What to look for
 

I am going to buy a Tamiya tank, how do I know if I am buying a latest edition. I see some with the words "Full Option" and some without. If I buy a full option tank, will I be safe. Thank you

That is the latest offering from Tamyia. Check with Natasha at AAF Tank Museum PX. They usually have very good prices on Tamyia tanks.

The ones that say full option mean that they have turret rotation, gun elevation, sound and the like. the ones without are the older versions. IF your looking for a tank that can do everything a tank should shoot, move and make noise then go with the full option. IF you looking for a chassis to build off of then a tank without full option should suit you.

Thanks for the info guys. With all of the hype about Tamiya, just have to try one.

One other point - full option does not mean 'including radio' - so you will have to buy a TX and RX to drive the vehicle. Unless you order from Japan where for some reason, they do come with the radio included for a few more bucks.

Cheers

CaptB

Tamiya RC tank kit have model numbers. They start at 56002 (Leopard 1a4) and currently end at 56037 (Type 10). The lower the number, the older the kit.

Yes, I'll have to do that along with a couple of servos. Thanks for the reply CaptainB

Good info Jeff489, thank you.

No servo's needed for tamiya tanks.

What activates barrel recoil?

What activates barrel recoil?

Sorry hit the leave page button= double post.

The kits have there own re-coil unit that plugs into the MFU (Muliti-Function Unit) along with the traverse,gun elevation, and speaker. Go to this site. It is the Manual for the Tamiya 1/16 Panther G. Scroll through it and you will get an idea of how the Tamiya tanks go together before you buy one. :eek::cool:

http://www.tamiyausa.com/pdf/manuals/56022ml.pdf

You will need a Tamiya TBS if you plan on IR battling. You can grab one on ebay or at the AAF tank museum PX.

http://shop.aaftankmuseum.com/Produc...ductCode=53447

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tamiya-1-16-...item259fb027aa

Thanks MAUS45, looks like it's going to be fun.

Thanks THEBENNYB, no one around to battle with. But if I want a cup of Starbucks coffee, they're on every corner. Looking at the club list, I'd have to drive to socal. About eight hours away. Thanks for the links however.

It is fun and maybe the best way to educate yourself on how most all tanks work wether its a HL with a clark or BARC system they are similar, but building a tank is the best way to learn how they work so when you want to strip down that Panzer III L from HL and add your own electronics you will have been prepaired for what to expect after building a Tamiya from the ground up.

Your best bet is to go to banzaihobby.com prices are excellent, tanks come with radio and battery. You can get a TBS there too, even with shipping will be cheaper than buying in the states.

If you are eight hours from so cal, are you close to Phoenix? We would be glad to show you the ropes.

Hello edoubleaz, no, I am in northern ca. north east of Sacramento. Phoenix would be longer. Thank you for the invitation, that was kind of you.

Thank you tomhugill, I'll take a look.

Agreed MAUS45, I've taken a couple of my Taigen tanks all the way down to bare bones just to learn. Amazing what you sometimes find when you do that.

Well come on down for spring training, the Giants are in Scottsdale. My cousin lives in Sacramento as well.

I have bought numerous tank kits from the AAF Museum including the flagship Tamiya Leo 2, they are great people and true rc tank enthusiasts too.

Though, for a new guy thinking about his first Tamiya rc tank kit, this is my tip: Checkout and compare this Tamiya rc tank vendor's prices, Banzai Hobby:

http://banzaihobby.com/radio-control...a-1-16-rc-tank

I have bought a couple of Tamiya JS-2s and a Tamiya Jagdpanther from them and the experience was problem free. Plus shipping to the west coast from Japan is way quick! The kits are Japan market, instructions are in English, the same as found in USA kits. The kits include a Tamiya branded 4 channel radio, which is made by Futaba. The newest kits like the JS-2 use a 2.4 radio, the earlier kits use Futaba FM or more often the Futaba AM radio, again depending on the kit. The Sherman kit delivers with a less than desirable 2 channel radio. A useful rc tank battery is included, but the Japan electrical system only battery charger that is included in all the kits is NOT useful, which means don't use it in the USA, unless you have a converter, but even then, I just toss it.

John

Only thing you have to watch for is if your buying a tamiya kit from oversea's you may not get customer support in the U.S. on the DMD or MF. Have heard a couple accounts of people trying to
get their DMD or MF replaced by tamiya USA and they are turned down siting the electronics were not from the U.S. I have never compared but guessing they can tell by a serial number perhaps.

Perhaps I am reading market trade protectionism thought into this previous post, but my experience is completely different. A good experience too. During the summer of 2014 Tamiya USA had no problem receiving and servicing my well used DMD-MF set from a Japanese market kit. Seemed it made no difference to the tech guys as they did not ask or say anything to me about the source of the units. And we chatted on the phone a couple times and they solved the problem, never asking where I bought the items They just fixed the problem.

:rolleyes:

John