Ir to radio

I got these two cool little lazer tag tanks that work off of ir for the guns and for the controlers. the problem is that the remotes suck for any distance or direct sunlight. Is there any way to convert the tanks to recive the ir from the cannons and radio from the controlers? If so can a basic shecmatic be made up for this? I am not verry good at creating electronics but I can build anything that has a schematic!