Reflection
 

I have been an active participant on this forum since 2006, When I see all the products and tanks that are available today, I am thankful for what we all have been able to do for this hobby to get it where it is. It is a niche market, and I know every step out for the manufacturers is a real leap of faith, as I am sure their money invested in other areas would generate better returns. All of them have my utmost respect and heartfelt thanks for providing me with the options we have today.

This hobby has been made better by this forum and the other tank forums. People share their knowledge, and are so happy to step forward to help the new guys find their way. For me personally without this forum, this hobby would not be as enjoyable as it is. When I bought my first Heng Long, I remember that Walker Bulldog sitting on the dining room floor with the lights blinking and nothing else happening. Without this forum that would have been the end of this hobby for me. Instead I got some advice to try a few different things, and had the thing running with a big smile on my face.

I also think this group has been responsible for much development in the hobby. I remember when David was online and mentioned he thought he could build and interface that would help a Heng Long play with Tamiya. Some active dialogue on the forum and presto the DBC was born, When Clark first introduced the TK 20, it was this community that was vocal about having it behave well with Tamiya, I believe this wasn't his primary concern at the start, but with the feedback provided he understood what we were really looking for, and to his credit he went back an built exactly that.

Some of you have mixed feelings about Mato, but they have always been very good to me, and they have put themselves out there, first with metal parts, then actually building their own Sherman, and now moving into a Metal line of tanks.

Asiatam/Taigen, now being actively marketed by IMEX is doing a service, by getting our hobby out in front of people when they walk into a hobby store. When people get tired of running their buggies, maybe they will look over at that nicely painted tank, and start asking questions what that is all about.

I am appreciative of the active clubs who give some purpose to building an IR battle tank, and hold events that bring us together to enjoy this hobby. My hats off to their members who get on here and give us updates that keep the dream alive for those of us who are thousands of miles away.

Even the spirited debates we get into that challenge our ways of thinking, and looking at things from a different perspective. This all presents entertainment and enlightenment

Of course my hat is off to the folks who run this forum. They allow us free speech and the ability to self moderate, and behave like adults.

All in all it is a pretty special group, and I just wanted to say thanks to the old veterans, and let the newbies know that soon enough opportunities will present themselves to you, to help out and advise the next guy coming into this hobby. My challenge to you would be to step up as the opportunities present themselves, and be a vocal participant. For me participation in this forum is crucial to keeping the fires burning, and I probably am not the only one. I can honestly say that without this forum my interest in this hobby would fade.

The world could learn something from us. More so then any other forum I know we come from all over the world and bring a different perspective with us. Here though we focus on the things that makes us alike and tolerate the things that set us apart. Well done Gentleman.

I agree completely.
Rex Ross

Im new to this forum, but i got into tanks just as you described.
i worked at trinity rc, was sponsered by losi/ associated and shumacher. This is my new
thing! I love it.since 1990 ive been going fast. Now im going slow and detailing!
Thanks for this great place! And yes i bought a taigen tank and now have 8 of them.
if more companys stood behind their products, excpecially a nich like this.it would promote its growth.i cant wait till i can get a battle in!

Very well stated!

Darn it Dan!

You said it so well you did not leave much to else to be said!

Thanks to all those that contribute - even asking questions is contributing.

Also to the forum staff that keeps it all running.

Well said Dan
i don`t know what i would do without this forum i love seeing everyones tanks even if stock out of the box i`m always happy even if someone else got a new tank...lol
this and seeing all the amazing painting, scratch builds, upgrades, new ideas and a great bunch of guys keeps me coming back for more

Dan,

You're a big part of the expansion as well. What you did to get Benedini and Darkith together as well as provide endless support is noteworthy and opened much opportunity in realism and getting HL to the level of Tamiya.

Tanks have a lot going against them in the RC world. There aren't many vendors, there aren't many venues, they don't go fast or fly. The biggest thing they have going is battling and that's where the growth will be. I had my Tamiyas a few years before I picked up the apples and it completely changed the hobby for me. We actually had to grind down the spiked ends of the Futaba sticks because they were cutting are fingers the first battles we so tense.

What I think is cool with this community is the vendors involved are for the most part, really into the hobby themselves, not just someone pushing product. Things are developed by users with users in mind.

The only thing I'd change is to get more involvement from people watching. This is one of the most welcoming groups around, but also seems to have the most people lurking compared to responding. I know some forums jump on you for asking before searching, but I've never seen that happen here. Jump in, get involved, even if it's just to say you like what you see, everyone will appreciate it.

Dan is spot on. I'm new to the RC portion of the hobby, but having a forum to ask advice and share projects helps build enthusiasm. Thank you.

Nicely said Dan.

Dan, as usual you hit the nail on the head. I've been in this hobby since about '95 or so, my first tank was a King Tiger bought off a dusty shelf in the back of a 'junque' store, literally. It was NIB with the original dual clutch single motor drive system. When Tamiya came out with the first 'full function' tank, the Tiger 1, I immediately bought one (I've still go it complete with the original on-off switch hole in the floor of the lower hull). Then I bought another to make my original King a 'full function' system. And a Sherman. And....well, you get the idea.

I have seen many vendors come and go, some good, some excellent, some we really don't want to discuss any more. I set up etoarmour in the fall of '03 and started carrying Schumo parts right off the bat. At that time their entire line would literally fit in a shoe box in multiples with room left over. Over time we have both grown a bit and we have both added vendors to our stockist lists. Other vendors have persevered through good times and bad and the breadth of parts and systems is something we could only dream of even 5 years ago.

The innovations by both tankers and vendors has been nothing short of amazing over the last 13 years. Daryl I simply refer to as our resident genius and that's the understatement of the year if not the decade. Toss in that the young man (well, way younger than I am) is also salt of the earth and you have a win-win situation. Taigen and Asiatam are also doing a masterful job of expanding our hobby. Aftermarket electronics have grown exponentially in the last few years. All in all, regardless of the current economic times our hobby is set to grow rapidly, and if I can get my local machine shop to stop paying attention to their main client for a few minutes there will be some interesting new systems coming from ETO.

All in all, you men and women have developed an excellent hobby and an excellent reputation for helping newcomers to our hobby. Everyone here is always willing to help everyone. It doesn't get any better than that and you all should be proud of yourselves.

That's it. i quit. We're all starting to sound like a bunch of little girls. LOL.




Sorry had too. Ha Ha.