Torro Pro-Edition Henschel King Tiger

[Saxondog]

Welcome aboard. Their has been many tanks recently moved to Fort Benning Ga. would you know if this is one of the Pieces being transported to Fort Benning?

[MAUS45]

I like the way this Tiger II looks. Only thing that is odd, zimmerit on the hull, but none on the turret. Is the lower hull metal and will you add zimmerit to the turret when you do the rebuild/paint? Box it came in is fantastic!!!!

[MAUS45]

Yes, 332 is at Ft. Benning. I hope they hurry and build the facility that these tanks will be displayed in soon. I have been to Ft. Knox before 332 was moved and got some photos, but need more.

[Saxondog]

One of my oldest friends is now Stationed at Fort Benning,I will visit in the spring. Have camera will travel!

Hopefully I can get some very detailed Photos depending on my access and my ability to actually take an in focus photo

I will take a few more picture of the Torro King Tiger and post shortly.

[Saxondog]

A few more picture as promised,the lower hull bottm plate,very thick,and very polished.Will not remain so after some serious driving.

Crate after drying,maybe needs a bit more clear,the wood is very dry and absorbs the clear qiuckly.This has been drying for a while and the white wood is still resurfacing a bit

Hull bottom which I scratched by accident,the latch is visable to the rear and centered.The access hatches will come off.Nice thick plate.Painting is under consideration.

I have given much thought to the lack of ZIMMERITE on the Turret,I did not want to repaint the tank,just add the red/brown and some nice matt clear sealer.But the Job may require a bit more to be right.note the spare tracks are held on by the pins,which are very difficult to remove being glued into place in the pin guides. This will take some careful consideration to remove

[mustclime]

Have you ever seen a spring loaded center punch( also known as a automatic center punch) I find them very useful in pulling track pins....you simply compress the punch and spring releases and it slams home the point....great tool, some times hard to find because the "baddies" like to use them to pop the tempered glass in the side windows of cars to pickup a cheep GPS

[mustclime]

Its what I use......just go to granger...last timeI looked they had 10 different types...just hold the tracks on the turret and press on the punch...track pin is out.

[Saxondog]

In this situation,removing the pins could harm the track hangers. And the angle in relationship to the Turret housing may also be a problem. But the method I have chosen is first to side the lower track hanger from there slots in the turret housing and slip the tracks off the Turret. Then to place them in the bench vice and perhaps at that point to use a tool like you suggest.

The tracks and the hanger brackets are metal,which is good that Torro did not cheat and use plastic tracks as spares,these would actually be used.

Which raises another question,the 90% metal claim by Torro.

We shall have to take account of the parts to verify this,of course that statement depends a persons point of view.

[Saxondog]

Ok Guys I have some negative points about this Tank to post. The cosmetic condition was not perfect.Mainly the paintwork,and the way in which the painting was done.

Sloppy over-spray into the interior tells me this was not a custom grade/painter. But beyond that the paint is very thin,to much thinner not enough paint and no sealer is used period. Either on the base coat ot the camo paint.

A bit less thinner and a simple coating of sealer would do wonders.

Their is a bad paint run on the turret side,several scratches.

The next point is a problem that would have caused a break in the upper deck.The latch is like first Asiatam Tiger hull.A sliding bar that when closed traps two metal brackets that are attached to stand off post of the upper hull mold.These extend down and pass through the latch securing the upper hull.

In this case they were forced down,missing the sliding bar opening and forced in front of the bar almost breaking them off the upper hull,but also warping the upper deck and the rear back hull plate section Creating a Gap and really without being familiar with this from my experience with my Asiatam Tiger Hull it would have been very difficult to get this tank to open.The opening latch under the hull that works the sliding bar was jammed half way between the open and closed position.

Reaching in through the Engine hatch I was able to free the latch and the stand off post opening the hull I repaired the standoff and the metal bracket,also bent but once I closed the hull properly the gap between the upper deck and rear plate was wider on the loaders side.nice tight fit.

Here are some photos of this really bad mistake.

Tomorrow I intend to address the major fault with this offering,and it is a disappointment. This also is the first I/R Tank I have ever obtained new,excluding the Tamiya tanks I have owned.I wanted to upgrade this tank for battle having the MAKO and ATRC units both.

Here are a few pictures,these were taken the very moment I unboxed the crate and opened it.

Paintwork defects

Over spray

Over spray

Notice the angle of the stand off and the latch receiver. This caused the jam

Note the remarks

Rear deck/plate gap caused by the jammed latch post.

Warping caused by Jammed Latch

[Jussek]

I'm sorry to hear that, Saxondog, but i think it's a bad manhandle here, mine was in perfect condition.

I can corroborate the paint over spray, but not so heavy like in your case. In my particular case, the quality of the painting and scratches do not bother me, because I was aware before purchasing this cat that it had to be repainted, the 'aberration' of the zimmerit alone is enough to rework it completely...

best regards!