Correct me if I am wrong but I am assuming that everyone uses the Tamiya IR Battle system.
Now, Mato vs Taigen - which is preferred?
Taigen tanks, as a rule are NOT compatible with the Tamiya battle systems unless modified. Correct?
If I buy a Mato all metal tank, it comes with a Clark board and is ready to battle with other Tamiyas.
BUT, if Taigen all metal is better than Mato, what is involved to convert to Tamiya system, how much $$$, and who can do this?
Thanks again.

Magnetic Hull - $30-40 (Including styrene and epoxy).

Clark Board - $130-$150 (If we have another mass buy).

IR LED Upgrade (ensuring Tamiya wavelength and non-shotgun effect) - $10.

Tamiya Battle Unit (Apple) - $100-150 (Usable on all that have a TBU mount tanks).


MATO all metal is just that, every lower hull piece is made of zinc pot metal. Heavy and Meh for longevity.


Taigen Metal lower is usually a metal inset into the plastic hull with better suspension systems. (PZIII and KV1 are the best in my opinion).


I'm Dean's Tank's Inner Guts slave... Longest time for changing is the magnetic hull conversion.

nice part is the apple can go from tank to tank as we have cheap source for the TBU bases don't we Mike? :-)

Thanks Jarlath:
- magnetic hull - been doing that already and keep improving my system
- please let me know when you will be mass buying Clark boards
- are the IR LED's for Tamiya, 980 nM?  I saw them advertised at Banggood in BULK for real cheap
- "Apple" IR receiver ... is it like what I have 
I am not sure but I think I paid $5 in 2018.  Is your source and product that much better?

I like Taigen but if Mato all metal comes with everything, I am 50/50 torn.

Thanks again for your guidance and your food for thought.

Just my 2 cents worth...

Yes, the Tamiya apple is worth every penny. The problem with the HL and Taigen is even worse, is that they have no range. On our battlefield we have hits at more than 30 feet easily. These cheap ones you are lucky if you get 6 feet out of them. While all are welcome to come and play on our field, for Club battles, points battles, etc.. you MUST have a Tamiya apple. 

I usually have some boards in stock on the Clark side of things although I am pretty much restricted to sbus system now so that means a particular radio but I stock those too. 

Like Mike said the problem with the all metal Mato's is they use such crappy pot metal for everything that as a day in day battler it won't take long to break something and some of the elements I have seen broken unfortunately write off the complete lower hull. Not nice on an $800 tank.

oooooKay.  I have just read about a new Heng Long 6.0 IR Battle receiver available from Etsy that works with Tamiya.  It is quite long but I would like to hear what everyone has to say.

"New "compatible" Heng Long 6.0 IR receiver test results - Hobby Squawk RC Forum for Airplanes, Boats, Cars, Helicopters, Tanks, and Trucks"

https://www.hobbysquawk.com/forum/rc-cars-tanks-trucks-and-more/rc-tanks/244141-new-compatible-heng-long-6-0-ir-receiver-test-results



This way I may not need to go all metal and can stay with plastic with some modifications.  Much cheaper for a newbee 

I saw this talked about last year on one of the forums...We have seen these alternate systems come and go. Would be great if it does what they say it can do although I don't like the hidden lights idea. On sunny days (which most of our battles take place) I think it may be tougher to see. I didn't see any projected price? also a base system? Wiring for the connection to Tamiya/Clark/Elmod/IBU etc... would still have to be done? But hey, if you want to try by all means we can test it out of course!

So I have purchased the last 4 units they had for the moment so we can give this a fair and proper test. Hope it works out would be awesome! ;-)

dgsselkirk wrote:

So I have purchased the last 4 units they had for the moment so we can give this a fair and proper test. Hope it works out would be awesome! ;-)

Please let us know! I was going to order one tonight for testing but will await your results.

I really like the way they look if it does work.

I agree, I like the looks as well. Will be easy to paint to match without affecting the receiver like Tamiyas which are tricky to do...

Those are kind of cool looking

Make sure you hand one to me to ensure the Mounts and wiring line up.
I still have my doubts however...

of course... :-)

I also bought 2 for the Heng Long series of tanks.

I very much like Taigen's products; they're sturdy, affordable, and completely compatible with all Heng Long dynasty parts like gearboxes, motors, wiring etc. Swapping out the stock electronics might take a bit of work with a soldering iron here and there depending on what you get but most of us are pro's with that type of thing.

I've ordered a few 'kits' over the years from rctank.de . You can get unpainted Taigen models without electronics or a radio to save a few bucks, and they knock off the VAT% when shipping to Canada. You still pay a large handful of Kopecks but it's a quality product you don't have to tear apart.