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Clones - Smartland tanks
Not to change the subject, but just wanted to mention, I also have the set of three of the Smartland tanks, and just wanted to say a word or two about them, also.
The Smartland tanks are different. They have wheels, not treads. They're geared for high speed and low torque, like race cars. No sound or recoil effects when firing (no one knows when you fire if you miss). The turret rotates 180 deg., and is truly independent. The wheels are a good bit larger than race car wheels. Acceleration is very slow, but at top speed, these cars go very fast!!!
These cars absolutely must be raced on your kitchen or other hard floor. There must be absolutely nothing to hinder their movement; a shoe string is an impossible obstacle to a Smartland tank, which has no climbing ability or acceleration what-so-ever.
Four button r/c control just like a bit car, plus two more buttons for turret and two more that do the same thing to fire. Controller looks like bincoculars. Separate charger looks like a crate, contains four AA's.
I would like to say that for very little money (compared to DQ) these tanks have a lot of fun-for-the-buck potential, although they are probably not for everyone. They're not really tanks. The construction is quality. I love the plastic that the charger is made of. It almost feels like velvet. How can that be? I love the look of the tanks. Even though they have wheels. Remind me of the boxy tanks of WWI - the first tanks. The black plastic tank look very much to me like metal; the green camo sort of does; the sand colored plastic tank looks to me like a plastic tank.
Battery life is short, but seems to improve if you keep playing for more than one charging? Or, is it just me?
Anyway, the way my housemate and I have had the most fun with these tanks was playing "tag." It was a riot! So, instead of just shooting each other, one tank is "it" and has to tag another tag, then they're "it." When you shoot another tank, they can't move for about 5 seconds - great to make your escape (if you're not "it") or to tag a helpless prey (if you are "it")!
The IR is extremely sensitive. I wish you could turn down the sensitivity. A lot of hits are reflections from walls, etc. We use "gentleman's rules" - the turret has to at least be aimed in the general direction or we don't count the hit.
So, anyway, these cars lead to a very fun, fast paced game of tag or whatever around your kitchen table-and-chairs. If they had treads, they wouldn't be so fast, and the action just wouldn't be as wild!!! I think it would be fun to put a ping-pong ball on the floor with these, and play soccer! Again, the shooting would only be to delay your opponent a few seconds while you score!!!
So, fun in their own way, I think I really kinda like these clones, and for low money I want to give them a thumbs-up!!!
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