Tamiya German Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.J - 48211 (Radio Controlled Model Review)

  Released by Tamiya on December 18, 2010, the 1/35 R/C German Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.J (#48211) came with a 2.4Ghz radio system.

  This 1/35 scale assembly kit RC tank features exciting and realistic manoeuvrability with sound and light effects.

  The kit includes pre-assembled gearboxes and turret rotation unit for ease of assembly. Forward/reverse running, left/right turning, sharp turning and pivoting, as well as turret rotation and main gun elevation/depression can be controlled.

  The onboard speaker produces realistic sound effects such as engine sounds, main gun firing, damage sounds and explosions. Main gun muzzle flash and hull recoil effect are also reproduced. Tamiya's unique infrared light system will allow you to have battles with 2 or more tanks. The model features highly detailed upper hull with lower hull and road wheels specially designed for RC operation.

  The Pz.Kpfw.IV was a true workhorse for the German forces, serving them throughout the duration of WWII; the Ausf.J variant was its final incarnation. With the war situation rapidly worsening even as production of the Ausf.J began in 1944, it was given boosted armor, plus simplified accessories. The long-barreled L/48 7.5cm main gun was carried over from the preceding Ausf.H and combined with a turret grenade launcher for use in close quarters fighting with infantry. The turret rotation engine was replaced with a hand-powered 2-speed mechanism and the space freed up was taken over by enlarged fuel tanks. Ausf.Js also featured the "Schürzen" armor plates seen from the Ausf.G variant onwards, as they became one of the key presences in the ultimately doomed German army's struggle.

Rating: 4 RCScrapyard

Your First Race Meeting

   When you finally find a racing club near to where you live, that initial experience of stepping up onto the rostrum and looking down over the track can be very daunting. But soon, as the race starts, adrenaline will kick in and away you go. For the next five minutes, your focus is on nothing but getting your car around each corner, avoiding all the other cars on the track and just getting to the end of the race.

   Maybe your batteries dumped or you crashed and the car was damaged, perhaps you didn't actually come last, whatever happened, it doesn't really matter - you are well and truly hooked.

Bearing Seals

   If you were to ask anyone with a modicum of experience in RC, they will tell you that the best modification you can make to a basic RC model, is to add a set of ball bearings.

   Quite a few of the entrance level models at the time this article was written, come with plastic and sintered brass ring type bearings. If these bearings are installed in the model and coated with grease as advised in the car manual, dust and grit can be caught in that grease and be dragged into the bearing where it can abrade the shaft that spins in it and it won't be long before it becomes a very sloppy fit, causing all kinds of problems.

   But what should you look for when buying bearings? There are a number of types of seal used on ball bearings, and there is much debate concerning which is the best for RC.