Newbie tanker checking in.

[Greywoolfe64]

Hi all, I'm hoping to get started in the RC hobby, as I'll soon be acquiring a Heng Long Tiger for my birthday. This will be my first large scale and RC model- I already own a handful of 1/35th tanks I'm working on, as well as a decent sized collection of 1/100th tanks. I got into tanking thanks to the World Of Tanks videogame, and my other half suggested that if I could, I'd drive a real one around our garden! This will very soon be realised,in a manner of sorts! I already have a colour scheme in mind, and as soon as my Tiger arrives and is checked out, I'll get to work on painting it and show you the results. My username is my gamertag from PS4, should there be any other WoT players here on the same system.

[RobW]

Welcome. Where are you as there are a few meets around the UK & elsewhere.

[brizo58]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Brian...

[Greywoolfe64]

I live near Bromley in Kent. I notice there's a meet at Tunbridge Wells, which would be interesting to go to if I'm off work at the time. My Tiger arrived luchtime today. Checked out all the functions, and she's good to go, so I can start work on painting the camo on her. I noticed the cupola is at the wrong angle (Would never have noticed this is not for reading this forum!) so that will be corrected, and I'll add wiring to the smoke dischargers as well. Luckily, the pistol port is in the correct position. The camo scheme I've chosen is based on the 2nd SS Panzergrenadier division 'Das Reich', as they were at Kharkov. Why? Because the base colour is dark grey, and I'm not sure if I'm quite up to taking apart an expensive (For me) RC model to paint the parts, in case I severely mess it up putting it all back together! The famous tank from that unit is Tiki, with the turret number 182, so using the numbers supplied will give me 183, a tank loosely based on one in this unit. The camo scheme is dark grey overall, with dunkelgelb and dunkelgrun stripes, so I'm using Tamiya's paint, XF-60 and XF-61.

This image gives a good idea of what I'm after.


Once I've completed it, I'll take some pics and upload them here for you all to have a gander at.

[Greywoolfe64]

Well, it seems that the Heng Long smoke unit gave up the ghost, which is apparently commonplace with these tanks, so I've ordered a Tarr unit from Forgebear, so I will be opening this tank up after all! Once the Tarr is fitted and working, I'll set to work painting it- you'll most likely see this next month now.

[Greywoolfe64]

Well, the new Tarr unit was installed and works nicely. The tank is easier to take apart than previously thought- there are no screws beneath the track guards as on the guides here, but instead there are six screws- two on the lower front glacis beneath the spare track plates ,two under the hull amidships, and two aft. The main problem was getting the Tarr to sit low enough so I could get the hull halves together again, but after cutting away the plastic lugs that the HL unit was screwed to, it sat down snugly enough. The hull is now back together, the hatch moved and re-aligned, the hatch-stop installed, wiring put on the smoke dischargers and a fire extingusher put on the engine deck. I've painted the tracks and weathered them, and I'm now priming and painting the main tank. The next posts you'll see from me will be in the show off section, all being well!

[Tiggr]

Looking forward to the photos

[43rdRecceReg]

Well, the new Tarr unit was installed and works nicely. The tank is easier to take apart than previously thought- there are no screws beneath the track guards as on the guides here, but instead there are six screws- two on the lower front glacis beneath the spare track plates ,two under the hull amidships, and two aft. The main problem was getting the Tarr to sit low enough so I could get the hull halves together again, but after cutting away the plastic lugs that the HL unit was screwed to, it sat down snugly enough. The hull is now back together, the hatch moved and re-aligned, the hatch-stop installed, wiring put on the smoke dischargers and a fire extingusher put on the engine deck. I've painted the tracks and weathered them, and I'm now priming and painting the main tank. The next posts you'll see from me will be in the show off section, all being well!

The Tarr mod is the thin end of this insidious hobby's wedge! That's how it gets you. First mod is the deepest, to mix in a metaphor: but you can take it or leave it..after all, it's just one upgrade.Then there'll be the camo scheme; the bespoke ( yes, bespoke) decals and custom extras... and...metal tracks requiring beefed up gearboxes.. and, before you know it, your tank (RC) collection will begin to multiply exponentially You have been warned!

[Tiggr]

43rd is right !

I chose to buy Torro/Taigen tanks because a lot of the upgrade stuff is already included.
Then I've added new sound cards custom decals/transfers, bought figures to man them.

I have an airbrush too.....

[Ecam]

Now that is what I call jumping right in! Welcome aboard.