Noob Building 1/16 Tamiya Tiger 1 and "Fake" Tiger 1

[seekaliao]

Hi guys, I am totally new to 1/16 RC kits and I have just bought my first RC kit which is the Tamiya 1/16 Tiger 1.

I do have very limited experience with static 1/35 and 1/72 kits a long time ago so I at least know a bit on assembling plastic models (though I don't know how to paint).

Now I am trying to assemble this rather big kit so I get a tank to play with. I need some advice from tank experts here.

I saw that many parts are secured by screws rather than glue. This means there will be seams, gaps around. Do you need to fill every gap with putty and sand it down? Or is it supposed to be there so you can remove the parts for replacement?

Also, are the plastic road wheels and bearings durable? I tried looking for aftermarket metal road wheel and ball bearings for the kit but could only find those meant for Mato/Heng Long. Not sure if they will fit.

Also, any recommended aftermarket parts for this kit? Eg, more durable parts, reduction gearbox (I saw metal tracks).

Lastly, anyone tried modding their Tiger 1 tanks? Eg. adding more armour, put a bigger gun etc.

[seekaliao]

Hi thanks for reply!!

Oh, when I meant by "fake", its means its modified. Not the same as the real tank, eg. Bigger guns, I am trying to add a 105mm gun to the tank. Then I am going to modify the turret to make it a bit bigger to accommodate the gun. Then the tiger will have more armour.

Think of it as an upgraded Tiger 1 in an alternate universe. Assume Germans did not surrender in 1945, Russia with their IS2/IS3 pushing the Germans back, Allies with firefly, Pershing, Comet etc all appearing. Then the T28/95 came. With its 300mm frontal, even the mighty 88mm could not penetrate it. Tigers no longer king of battlefield. Germans badly needed new tanks but Maus, E100 are too resource intensive to build. So back to Tiger and modify it.

They managed to fit on a 105mm L/68 gun, they lengthen the turret of the Tiger 1 to accommodate the gun. Install an auto loader to save manpower. Composite armour was invented as well. Due to limitations of composite armour, the turret is no longer rounded by look a bit similar to Cromwell. Surfaces are all flat. Spall liners also added. They also created ERA (I like the ERA on the M60 tanks). Install a 1200HP turbocharged diesel engine and upgraded transmission. The turret is also secured to the hull so 152mm rounds from the Russians cannot blow it off.

Now the Germans have a new mighty Tiger tank (I call it Tiger Ausf. F)

[c.rainford73]

Hi thanks for reply!!

Oh, when I meant by "fake", its means its modified. Not the same as the real tank, eg. Bigger guns, I am trying to add a 105mm gun to the tank. Then I am going to modify the turret to make it a bit bigger to accommodate the gun. Then the tiger will have more armour.

Think of it as an upgraded Tiger 1 in an alternate universe. Assume Germans did not surrender in 1945, Russia with their IS2/IS3 pushing the Germans back, Allies with firefly, Pershing, Comet etc all appearing. Then the T28/95 came. With its 300mm frontal, even the mighty 88mm could not penetrate it. Tigers no longer king of battlefield. Germans badly needed new tanks but Maus, E100 are too resource intensive to build. So back to Tiger and modify it.

They managed to fit on a 105mm L/68 gun, they lengthen the turret of the Tiger 1 to accommodate the gun. Install an auto loader to save manpower. Composite armour was invented as well. Due to limitations of composite armour, the turret is no longer rounded by look a bit similar to Cromwell. Surfaces are all flat. Spall liners also added. They also created ERA (I like the ERA on the M60 tanks). Install a 1200HP turbocharged diesel engine and upgraded transmission. The turret is also secured to the hull so 152mm rounds from the Russians cannot blow it off.

Now the Germans have a new mighty Tiger tank (I call it Tiger Ausf. F)

Wow that's quite interesting... For the Tamiya purists here it might have been easier on your wallet to buy a Heng Long and do this modification to it draw up a rendering of your designs so we can see them!

[RobW]

Ambitious; I'd look forward to seeing pictures. As with c.rainford73 I'd look at the Heng Long Tiger, you can break a few building the uprated Tiger and still have spent a lot less than on a Tamiya kit.

[jarndice]

As everyone else says, I would avoid modifying the Tamiya simply because TAMIYA Tanks second hand command a good price on E-Bay whereas a heavily modified "ie" non standard one wont,
Get a Heng Long or Taigen and mod to your hearts content that is what to a greater or lesser degree most of us do certain in the knowledge that after all the upgrades we install in our "CHEEPO" Heng Long Tiger 1 it has probably cost more than the TAMIYA but has hardly any resale value,
And that is why we are not rich players of the Stock exchange
Shaun.

[jarndice]

Mick I cannot speak for anyone else but the amount of work I have put into for instance my Take of an early Tunisian Tiger1 which doesn't include the many hours of study and the making of detail that is not available commercially such as the hand beaten square section exhaust mufflers or the early one piece curved rear fenders and other odds and ends that I have had to make means it is not for sale and that goes for my other builds,
I am willing to bet that I am not unique in wanting to keep my hard work.
I have no problem with offering help to anyone interested in this hobby but it is a very personal thing when so much time and dare I say money and endeavour has gone into a build.
Painless has just finished a commission of a Tamiya Tiger 1 and the work that went into it would make me baulk at giving it away.
Too much like selling the children.
Shaun.

[HERMAN BIX]

Mick I cannot speak for anyone else but the amount of work I have put into for instance my Take of an early Tunisian Tiger1 which doesn't include the many hours of study and the making of detail that is not available commercially such as the hand beaten square section exhaust mufflers or the early one piece curved rear fenders and other odds and ends that I have had to make means it is not for sale and that goes for my other builds,
I am willing to bet that I am not unique in wanting to keep my hard work.
I have no problem with offering help to anyone interested in this hobby but it is a very personal thing when so much time and dare I say money and endeavour has gone into a build.
Painless has just finished a commission of a Tamiya Tiger 1 and the work that went into it would make me baulk at giving it away.
Too much like selling the children.
Shaun.

Me............I would happily sell the children rather than forfeit one of my tanks to one that simply is shopping for a bargain.
A pure commission is one that a man takes on , knowing the outcome, to make a third party happy, and to discharge the expectation and responsibility that the commissioner has in the builder...........
Still difficult to hand over, like a surrogate parent I imagine, but none the less, the completed product inevitably reflects the builders passion & skill and thats what the commissioner pays for..........trust and integrity of the completed project.

I'm a bit colder, and can hand over easier, but then my product is not as accomplished as other "on behalf" builders are, so I have a slightly lower feeling of the pressure of expectation !

[HERMAN BIX]

Oh, and in case it was thought otherwise, I'm not after buying anyone's labour of love.
I was just trying to make a point about cheap tank conversions being worth more than the value of their parts.

Mick.

Gotcha mate, yes, I agree with you there...............intrinsic value its called.

[seekaliao]

This is my first attempt at modding the Tiger 1 turret. Its a 1/48 Tamiya Kit though. I am using it for experiment and reference. If you are wondering why the stowage bin is different colour, I took that from a 1/48 late Tiger 1 kit. Lol.

Side view ports and escape hatch removed. My motto of a tanker, die with your tank, not abandon it and run. Escape hatch are for cowards.

Also, I decide to eliminate the rather industrial looking welding marks. I am thinking modern tanks like Leopard 2 don't seems to have those massive welding marks (the marks look very small on photos), why do WW2 German tanks have such big ugly ones? OK, I think the Germans improved their welding in late 1945. A new technique is needed for welding composite armour.

[seekaliao]

As everyone else says, I would avoid modifying the Tamiya simply because TAMIYA Tanks second hand command a good price on E-Bay whereas a heavily modified "ie" non standard one wont,
Get a Heng Long or Taigen and mod to your hearts content that is what to a greater or lesser degree most of us do certain in the knowledge that after all the upgrades we install in our "CHEEPO" Heng Long Tiger 1 it has probably cost more than the TAMIYA but has hardly any resale value,
And that is why we are not rich players of the Stock exchange
Shaun.

Oh, actually I was planning to use my Heng Long Tank. Then I saw someone selling the Tamiya kit for slightly over SGD 600 (slightly over 300 pounds). So, I thought it was a steal and decide to go for it. The kit has been in storage for at least 5yrs. Not sure if the electronics are still working though.