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Tortured Tamiya Tiger...

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 11:11 pm
by 43rdRecceReg
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,( :D ) 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. :problem: Rust can look impressive, but inauthentic.
Battle damage to engine deck
Battle damage to engine deck
Perforated Posterior-Tamiya Tiger 1
Perforated Posterior-Tamiya Tiger 1
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Incidentally, a bag full of bits, including sprues and unattached parts (skirts, rear fenders, tools etc.) came with the tank.
Tortured Tamiya Tiger 1 in profile
Tortured Tamiya Tiger 1 in profile
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Tormented turret
Tormented turret
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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.

Re: Tortured Tamiya Tiger...

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 11:23 pm
by Von Mooflesaaa
That actually looks really good. I'd be tempted to keep it and convert to a super early tiger 1 with the side bins. Like Jimsters.

Sent from my SM-A102U using Tapatalk

Re: Tortured Tamiya Tiger...

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 11:46 pm
by Jimster
I believe every Tiger lover should have an initial production Tiger in their stable. The grandfather of the German cats. However it is a very deep rabbit hole and many subtle changes need to be made to produce a satisfying model. For every modification I made, jarndice pointed out two more that needed attention and kept me busy for a year including waiting for parts. I do admit that I’m proud of having a rarely modeled Tiger 1 and the help and advice from this forum made it possible. I say go for it.

Re: Tortured Tamiya Tiger...

Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 12:00 am
by c.rainford73
I'd keep it and source the electronics from another willing and less appealing donor.

Its actually a very good looking tank and has great potential IMHO

Just my opinion

Re: Tortured Tamiya Tiger...

Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 1:00 am
by modler
wow, you guys really like Tanks don't you? Well, that is why I am here. I use to play on real ones at Aberdeen Proving grounds Maryland as my Dad was in charge of the works there (1972-73). For every one they had on display, they had 2 more in the warehouse.

Very cool Tiger by the way. :)

Re: Tortured Tamiya Tiger...

Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 3:10 am
by jarndice
Of course Roy as you very well know the Tiger 1 depicted is not as early as the class of 131 which even after 77 years still has the twin pot feifal air cleaners it had when it was liberated and we all know that the early Tunisian Tigers exhaust pipes were uncapped :lolno:
Actually I have a thing about damaged Tanks :crazy:
I am sure that many of us remember a brilliant portfolio of photos showing a highly detailed depiction of wrecked Tanks,
It took a close inspection before it became apparent that these were models and not the real thing :thumbup:
I think it makes a refreshing change from shelf queens although I heartily agree with you about rust on any in service military vehicle,
There are noisy wild animals in the service whose sole purpose is to ensure that Privates/Troopers/Craftsmen/Sappers/Drivers keep things clean and painted,
These wild animals are called Corporals,
Ladies Keep them well away from your daughters :haha:

Re: Tortured Tamiya Tiger...

Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 10:13 am
by 43rdRecceReg
Thanks for the observations, lads! The consensus would appear to be keeping the cat casualty as a runner. :D On that basis, Jimster's admirable 'Leningrad Chic' look might be the one for the 'catwalk'. :D
David Byrden, our semi-resident Tiger Boffin/Prof, estimates that the Tamiya full-option model, as packaged, represents a Tiger produced roughly between March and May, 1943 :)
http://tiger1.info/models/products-page/TAM35216
and, the main portal to David's site (do use it if you're a Tiger obsessive :lolno: ...the detail is astonishing. I doubt Porsche, himself, knew this much 8O )
http://tiger1.info
Thus, to get a Leningrad lookalike, several monthly modifications would have to be stripped away.
Just editied out some haste-induced grammatical howlers too. Sometimes, the interpretive text feature alters words in mid-flow. :D

Re: Tortured Tamiya Tiger...

Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 10:24 am
by 43rdRecceReg
jarndice wrote:Of course Roy as you very well know the Tiger 1 depicted is not as early as the class of 131 which even after 77 years still has the twin pot feifal air cleaners it had when it was liberated and we all know that the early Tunisian Tigers exhaust pipes were uncapped :lolno:
Actually I have a thing about damaged Tanks :crazy:
I am sure that many of us remember a brilliant portfolio of photos showing a highly detailed depiction of wrecked Tanks,
It took a close inspection before it became apparent that these were models and not the real thing :thumbup:
I think it makes a refreshing change from shelf queens although I heartily agree with you about rust on any in service military vehicle,
There are noisy wild animals in the service whose sole purpose is to ensure that Privates/Troopers/Craftsmen/Sappers/Drivers keep things clean and painted,
These wild animals are called Corporals,
Ladies Keep them well away from your daughters :haha:
I'm not keen on damaged tanks, Shaun, nor the rustbuckets created by our 'kings of corrosion'. I'd say that if you had a tankpark, like Painless or Jussek- and several other notables, having a tank hulk around would make sense. A mini-Kursk diorama would be littered with them. We know, however, that the Germans could scarcely replace battle-damaged tanks (unlike the Yanks, and the Russians, or even the Brits- as Brit tank production outstripped that of their German cousins). In reality, they did their utmost to retrieve and repair their wounded warriors. After their King Tigers petrol tanks ran dry at the Ardennes, though, retrieval became
practically impossible. :|

Re: Tortured Tamiya Tiger...

Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 10:53 am
by ronnie42
Roy Why not standardise and use the same board for all your tanks , clark ibu or elmod. Easier to fit as smaller than Tamiya and you can play for days getting the various settings spot on for each tank.

Re: Tortured Tamiya Tiger...

Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 1:51 pm
by Jarlath
It's still a great looking Tiger, despite the "rust". :)