New guy getting an HL KING tiger-what mods on a budget?

[ALPHA]

California?? ... Greetings Marc... you are so very lucky... not only have you found one of the best resources to perform upgrades...but a great place to show off what you have done... that be this board

Now to answer your question...the first thing you might want to do is secure the clutch gear on those plastic gearboxes... as they will freak both you and your son out when they bind and grind .... it doesn't hurt the tank when they do..but the sound is a little disorienting ...both gearboxes and plastic tracks should give you miles of pleasure...
One thing you might want to invest in ...is a lipo battery...depending on brand...they are sometimes smaller than the stock battery... last longer... and have better power output as well as duration... adding up to a lot of fun for everyone

When things start to break.. that's when you go into modification mode... EBAY is the best source for parts that I know of.... I personally use a lot of the Hong Kong dealers for steel gearboxes as their delivery times are excellent ...detail parts can be found all over the continent... just check the Seller black and approve lists on the board...and though many that are off continent like myself have reservations about a dealer Mato Mart... they are good there...so you might want to give their site a look see


It's a fun Hobby...hope you and yours enjoy yourselves .. what might add a little excitement should things hit a head.... a second tank

ENJOY THE ADVENTURE

ALPHA

thanks for the info alpha...can i ask why they design the clutch to slip? so the gears dont break and motors burn up or something?

To be honest Mark ... I wouldn't be sure... they don't put the clutch gear on the steel or white metal versions...I sealed mine up easily with super glue and shoe goo.... securing the final gear by drilling a hole in it and pegging it with a pin... will keep that one sound as well...
With that said...thought these measures will make the gearboxes last longer ... the King Tiger is a Heavy tank... the plastic gearboxes weren't really designed for it... they are a hand me down from the low end multi channeled Heng Longs...which are lighter tanks ...so sooner than later those will need to be changed out... just because of the size and weight of it (with all the added internal options)
My Jagdpanther taught me this lol...I changed that one to steel black gearboxes .... not necessarily because they are that much better than the white metal ones... as many of my tanks came stock with those and run fine..... but as an upgrade...cost only a few more dollars

I just like you model my tanks on a budget... so feasibility of upgrades and mods are done with careful planning and study of task.. and parts availability

Hope this helps Marc

Enjoy yourself

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

hi old chap wot wot
I am no expert far from it old boy , but I had a tiger metal this, metal that it ended up being like a floundering whale so my tuppence worth is ,reach a happy medium ,so your tank can cope with most things ....... wot wot

Excellent advice Canned... I still run my Jagd and KT with plastic tracks and drivers ...they are more user friendly than the metal ... easy to adjust the tension etc...Metal on those are heavy add drag to the drive...and as you say.. cause the beasts to flounder

Carpe Diem canned

ALPHA

[Marc780]

Thanks for the tip on too much metal parts in Rc models weight is a huge factor it's easy to forget...my first build was a 1/24 tiger 30 years ago that I converted from a static kit, and used regular batteries (d cells yet) and so heavy it barely moved! Sounds like one of old adolphs overloaded designs almost...
Where do I find the good black steel gearboxes? So far only found Chinese pot metal gears plus a youtube video of a guy showing his atrocious steel box gear set with gears that have too much run out and wobble way too much...trying to avoid others mistakes, it's not easy buying stuff off the net sight unseen I think, as likely to get junk as anything else.

[cannedheat]

forgebear, old chap £20 =30ish dollars +p/p? good smooth.. its all in the gears old chap ,a greyhound or a carthorse,if you go heavy then low gears if you go light, low gears but should not have probs with it being agile and being able to cope ..... wot wot

[jarndice]

Marc, forgive me where are my manners, welcome to the Forum, we all seem to start with a Tiger 1 or a King Tiger and most impressive they are but as you are being advised, gearboxes and tracks are the main problem, just like the real thing, If you scroll down the pages of this site you will come to the BLACKLIST, this is worth a read so that you know what to avoid, do not be taken in by them, sooner or later you will be the loser, fortunately we have a RECOMMENDED DEALERS site, these are the people we buy our Tanks and upgrades from, I would offer one proviso, do check how recent the last write up was for your particular interest as some of them have not been updated. FORGEBEAR can be readily found by googleing his name, he comes highly recommended by everybody and ships worldwide and prices and postage rates are most fair, then of course we get to Steve at Welsh Dragon Models just like Dave at FORGEBEAR a true gentleman, both of these people will supply a range of products including gearboxes anywhere in the world and if you have a particular need E-MAIL Steve he will sort out any problem you have, when I say any problem I mean Armour related, I don't think he does roast chicken recipes, as you are discovering we are a friendly bunch and we know lots of stuff, ask us so that we can show off please. enjoy this Forum, we do, and if you know things tell us. PS with the exception of tracks and electrics most parts are interchangeable from maker to maker for any particular Tank but if in doubt ask us or the dealer. Good luck. shaun