My first tank build.

[jarndice]

Hallo Jacko, Where do I begin The cheap fix has the answer in TIPS & TRICKS, scroll down to TIGER1 CUPOLAs, it is easy to do and is FREE! The aerial mount is another easy fix, SCHUMO make an aerial base that is just a case of drilling the right size hole with a pin vise, they also make the actual aerial although I prefer the ABER version, both are available from http://www.welshdragonmodels.com
the location of the aerial is right side (looking forward) immediately in front of the engine hatch close to the fender, I would suggest you look at Tanks for the Memories Tiger 1 build in the HENG LONG build section for a complete rundown on fixtures and fittings and where they go, it is becoming a bible for Tiger 1 builders,Hatches! I would suggest you buy the TAIGEN hatches,an easy fit and much stronger than the MATO ones and it is just a few cents difference in price. Kids have an amazing ability to frighten you to death then you find them a couple of days later terrorizing the cat, I pray she gets well very soon. shaun

[jackalope]

Thanks Jarndice. Does it look ok so far? I planned to get the Taigen parts because they looked a little crisper in their details and all the stuff you mentioned the only way I know about it cause I already have checked them out. Just wanted other opinions is all.

[jarndice]

Jacko enough with the insecurity, It looks really good, a credit to your hard work shaun

[ALPHA]

Had a rough night had to take my youngest daughter to the emergency room and we spent almost 14 hours there. Thank God she's ok but she's still not feeling 100% anyway I finally got the pics to upload sorry about the wait but my little girl comes MILES before a toy tank.

Let me know what you all think, what needs to be improved or changed or what details I should include as this is the first tank I've done. Also please keep in mind this was the first time I used an airbrush so if you see something I did wrong or could improve upon with regards to the paint please let me know cause I have no idea what I'm doing really.

Nice Job on the paint.... you say this was your first time with an airbrush?.....I'd say you've done better that some veterans... nice balance and fade...

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

I also found out why the tracks would grab the idlers and pop, they had these little nubs on the inside of the track teeth that was causing a problem. A little time with my Dremmel tool and a grinding disc and the little nubs are all gone and the tracks run MUCH smoother! I have a new set of idler wheels on order due to issues with the first set I got as well as a set of metal mud flaps and a set of headlights and correct axle for the Taigen hull.

So what else should I do? I plan to replace the turret and upgrade all the hatches to metal ones that open and all the turret detail parts in metal as well. Should I get the tools in metal too? What about the tow cables and the cable thats on the side of the tank? I was thinking the one on the side I could make into the antenna to give the tank more of a scale look rather then a toy look. Either that or I'm gonna attach the antenna to the metal of the hull to make the whole tank into an antenna.

Jack!!!!!!!!!!!! one thing about each adventure...you have to know when to hit the brakes You can spend a lifetime on one tank if you wish...there is so much one can do...There are some builds on this board over five years old ....nothing wrong with that if that's your thing.... but personally I like to keep things moving

Do yourself a favor...build a torture test track.... a strip maybe 20 ft or so...with different barriers and terrain... run your tank on that...if it makes it through...that baby is ready to rock and roll... and time to focus on another ....it's kind of what I like to do... bullet proof them then run the heck out of them

ALPHA

[Markocaster]

Jack, I can only echo what the others have said, it looks great!!
You did a fantastic job w the airbrush. I just got one and haven't tried my first time either,
I hope I can do half as good as you have! You have done lots of great work getting this tank up
And running !!
Well done !!!!

[Markocaster]

Yep definitely ALPHA, The metal one is almost as poor as the H/L plastic one detail wise and expensive. The "early" Tiger turrets from H/L or Taigen all need the top of the cupola turning to correct the hatch angle, but the Taigen plastic one is streets ahead in terms of detail and the crispness of the moulding. Short of buying a Tamiya, hatchette, or hobby boss turret I think it is the best you will find. It is ready to plug in from the box too.

The taigen plastic one is also great value. Welshdragon sells just the recoil unit, without the barrel or anything else for £24.99 the whole Turret is only£34.99

I am seriously considering ditching the metal turret on my taigen and purchasing the plastic one.
The metal one is heavy and clunky also harder to modify.

[jackalope]

Thanks guys.

Alpha what would this test track look like? Do you have any pics of yours? So far the only thing that seems to give mine an issue is running up a step hill on an angle greater then 45degrees, then the tracks start to bind up and try to walk off. But hell even real tanks had their limits and at 12.5 pounds this guy so far seems to be able to go thru damn near anything now!

As for the next tank, IDK I may do another Tiger this time I'd just order the Taigen Tiger kit I think. Or maybe a King Tiger, or a Sherman but if I did a Sherman I'd HAVE to copy Oddballs Sherman from Kelly's Heros I LOVE that movie! And yes I would HAVE to make sure it could play music thru the speaker then I'd just need to get a copy of that song they play as they come out of the train tunnel and destroy the German post.

[ALPHA]

Yep definitely ALPHA, The metal one is almost as poor as the H/L plastic one detail wise and expensive. The "early" Tiger turrets from H/L or Taigen all need the top of the cupola turning to correct the hatch angle, but the Taigen plastic one is streets ahead in terms of detail and the crispness of the moulding. Short of buying a Tamiya, hatchette, or hobby boss turret I think it is the best you will find. It is ready to plug in from the box too.

The taigen plastic one is also great value. Welshdragon sells just the recoil unit, without the barrel or anything else for £24.99 the whole Turret is only£34.99

I am seriously considering ditching the metal turret on my taigen and purchasing the plastic one.
The metal one is heavy and clunky also harder to modify.

When did you buy a metal turret????????????????? ...I almost got one... but the difficulty in modding them was definitely a concern.... and now that scalawag says they aren't that good well ...it's a big help...when the time comes the plastic Taigen now has the nod

You back from the Honeymoon Mark? ...Alright!!!!!!!!!! ..let the building begin

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Thanks guys.

Alpha what would this test track look like? Do you have any pics of yours? So far the only thing that seems to give mine an issue is running up a step hill on an angle greater then 45degrees, then the tracks start to bind up and try to walk off. But hell even real tanks had their limits and at 12.5 pounds this guy so far seems to be able to go thru damn near anything now!

As for the next tank, IDK I may do another Tiger this time I'd just order the Taigen Tiger kit I think. Or maybe a King Tiger, or a Sherman but if I did a Sherman I'd HAVE to copy Oddballs Sherman from Kelly's Heros I LOVE that movie! And yes I would HAVE to make sure it could play music thru the speaker then I'd just need to get a copy of that song they play as they come out of the train tunnel and destroy the German post.

At the moment no new photos of my torture track.... but these are some taken with my T34 that I put on Phil's T34 thread




What can I say.... whatever the instruction manual says not to do... I do ....the last area is the most treacherous ...all kinds of grass..and I love to make the tanks scale the concrete...allowing them to peak at a 35 degree angle and slam onto the upper level

I have to say...I've pushed my tanks to the limits...seen what works and what doesn't...and they all must pass these areas before I give them a clean slate...test them straight out of the box...find the weaknesses and after I've completed all the work

ALPHA

PS... If your next tank is Heng Long... I would recommend the T34... the Panther... and the Sherman...all very solid runners... the last two being the most fun to detail and modify