Taigen Early King Tiger

[Shameless86]

Hello All!!

Im ready to try a documented build! I did type an intro a good while back and then proceeded to post absolutely nothing. Well here we go! This is the 3rd tank I've done always looking for tips.

I've recently purchased a group of tanks and this is the first to go under the knife.

This krupp turret stood out to me! Lol

Its a plastic taigen. With metal tracks and road wheels. It came with no accessories and no controller---so a reasonable price. When it got here, I noticed the suspension was sagging so new springs have been ordered.

I plan to put either tk 7.0 or 7.1 in it depending on the route I have to go to accomplish realistic recoil. I've done it both ways in the past with 7.1 in my Jagdtiger and Tiger 217 with servos and a 7.0 in my S33 which is a tamiya with tamiya recoil that I rewired to do the job. This was a bb unit. I have 7.1 on hand and the servo rig for HL tiger one but it dose not work with the elevation in the KT.

As for the actual model, I plan doing armor texture and weld beads. I've found 1 scheme i like for an early, #113 from s.pz.abt 503. Its on a guide. I'll add it to the pics(bottom scheme). Then plenty of weathering maybe try more oils on this one??

I dont really have a good starting picture. Wasn't sure about the documented build so here's when it first arrived.

I started by taking it apart and Gutting it. Then I started to scribe out the weld lines to give the epoxy a little more room.

More coming soon! Tips appreciated!!

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[Herr Dr. Professor]

Well, this is a welcome development! I will be watching and cheering, even if I am not able to be too helpful. It is a little bit unusual to locate a stripped out Taigen tank, for they tended to be a touch more to a lot more expensive than HengLong tanks. So it's great that you will bring this one back to life. While I favor Taigen/Torro V3 tanks for sound, everyone assures me that HengLong sound for a Tiger is good. So changing over the a HengLong 7.0 or 7.1 should provide much better control and decent sound, too. Are you keeping the original Taigen motors? If so, you will have to change over connectors, not so difficult (even I did it). If you change out to HengLong motors, you might have the advantage of the newer two-speed feature.

[John Glover]

Awesome find . Another rescue. Will you use Atak Zimmerit or will you be making your own. Watching with great interest .Some great builds of a Initial KT, aka [Porsche turret] to have a look at for ideas .John.

[tomhugill]

Great work on the flame cuts so far! Good to see an initial turret build

[MrChef]

Awwwwlllllright Hamilton!!!
(let's see who gets that...)

Excellent that you're documenting your build here Casey

Be forewarned that although these guys are a friendly, supportive knowledgeable lot, They are also a terrible influence on addicts such as ourselves.

Yes we both benefitted from Roberts sale. He's truly a good guy to deal with. I still might pick up a Leo from him if it doesn't move in the coming months.

You've got a great jumping off point and I'm looking forward to see what comes next. Fenders or not? I always wanted to do this one fenderless too. If that's your route I'll live vicariously through your build. Here's a link to a build here I liked using the same bare bones that you've got-
viewtopic.php?t=34741

Oh, Maybe post of up some pics of your Jagdpanther in the "Show Off" thread? She's sweet. Oh and share some plans for your growing collection of Jagdtigers. I don't know anyone with more than one Jagtiger except you

Looking forward to your progress,

Anton

PS I'll beat Mr. Bix to it and remind you to replace that ugly headlight.

PPS If you don't have all the sprues with parts and details I have the port plug for that hole on the commanders copula bumpout. LMK and I'll send it down.

[Shameless86]

Well, this is a welcome development! I will be watching and cheering, even if I am not able to be too helpful. It is a little bit unusual to locate a stripped out Taigen tank, for they tended to be a touch more to a lot more expensive than HengLong tanks. So it's great that you will bring this one back to life. While I favor Taigen/Torro V3 tanks for sound, everyone assures me that HengLong sound for a Tiger is good. So changing over the a HengLong 7.0 or 7.1 should provide much better control and decent sound, too. Are you keeping the original Taigen motors? If so, you will have to change over connectors, not so difficult (even I did it). If you change out to HengLong motors, you might have the advantage of the newer two-speed feature.

Oh yeah thanks! I got lucky enough to get hooked up with a guy selling a bunch of torro/taigens and I stocked up!

I agree with what you said the HL sounds are -good enough- and thats it. Upon arrivial I immediately noticed and enjoyed the torro sounds. All mine have been switched to HL for a while. Once I got driving them though.... Its tough to get any of these torros to drag a track. Or trying to run 2 across the yard at once you really notice it

I do plan to use the taigen motors. I've switched over 1 torro in the past to tk 7.1 so hopefully it should be pretty straight forward.
I know nothing of this two speed feature you speak of?? I'll have to do a little investigating!!!


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[Shameless86]

Awesome find . Another rescue. Will you use Atak Zimmerit or will you be making your own. Watching with great interest .Some great builds of a Initial KT, aka [Porsche turret] to have a look at for ideas .John.

I dont think im gonna do zim on this one. I recently began to experiment with armor texture and I dig it!!! I see the one at bovington dosent have any zim. Im a little rushed with having an exact tank picked out on this one I originally planed in doing another tank first but that one runs and this one didn't so it got bumped up the schedule. I plan on major body work to give me a little more time to research make sure there was some with no zim way back when but like I said im loving on this armor texture latley and want some more hahahaha


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[Shameless86]

Great work on the flame cuts so far! Good to see an initial turret build

Thank you very much!!!

Thats another detail I've really been into latley dont much matter if im looking at a model old Pic or video seem like searching for flame cuts and weld beads "what they look like on this one?!?!?!??!!"hahahahaha

Good times!

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[tankme]

I do plan to use the taigen motors. I've switched over 1 torro in the past to tk 7.1 so hopefully it should be pretty straight forward.
I know nothing of this two speed feature you speak of?? I'll have to do a little investigating!!!

The two speed feature is a High and Low setting that can be toggled from the transmitter on the HL system.

Screenshot 2025-05-27 170810.png (159.04 KiB) Viewed 284 times

[Shameless86]

Awwwwlllllright Hamilton!!!
(let's see who gets that...)

Excellent that you're documenting your build here Casey

Be forewarned that although these guys are a friendly, supportive knowledgeable lot, They are also a terrible influence on addicts such as ourselves.

Yes we both benefitted from Roberts sale. He's truly a good guy to deal with. I still might pick up a Leo from him if it doesn't move in the coming months.

You've got a great jumping off point and I'm looking forward to see what comes next. Fenders or not? I always wanted to do this one fenderless too. If that's your route I'll live vicariously through your build. Here's a link to a build here I liked using the same bare bones that you've got-
viewtopic.php?t=34741

Oh, Maybe post of up some pics of your Jagdpanther in the "Show Off" thread? She's sweet. Oh and share some plans for your growing collection of Jagdtigers. I don't know anyone with more than one Jagtiger except you

Looking forward to your progress,

Anton

PS I'll beat Mr. Bix to it and remind you to replace that ugly headlight.

PPS If you don't have all the sprues with parts and details I have the port plug for that hole on the commanders copula bumpout. LMK and I'll send it down.

You hear that?!?! It was that opening comment zingin overhead hahahaha

Any how! Yes!! Im finally here in the big leagues!!! That how it feels anyhow, all this fine work I see around here! Happy to further my addiction!! It looks like Im in the right place!!!

Robert definitely a good guy! Im really happy with my purchases! Im good on german armor for a little while (still gonna need that elefant and nashorn to round out the L/71 collection). BUT my Abrams has his hands full now... In the Mood sounds nice and a super pershing maybe a js 2.... anyway off topic! ADD is real. Hahaha

These fenders days are numbered! Gonna have to go the mato removable mudguard rig on here for sure. Im pretty sure ive got a way now to make it look good.

Ah the tank hunters they are really trying to knock tiger 1 out of my favorite spot but as usual cant get the job done haha... I think I've typed up a show off post for the O.G. Jagdtiger 3 times and never posted. ill show off both of my jagd katzen. As for the fleet its some rough plans in the works for them. Nothing solid. Im really far in the research wormhole now reading these books. The combat history of german heavy anti tank unit 653 by Karlheinz Münch is a banger let me tell ya!!!

Hahahaha head light already inbound!!! I appreciate the parts offer I dont have that i dont think being i ordered the accessories for the production KT. Ill be in touch!!




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