A Remote Control Tank is More Fun With Recoil, Sound, and Smoke Special Effects

An electric remote control tank is a versatile and fun toy since it is easy to drive, doesn't require much space, and can generally be used either indoors or out. Many toy tanks are based on real military tanks from the armies of the United States, Germany, Russia, and Japan. Like other radio control toys, these have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years. Special effects including gun recoil, sound, and smoke can make a remote control tank much more fun and realistic.

The main gun or cannon for the remote control tank can be moved up or down to lock onto a target. In addition, many toy tanks feature muzzle movement to simulate firing action. In fancier rc tanks, this action is strong enough to cause a sharp and visible recoil of the main vehicle body. Some models also enforce a firing interval, meaning they will only "fire" again after a defined time interval to simulate reloading of the gun. Lights might also be provided to simulate a muzzle flash for the cannon or machine gun.

Sound effects can effectively simulate many battlefield noises. Most tanks that feature sound effects include a firing noise for the main tank gun, machine gun fire, and engine sounds. The combination of sound with recoil is very effective for simulating a tank gun. Some toy tanks featuring engine sounds include separate noises for engine startup and normal running. There may also be separate sounds associated with the up and down motion of the gun or movement of the turret, for models that have a rotating turret.

Smoke is sometimes also added to make a remote control tank seem more realistic. Smoke generally is used synergistically with sound to simulate the tank engine rather than to enhance the simulation of the main gun firing. A real tank, often diesel powered, will generate exhaust that must be vented. Smoke in a remote control tank is normally set to emerge from the exhaust pipes to simulate engine function. A toy tank with smoke effects will invariably include sound as well.

The combination of smoke, sound, and recoil makes a remote control tank much more realistic and fun to handle. These features have become quite popular with consumers, which has led manufacturers to include them in more of their models. Special effects make toy tanks a little more expensive, but the increased fun factor cannot be denied. Technological improvements should continue to make it possible for manufacturers to offer more features at lower cost in the future.