money....so you can always do this in stages, no real hurry.

Pzjgr

What watt soldering iron and what diameter solder should I use for most HL projects?  I just went to Radio Shack and was overwhelmed by the selection.</p>