Old Tamiya King Tiger Re-build

riggy15
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Re: Old Tamiya King Tiger Re-build

Post by riggy15 »

I would, but you're further ahead than I am, and are working much faster than I am (financial reasons). For me it's a long term project while you are - relative to me - blazing ahead.
Me blazing, naaah its more like a little fiz :S . Anyhow, glad you like how its coming along and thanks for the positive comments.

Bit more progress, I was slightly worried that the gearbox's might start to work themself loose when they finally get put into operation, so I have gone and fitted a couple of support struts made of 2mm thick plastic strip that is bolted all the way through to the metal chasis.

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That will hopefully stop the little sods from going for a walk.

I have at last started and finished the one job that I was not looking forward to, and that was painting all the wheel axles and the wheels themselves (why oh why is there so many of them :crazy: ). They were all given a coat of red primer and when that was dry, a top coat of Tamiya dark yellow (XF60). I have left some of the wheels in primer only because of the plan I have in my brain of how I want the finished model to look ------- though this could change.

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Also gone and ditched all the original axle support bracket screws (most of the heads got chewed up when I removed them during the initial strip down) and replaced them with some stainless steel allen headed bolts sourced from good old E Bay.

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And finally for now, here she is with all the suspension arms fitted.

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Next job is to fit the new bushes in the wheels and get them fitted, and then try and decide which ESC to buy and use (still unsure of this, anybody got any suggestions. Looking for a basic one that just gives me speed and motor control ?)

More later
Martyn.
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PainlessWolf
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Re: Old Tamiya King Tiger Re-build

Post by PainlessWolf »

Martyn,
Good Morning,
This is beautiful craftsmanship. This tank is already benefiting from your attention to detail, the small things that really matter when it is in operation. Following along.
regards,
Painless
...Here for the Dawn...
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Lert
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Re: Old Tamiya King Tiger Re-build

Post by Lert »

riggy15 wrote: ...then try and decide which ESC to buy and use (still unsure of this, anybody got any suggestions. Looking for a basic one that just gives me speed and motor control ?)
How about Clark TK22? That's what I'm probably going to go with for my own version of this same rebuild. TK22 It seems to be the best balance between functionality, sound quality and affordability (~$100), to me. Though from what I understand you're still going to need a standard 4-channel TX. Otherwise you can probably get a Heng Long RX-18 set for like half that including TX that'll at least give you proportional speed control, though with absolutely terrible sound and very annoying 'tank recoil' upon firing.
JagdPanther / Leopard 2A6 / StuG Ausf. G / KV-2 / M4A3A4 / MTLB / 2.5 ton truck 6x6
riggy15
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Re: Old Tamiya King Tiger Re-build

Post by riggy15 »

Painless, thanks for the comment, appreciate them.

Lert, yep, I have being looking at them, but all I am really looking for at the moment is a basic forward, backward,left and right proportional control. I don't as yet need any sounds, or gun recoil (the tube on the original was busted when I took her to bits, so I have made up one with some purchases from on line and it will not be recoil enabled) because at first all I intend to do is bomb the Tiger round my garden (wife calls it a wilderness ). It is looking like I will end up buying a second hand set from E Bay, like you have suggested.
I am also looking at the possibility of building up my own system -------- plenty of time yet to decide which way to go.

Martyn
riggy15
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Re: Old Tamiya King Tiger Re-build

Post by riggy15 »

Evening Ladies,
Being thundering along this weekend, I have got the new bushes fitted in all of the wheels, and what a difference they have made, compared with the original ones, no more wibbley wobbley :D . Tracks also fitted (just to see what she looks like) and it is now looking a bit like a tank.

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Rear wheels fitted and the original tension system but back on, and after a bit of adjustment I have got it to my liking.

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Front view
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Lert
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Re: Old Tamiya King Tiger Re-build

Post by Lert »

Nice job so far. Have you decided on a camo pattern yet? Did you see mine?
JagdPanther / Leopard 2A6 / StuG Ausf. G / KV-2 / M4A3A4 / MTLB / 2.5 ton truck 6x6
riggy15
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Re: Old Tamiya King Tiger Re-build

Post by riggy15 »

Started work on refurbishing the turret, first up was to remove the original fixing 'tabs' for the spare track links.

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Then its simulating the welds on the turret joints, I have made a 'pointy' attachment for my soldering iron

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I then glue 0.5 mm plastic rod along the weld seam, and then gently press the hot soldering iron along its length a bit at a time.

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Progress so far.

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Gave myself a rest after a while (welding slowly driving me mad) and filled the old fixing holes on the hull.

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more later
Martyn.
riggy15
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Re: Old Tamiya King Tiger Re-build

Post by riggy15 »

Nice job so far. Have you decided on a camo pattern yet? Did you see mine?
Thanks Lert.

Yep, she's looking good, and as for a camo pattern, not yet, but I am thinking of a early Tiger on the Eastern front ------ maybe winter
I will see.

Regards
Martyn.
riggy15
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Re: Old Tamiya King Tiger Re-build

Post by riggy15 »

Evening,
Being thinking a bit more about which tank to base this build on, when I stumbled across this pick on line, acording to the info, she is from SPZ-ABT 509, and it was taken on the Eastern Front in 1945 ( In Jan 1945 the 509 was being used in operations near Budapest) ----- Soooo the pic could be correct.

Anyhow my question is, does anybody have any idea what the equipment is that I have circled in the picture. I have tried to enlarge the photo, but it gets to blurry to make out what it is, and am I right in thinking, that tanks with a 'I' painted on them where command tanks (Back of turret, it looks like an I to me). There also appears to be two ariels on her.

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Any ideas anybody ??

Cheers,
Martyn
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DavidByrden
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Re: Old Tamiya King Tiger Re-build

Post by DavidByrden »

The equipment is a basket, made of metal strips, containing jerrycans.
The tank is indeed a command tank, with 2 radio sets.

David
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