1/16 Remote Control Advanced Metal Upgrade German Tiger I Tank RC Ready to Run

The tank showed up on a Saturday and I was thrilled. On Sunday I was angry. After just 30 minutes of usage the left idler wheel fell apart, literally. This caused the track to jump off. I was able to repair the idler after I removed it by using epoxy and pressing it back together. While reassembling I noticed that 8 of the road wheels loose. 6 of them on the same side as the above idler. This too I was able to fix with a 1.5mm allen wrench. So much for quality control. The bad part is I like it, it's really cool.

I have waited forever, or it seems, to receive this tank. I received it on the 23rd of August and have only tested it for two days so far. Also I bought the "collectable" one at the reduced price. This was done as I do not intend to "display" mine as a static model and will "play" with (not abuse) it. The tank is nice enough to display when not in use but rugged enough to "complete the mission". I found my Tiger to be "brand new" and have no evidence of prior use. The only difference between the one I got and the one pictured is mine is more of a flat finish and not as shiny as shown in the advertisement. Also I have the bonus of having a metal MG42 with metal mount and two extra track pieces included that were not indicated anywhere's in the tank Ad. I'm not sure what you others who wrote the poor reviews got, but the one I received is GREAT! To shorten this review I have broken it down to the pro's and con's as I perceive them.PRO:Parts are metal where they need to be. Gears, metal frame insert, sprocket, road wheels, idler, and torsion bars, "scratch" plate on the bottom of hull, tracks, grill covers, shacklesExtra metal parts, ( MG42 with separate mount, tow cables, antenna (not needed for R/C, show only) hatches (some, not all).Easy to use remote controllerEasy compartment access to battery and the rest of the internal components.Adequate Airsoft launcherAdjustable soundOn/off smoke dischargerTension adjustment screws for tracks on idler wheelsCON:Instructions for "older" model tank"Dumb" charger (I intend to purchase a "smart" charger)"Foam" Zimmerit coatingPlastic upper hull with molded on tools need to be replaced/repaintedPlastic LED light housingPlastic turret, barrel (in full recoil position)Plastic mudguards, are functional but durable?Painted plastic "commander" needs to be repainted/replaced, does not stay in turret when tank is on the go. Best used for static display. He cannot be glued in place due to location which is the hopper loading portMetal commander's copula became detached but was easily reattachedMetal machine gun and mount fall off even when glued on. Best used for static display.Overall, I am mostly satisfied with this tank. It seems to be a quality control issue. Most of the cons are merely cosmetic in nature and may be considered a nuisance at the worst. I can live with all of them easily. This Tiger is built solidly where needed as far as I'm concerned and historically accurate for the time period. I did plenty of research and searching prior on deciding to invest in this particular tank. I prefer to have the plastic upper as it helps to counter balance the weight issue. It is a rather hefty vehicle for a "toy" but that is good for me. This is my first large RC tank as I am an experience modeler and I can honestly say that I am extremely satisfied with this Tiger tank. If I change anything on the tank I will be the Barrel and some cosmetics such as weathering, detailing, extra gear and maybe another rider. But as of now it needs nothing but me at the controls.

I recently purchased this as my first RC tank for $259.99. I have been impressed with it so far. From what I can tell, this Taigen Tiger is basically a Heng Long Tiger with lots of upgrades and a snazzy paint job. Some of the nice features include:1. Very nice paint job on the tank. The figure is painted as well.2. The tank has metal tracks, wheels, machine gun accessory, gears, and metal hull. The hull of the tank is metal but has a plastic shell around it (I believe it is the Asiatam hull). So except for the bottom of the tank (or if you open it up) you are not actually seeing or touching the metal. For some reason, I thought the whole exterior of the hull would be metal too, but this is not the case. However, the important thing is that the metal hull is connected to the wheels, gears, and other accessories inside. Thus, the structural element of the tank is metal, and thus should be durable.3. This tank is very heavy!!!!AWESOME! If you want to impress someone, have them pick it up!4. I am new to RC tanking, so perhaps I am not charging the battery correctly or long enough, but it does not last long. This may also be due to the substantial weight of the tank.Only real improvement would be more metal on the tank. The tank's gun barrel, turret, and exterior hull are plastic. Mato has an all metal Tiger out, and that will likely be my next tank. That being said, I have no regrets purchasing this one. The Mato cost around $449 for the all metal tank, but that is simply for an unfinished tank with no internals or radio. The Taigen is a good compromise because it is metal where it is most critical, and plastic on parts that are not moving or under stress.I hope Taigen comes out with similar tanks with metal wheels, tracks, gears, and hulls. I will certainly buy more if that is the case.Update: This was my first RC tank, and I have recently purchased several more but I can still say this is my favorite. However, the battery life is terrible compared to my regular Heng Longs which are much less heavy. However, this is not a huge problem, you can just buy a better battery.Some of the negative reviews on here do have some legitimate points. The instructions that came with mine are for the base heng long model, and this one has a different hull and placement of the battery and other electronics. There is a Youtube video that will show you how to use it if you cannot figure it out on your own (search for Taigen Tiger). Also, the wheels do fall off, I have had my idler wheels and several road wheels come off. Buy some Loctite and glue them on right. All RC tanks I have purchased have issues with the wheels and tracks, so don't get into this hobby unless you are willing to do your own repairs. Wheels will fall off, it does not mean the tank is trash!!!! Don't throw out a perfectly fine tank.Overall, I am still very satisfied with my purchase of this tank.