Saved by the bell...

This section is for you to give a commentary / build log of your Tamiya tank. Remember - lots of pictures please!
Forum rules
This section is for posting a build log of your Tamiya tank.
Questions relating to issues you are having with your tank(s) should be posted in the General Questions forum here: viewforum.php?f=14
Post Reply
User avatar
Ad Lav
Captain
Posts: 4184
Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2009 4:44 pm
Location: Kent

Saved by the bell...

Post by Ad Lav »

Quite literally, and saved by Nigel!

I found this Tamiya Tiger I listed on eBay incorrectly and thought it worth a punt. Ended up winning the bloody thing!

Upon collecting it I was a bit disappointed, looked a bit tatty, broken/snapped off bits in a plastic tub and home made zimmerit falling off.

Futaba radio good but missing battery cover, nothing major. Thought to myself, may as well move it on, don't want too much work.

Image

I get it home and start poking around - damn it's heavy! Metal tracks, and they look to be Kenny Kong or Impact. Result number one.

Image

Open her up and it's on great working order, sounds fine, batteries will most likely need replacing.

I happen to notice odd looking suspension, nothing like my old Tamiya Tiger I stuff.
Jump on the phone to Nigel, goes a bit like this:
"Don't bloody sell it, that's Wecohe suspension and like hens teeth"
Result number two.

Waiting for some more time to strip and rebuild it and do her some justice.!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
User avatar
jackalope
Lieutenant
Posts: 3885
Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2014 7:42 pm
Location: Communist State of Maryland, United States.

Re: Saved by the bell...

Post by jackalope »

Sounds like you scored a great starting place! I'd love to see some pics of these hens teeth as they are quit rare. ;)
User avatar
Ad Lav
Captain
Posts: 4184
Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2009 4:44 pm
Location: Kent

Re: Saved by the bell...

Post by Ad Lav »

Thanks Jack, Simon.

I removed it from sale because now I know it has some potential I can put some effort into it. I wasn't looking for another ready made project but selling the Elefant now to fund messing around with this beauty :D

Photos of the hens teeth tonight!
User avatar
Ad Lav
Captain
Posts: 4184
Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2009 4:44 pm
Location: Kent

Re: Saved by the bell...

Post by Ad Lav »

Stripped most of the major components and revealed the suspension.

I think some of them are fixed at the wrong angle giving a lopsided ride.

Dmd and mf all seem in good condition and work well upon thorough testing Image

Now, do I remove the zimmerit or leave it on? It's done quite well, whole tank needs a repaint.

Image

Image
Paul W
Recruit
Posts: 29
Joined: Tue Nov 03, 2015 7:50 am
Location: Oregon USA

Re: Saved by the bell...

Post by Paul W »

Looks good to me, quite a find! If the Zim is to your standard, leave it looks good to me :D

Paul
User avatar
Ad Lav
Captain
Posts: 4184
Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2009 4:44 pm
Location: Kent

Re: Saved by the bell...

Post by Ad Lav »

Thanks Paul :D

I've never attempted zimmerit in 1/16 - to my eye it looks fine, even with the crap paint job and missing bits!

Time to go shopping for parts!!
User avatar
Ad Lav
Captain
Posts: 4184
Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2009 4:44 pm
Location: Kent

Re: Saved by the bell...

Post by Ad Lav »

Zimmerit close up, opinions welcome :D

It has had some damage applied to the zimm which looks ok.

Made my shopping list - makes the bargain a bit more expensive lol

Image

Image
User avatar
Ad Lav
Captain
Posts: 4184
Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2009 4:44 pm
Location: Kent

Re: Saved by the bell...

Post by Ad Lav »

And here lies the problem - must have been fitted by a chimp!
The swing arms are supposed to be under tension and two or three aren't... Hence why I thought it looked wonky!!

Image
User avatar
Ad Lav
Captain
Posts: 4184
Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2009 4:44 pm
Location: Kent

Re: Saved by the bell...

Post by Ad Lav »

Suspension all adjusted, pig of a job. Two hour strip down and rebuild.

Don't fancy doing that again in a hurry!!
User avatar
PainlessWolf
Lieutenant-Colonel
Posts: 7407
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:09 pm
Location: Southern Colorado Rocky Mountains

Re: Saved by the bell...

Post by PainlessWolf »

Ad Lav,
A job well worth doing tho'! That suspension looked like one of those top dollar Corleis upgrades for the Tamiya and Taigen type torsion bar suspension. Well done that!
regards,
Painless
...Here for the Dawn...
Post Reply

Return to “Tamiya Builds”