Tamiya King Tiger.What upgrades is a MUST HAVE ?

[maxmekker]

Hello all. Been out of tanks (once again) for a couple of years now. Owning the Tamiya leo some 5 years ago, sold it and got into heli's . Then I got a HL Tiger in 2010 and did the lot, 3/1 - lower hull- belts - wheels etc. But once again, sold.
But now, I'm in again, and no more selling

Anyway, King Tiger is soon on it's way. Nicely used indoore , box stock. So I'm wondering what would the first best upgrades be ?

I'm thinking:

schumo idler , the KT0014AL kit
lower hull brace for tranny
turret roller

next would be
axel support of some sort
gear reduction
motors

Wich Graupner motor (ore other brand) will fit best , and run best is it the 480 ore the 400 motor ?

So why not Metal belt's you say . Well I probably going to buy a 'half built new in box missing only a few parts' KT later on wich comes with metal belts.


Ok thanks for watching.

[tankmad]

I built a tamiya kt with most of the upgrades including £300 wechoe gears and the upgrade barrel recoil unit and to tell the truth most of the upgrades are over priced. A set of metal tracks and the schumo track tentioner would do for a start her is a link to my build and MY OPINION on the upgrades.

http://www.tankworld.co.uk/kt%20build.html
Stevie

[GMV]

For rear hull brace, just remove the four corner screws in the speaker box and drill through the hull. Then put in some new longer bolts with washers and nuts.
If you are going to run metaltracks I would suggest a gearreduction unit or so, especially if you are going to run with Graupner Speed 400 or 480's. Otherways it will run like a formula one car. :p

[Dietrich]

Hi,
I cannot BELIEVE the price of the gearboxes and the tracks......that is simply outrageous ............. Sorry to hijack the thread a bit here...but....I modified my old Style Tamiya KT to take Heng Long Metal gears and then simply added a 3-1 reduction....much cheaper... I also replaced the wheel bearings with the Schumo plain bearings /bushes to replace the dreadfully sloppy Tamiya originals. I run metal tracks and sprockest and the 'Standard track tensioner is useless so I am currently running my own design but I may change to an after market type if this modification fails..The aluminium 'Tongue' is simply connected by a long bolt that runs through the hull...tighten the bolt rotates the rear axle and with it the idler arms and so tensions the tracks...and of cousre vice versa

.

Alb.

[TankLover]

Metal tracks are nice... Now if you plan on running it on cement alot, stay with the original tracks, you will feel alot better replacing those from wear than the metal ones.. If you run in grass dirt, metal is awsome!
The track tensioner upgrade is a waste of money--- Here is an easy fix!
Take the inner hub/disk assembly and idler arm, coat both the inside of the hub and the idler arm with mold release, mow insert it into the inner hub like normal, I try to get the wings 90 degrees away from those tabs in the hub,,, now fill that whole interior with RTV (silicone) ai use the automotive hi temp..
set it up somewhere to dry. when it hardens, you can pull the shaft and RTV out. clean everything to get the mold release off, put the RTV back into the hubs and assembly your idlers..works great!
If you need photos or something, I am looking for an escuse to build my other KT...
Cheers

Sure photos would be great.
thanks

[Carnage]

Henntec tensioners are the BEST on the market. I have tried them all on my KT and now use the Henntecs. I set them correctly once, and never had any problems since then.

[maxmekker]

Tank is here tomorrow so thanks for the heads up folks.Nicly executed home upgrades folks. Feel free to add photos and hijack this tread as much as you want , but let's keep it to KT stuff.

tankmad, that was some shopping list you had And I liked you're build, wery informative and great outcome.


thanks