Tortured Tamiya Tiger...
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 11:11 pm
I picked this much abused Tamiya Tiger 1 up from Ebay, for a relatively modest sum. I cleaned it up, rearranged (with retaining clips) the internal wiring, and ditched the ancient Futuba crystal-based receiver it came with. Then,
I fitted the Carson 6-ch receiver, that came with the Carson reflex Stick 2, I'd just bought- and fired the tank up. Much to my surprise, everything works as it should.
More than that, I was quite pleased with the Carson unit, as no tweaks were needed to give it full control over the Tiger. The Carson also has three-position switches, and two extra channels. Better still, it's a lot cheaper than the usual Futuba 4 ch unit Tamiyas were once sold with ( In Japan, Anyway). Before Prof Rad Von Radio pipes up, with his usual admonishments,( ) I'll just say that I have a beautiful Taranis radio nearby, but simply wanted to try the Carson out, as it's now the default Tamiya radio for Full-Option tanks.
A wee bit of (ideally easily replaceable) battle damage is ok, especially if you want a Tiger 131 replica. Indeed, it's quite likely that the original owner had this aim in mind, before he got his soldering iron out (or was it a blowtorch?). However, I think he got a tad unrestrained with the rear quarter of the deck, and the hapless Feifel. Some of the rusty bits were quite subtle; but, given the legendary engineering perfectionism
often attributed to the Germans, I don't think a Tiger would have been allowed to remain in this state, unless it had been abandoned. Rust can look impressive, but inauthentic.
Incidentally, a bag full of bits, including sprues and unattached parts (skirts, rear fenders, tools etc.) came with the tank.
The problem for me is, knowing what should I do with it next?
I could remove the flash unit and DMD controllers and put them in my Tamiya Panzer IV. In part, that's why I bought the Tiger in the first place. Then I could offer up the rolling hull to interested folk.
I'd really like to see the Pz IV in action.
Then again, This could become a Leningard Tiger, like Jimster's admirable creation.
It could even be modified to mid-production specs, with mods to the turret.
What would you do?
Here's the Carson controller. It reminds me a little of Darth Vader's styling, somehow. In fact, it's quite ugly faux-gothic, I think.
I prefer simple clean lines on a radio; but I must say this one performs better than the Futuba 4YWD units I've used.
Edit:
I should point out that I have a New Tamiya Tiger 1 on the stocks, and so it's not vital to retain this one. Moreover, I also have two Taigen Tiger 1s- and thus I'm overflush with these big cats.
I fitted the Carson 6-ch receiver, that came with the Carson reflex Stick 2, I'd just bought- and fired the tank up. Much to my surprise, everything works as it should.
More than that, I was quite pleased with the Carson unit, as no tweaks were needed to give it full control over the Tiger. The Carson also has three-position switches, and two extra channels. Better still, it's a lot cheaper than the usual Futuba 4 ch unit Tamiyas were once sold with ( In Japan, Anyway). Before Prof Rad Von Radio pipes up, with his usual admonishments,( ) I'll just say that I have a beautiful Taranis radio nearby, but simply wanted to try the Carson out, as it's now the default Tamiya radio for Full-Option tanks.
A wee bit of (ideally easily replaceable) battle damage is ok, especially if you want a Tiger 131 replica. Indeed, it's quite likely that the original owner had this aim in mind, before he got his soldering iron out (or was it a blowtorch?). However, I think he got a tad unrestrained with the rear quarter of the deck, and the hapless Feifel. Some of the rusty bits were quite subtle; but, given the legendary engineering perfectionism
often attributed to the Germans, I don't think a Tiger would have been allowed to remain in this state, unless it had been abandoned. Rust can look impressive, but inauthentic.
Incidentally, a bag full of bits, including sprues and unattached parts (skirts, rear fenders, tools etc.) came with the tank.
The problem for me is, knowing what should I do with it next?
I could remove the flash unit and DMD controllers and put them in my Tamiya Panzer IV. In part, that's why I bought the Tiger in the first place. Then I could offer up the rolling hull to interested folk.
I'd really like to see the Pz IV in action.
Then again, This could become a Leningard Tiger, like Jimster's admirable creation.
It could even be modified to mid-production specs, with mods to the turret.
What would you do?
Here's the Carson controller. It reminds me a little of Darth Vader's styling, somehow. In fact, it's quite ugly faux-gothic, I think.
I prefer simple clean lines on a radio; but I must say this one performs better than the Futuba 4YWD units I've used.
Edit:
I should point out that I have a New Tamiya Tiger 1 on the stocks, and so it's not vital to retain this one. Moreover, I also have two Taigen Tiger 1s- and thus I'm overflush with these big cats.