Always been a big fan of the M2/M3 Bradley and even RC one with the C21 diecast model. My Second TongDe this time (The first one was the IDF M60 for one battle day and then became the base for my M60A2). Has the rapid fire 25mm Bushmaster, metal upgrades (tracks/wheels/gearboxes). The electronics is quite interesting, has all kinds of options (like adjustable default speed, turning radius, switchable sound set, braking effect. BB or IR firing. Anyway, I am sure the latest Heng Long also has these functions but definitely interesting. Unfortunately no option to set IR battle class (3/5/9 lives etc). Also don' t know if it is Tamiya compatible but will try it out.

Sandy for your information, when you buy the metal upgraded version you do not get the plastic replacement. The metal upgrade are installed but bare metal and not matching paint job.

Thanks for the info Mike.

So one thing that intrigues me about the TongDe M2A2 is the 25mm Bushmaster M242 main gun. It actually recoils like a chain gun. When I open it up I can see that basically they have hook up a small motor with an oscillating plate to the main gun LED. So when you fire the MG and power goes to the LED, it will also run the motor for the recoil so it creates a really neat effect. I can see myself doing this for tank MGs on the hull. Here is a picture of the set-up:

 

I was worry that it was some special set-up with their MFU but clearly it will work with all after market boards so I thought. When I hook it up to my IBU, the power for the MG LED is too small to run the motor. I didn't measure it but I assume it is something below 3V as standard LEDs are all rated for max 3V constant.

So to get around this problem, I have to use a single ESC to take the MG firing signal and pump it to the motor and the LED on the main gun. I then have to map this ESC to the MG Firing so I can sync the MG sound to the main gun since I am not using the MG LED output. Problem solved.

How are the internals of the lower hull? Same torsion bar setup as the M60? (Cheap torsion bar blocks?)

Yes exactly the same. Cheap and cheerful. Works really well when I run it last weekend with the M60A2. A little bouncy but that I am not riding in it.

The metal tracks are a little shinny. Might have to blue then a bit. Question for you Jarlath. Do you use gun blue by any chance ? Where can you get it for cheap ?

I may have a bottle or two, I've never used it myself, but have likely inherited them through auctions and friends. I'll have a look tonight...

Hey Mike -https://www.rctankwarfare.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=34429&start=170
See page 18 of Louis’ M60 build for his track bluing experience.
Hopefully the link works. Cheers

Thanks guys. I have done it before, just bloody expensive. Canadian Tires use to sell them when they are into guns and hunting stuff but not so much anymore. Now I have to goto BrassPro to get them.

15 bucks for 3 ounce bottle of Birchwood Perma Blue on Amazon. 20 bucks at Crappy Tire if it’s in stock.

Yeah, or 33oz for $99 or $10 for 3oz.

Luckily I had couple of bottles stashed up. I think it was about $10 either at BrassPro or Crappy Tires then. Should be enough for the M60A2 and the M2A2.

So here are the pictures of the completed M2A2. I have yet to create the sound file for it, but I have to say that TongDe between their initial release and the latest M2A2 release already improved quite a bit, especially on the details side. The M60 release basically was garbage unless you buy the detail kit from Carson. The M2A2 is almost passable this time around. Still missing some but mostly there.

The on/off built into the front hatch, bolt details on the space armour. They are added on separately. All hatches are openable.
 


Swing arm detail on the 25mm Bushmaster Chain Gun. 



Here is a cool feature, the smoker is right underneath the exhaust on the front right end, and the gas cap actually comes off and you refill the smoker fluid there !

Rear view. Some stuff are still pretty rough, like moulded on pull handles and the cheesy ammo boxes. I have not shown the stowage that came with it. They actually look like green poop. The more unfortunately part is all the holes on the M2A2 that these stowage is suppose to go on. I will get better stuff from Dean and ValueGear to cover them up.



The rear firing hatch is actually where the OEM battery resides, a 1800mAh lipo same as all the latest Heng Longs. They are garbage and I have no intention of using them, so I use this as a port for the SD card that IBU2 requires. Since I have another place for the battery, I don't need to magnet the top other than getting access to the SD card for configuration as I have not create the sound files yet. I got a SD card extender from Amazon so I just close the hull with the original screws.



The rear loading door is now use to install the battery. Note that the oval troop door opens as well separately.

Strange rear lights !

Yeah should be the usual post war US upside down tear drop shape rear light. Maybe Carson will make a detail kit for this as that was part of his kit for the M60.