The Life and Times of a Tiger 1

[westyIII]

So 2.5 years ago I purchased a Heng Long Tiger 1:

I quickly modified it with new Gearboxes, tracks, and a 2.4ghz RX. With a little zimmerit new paint job, and fording proofed interior, she performed well.

Here is the pre-weathered water proofed tank doing a bit of muddy fording:



And here she is post weathering, but minus a track due to idler and wheel issues.




She stayed like this until she (I) broke her rear idlers, sprocket mount and RX.

Then I thought it time for a refurb. I was pretty happy with the overall look of the tank, but it is a bit of a 3ft looker, so I wanted to improve the close up detail, along with fix the reliability and have a new challenge.

The lower hull has been replaced with a Taigen hull. New idlers and sprokets, and the addition of late metal wheels. So this is the conversion of an early Tiger to a Mid/late Tiger with steel wheels.

Limited budget, first RC Tank project, anything constructive welcomed. I will keep this updated of my progress!

[forgebear]

good luck with this i am sure you will do a fine job
all the best dave

[tao]

Nice!!

[HERMAN BIX]

I'd be happy the way it sits right now, looks S%#$-hot
Keep us in the picture loop, looks like its going to be a great spectator build

[westyIII]

So I had managed to squeeze in some time last night.

Applied damaged zimmerit all over, and filled some gaps with miliput

Mainly setting up the base coat, and practising salt weathering. My first time. I went a bit overboard to begin with, but progress:



This is after my first over enthusiastic salt application, but just before my second attempt to reduce the weathering. Lighting is so bad, this time of year!

I am happy with how the rear of the Tiger came out, needs some touching up but a step in the right direction.



This is a rust coloured base coat, mixed with some BiCarb Soda for the texture, then a judicious use of water and salt to create flakey paint. Using Plastic Soldier Company's Tank War Spray DunkelGelb.

So next up is Tracks on the turret, Late cupola, and the turret filters.

[jackalope]

Looking real good! I see you run yours like I do.

[westyIII]

Yeah, this was ultimately the result, plus idler damage!




No wonder the tracks kept slipping off the idler, there was a huge amount of play in the lower hull.

Anyway, got a natural light picture of the excessive salt weathering.

[forgebear]

now thats coming on fine i like this one a lot
dave

[greengiant]

Looks like you are mastering the weathering very nicely. Will look forward to seeing the finished product.

[westyIII]

I attempted a patch, but the hull had so much flex in, no wonder the tracks kept slipping! I bought a completely new Taigen lower hull. I am very impressed with how rigid the Taigen hull is compared to the HL stock one.

Have not done too much, fitted the late Cupola, I used aluminium blue to blacken the spare tracks, tools and MG42. Sanded off the moulded tools and Smoke launcher holes, touched up some Zimmerit. Opened up the drivers vision port, and just need to make the hull MG mount more like a ball.

Also deleted Driver side headlight with a view to move it to the middle, however I have seen a late Tiger with the early headlights, but deleted from the drivers side. So I may leave it as is.