The Complete Handbook of Remote Control Tanks

I appreciate the effort to be comprehensive, but it felt like it fell between two stools. It tries to be a manual for a serious hobbyist and a business primer at the same time. I found the specs chapter useful, but as an owner of a couple of Heng Long tanks, I felt the troubleshooting section could have been deeper. The business chapter is largely common sense if you've already run any kind of side hustle. It's a good reference to have around, but I wouldn't call it the 'complete' handbook.

Finally a book that explains gearbox ratios without making me feel stupid. I bought this because I was tired of trying to decipher forum posts about upgrading my Tamiya kit. The chapter on installation was spot on, and the maintenance tips actually saved me from replacing a burnt-out ECS. It's not a casual read, but it's a very solid desk reference. Would have liked a few more pictures, but the print edition's diagrams are adequate.

As a high school robotics coach looking for a new elective, this was a fantastic starting point. The chapters on types and specifications gave me the language to write a grant proposal. The troubleshooting guides are structured well enough that my students can follow them to diagnose issues with our club's tanks. I'm docking one star because the future trends chapter felt a little speculative, but the rest of it was grounded and practical.

The book is packed with information, and I learned a lot from the chapter on business opportunities. However, I felt the tone was a bit dry for my taste. I'm more of a weekend tinkerer than a professional, and the text feels like it's written for an engineer. I did finish it, and I'll be referencing the glossary quite a bit, but I was hoping for a bit more practical discussion about the fun of the hobby side.

It's a solid book, though a bit dense. I picked it up because I was getting back into the hobby after a long hiatus and was lost on all the modern electronic speed controllers and smart batteries. That chapter alone was worth the purchase, as it cleared up a lot of confusion. The review of different suppliers was also helpful. However, I felt it could have included more real-world examples of how people set up their tanks for outdoor vs. indoor use. It's very good, but not perfect.

I cannot recommend this enough. I run a small event rental business with a dozen 1/16 scale tanks, and this handbook has paid for itself ten times over. The maintenance schedules are practical, and the troubleshooting chart correctly diagnosed a recurring motor issue that was stumping me. The business chapter is honest and concrete, without the usual "hustle culture" nonsense. The sections on operational handling for events are excellent. This is the resource I wish I had three years ago.

This is a very well-organized handbook. As a museum curator, I'm often asked about scale models and technology, and this gave me the historical and technical context I needed to put together a small exhibit. The book's explanation of how the electronic speed controllers work and the difference between brushed and brushless motors is far better than any other source I've found. I deducted a star because I wish it had a small buyer's guide with specific model numbers, but the generic advice is solid.