Plastic or metal?

[Marc780]

O'k metal it is. I'll look at the build section for venders. I'll keep you posted. O'h, I see allot of venders in the China, Hong Kong area. When buying photography gear it's US or Japan. Who should I stay clear from?

Mato mart, on the ali express site, is (IS) reputable. I've bought maybe a dozen items and the salesperson Jack Wang, speaks good english, and always answers emails. You just missed a sale, they had the Tiger 1 and Stug all metal version (no exterior plastic like Tiagen, the whole hull and turret, all of it is metal) for $400. Those come with brass gearbox and no radio gear but they are, in fact, all metal, cast aluminum i'm guessing, and heavy too, no doubt.

Heng long store is also reliable. Have bought a few items from "Wellsold" and they are slower, but a lot cheaper then everybody else. I just bought a steel black gearbox for $36 all.
Other then that anybody on there is a crap shoot, I have been burned by some other sellers, who aren't there anymore. So i stick with the ones above.

[Nathan2253]

I checked out the Mato site and found a few worth considering. Reading a previous reply about not being able to do modifications as easily to an all metal tank. What kind of modifications would I need to do? I assumed these tanks come as authentic as possible. I was going to travel down the all metal road but now I'm not sure.

[ALPHA]

I checked out the Mato site and found a few worth considering. Reading a previous reply about not being able to do modifications as easily to an all metal tank. What kind of modifications would I need to do? I assumed these tanks come as authentic as possible. I was going to travel down the all metal road but now I'm not sure.

Well say you wanted to do a Firefly... you can't really cut the metal hull and extend it without loosing integrity....plastic you can...you would also have problems melding the three sections together smoothly ...sure you could use body filler...but that would crack in time

ALPHA

[jarndice]

Nathan Hi, I assume we are still talking Tiger 1? All Tigers come with built in faults, whether they be TAMIYA,TORRO,TAIGEN,or HENG LONG, the two most obvious failings are the twin aerial stowage tubes on the left and right side of the engine bay, all the above makers have them moulded on the hull BUT the real machine only had ONE, and that was on the Left side (when looking from the front) The CUPOLA when the Tank is taken out of the box is facing in the wrong direction, If you have a Plastic hull the aerial stowage error is a reasonably easy fix and the Cupola whether metal or plastic is easy to fix, the errors are well recorded as are the fixes on the various Builds, where the true challenge exists is when you decide to model a particular vehicle, you have to do a lot of research and be ready to listen to a lot of (hopefully) constructive comment, and when you have YOUR Tiger finished you may have to commission Archers/Peddinghaus to make the correct decals, if you do not have an Air brush now is the time to think about getting one and something infrequently mentioned is MASKING PAPER. Overall my choice is Metal Hull, Plastic Body, and Metal Turret, most of the modifications take place on the body so it is to your advantage to work with plastic which if you make an error can be fixed, Metal bodies are a pain if you get it wrong and add a lot of weight for the drive train to handle. shaun. PS Wibbly mentioned the loss of rigidity with a plastic body, if you do have doubts I would suggest carefully placed NEO-DYMIUM MAGNETS between the body and the hull.

[ALPHA]

OK...Where does it say Tiger??????????? I only detected a request for Metal vs Plastic

ALPHA

[jarndice]

My first answer to NATHAN had me stating the assumption, which was at no time refuted by the good gentleman, and until he declares for another Tank I think I shall continue if he requests more information, sorry for being so abrupt but it appears being social is now frowned on and we have to be more "WIKIPEDIA" and less warm and inviting. That should certainly lead to an increase in membership!!!:thumbdown: shaun

[ALPHA]

My first answer to NATHAN had me stating the assumption, which was at no time refuted by the good gentleman, and until he declares for another Tank I think I shall continue if he requests more information, sorry for being so abrupt but it appears being social is now frowned on and we have to be more "WIKIPEDIA" and less warm and inviting. That should certainly lead to an increase in membership!!!:thumbdown: shaun

OH....had to go back and read that lengthy reply ...dang WO2c.....Simplicity... WIKI WIKI

ALPHA

[Nathan2253]

Has anyone used Tank Zone?

[jarndice]

Nathan If you scroll down to the "BLACKLIST" you will be able to read some horror stories concerning "TANKZONE" perhaps you will take this on board I am owed £470 and have been for over two years, I am not alone, but you must use your own judgement, just bear in mind what you see is not always what you get, after you have read the "BLACKLIST" I think reading the recommended dealers list would cheer you, we buy from these people and we do not get ripped off, if there is a problem , tell them and it will be resolved.shaun

[jarndice]

NATHAN HALLO, If you are looking for a TAIGEN TIGER 1 METAL HULL then FORGEBEAR on E-BAY has one for sale for £49, if you have never dealt with DAVE (a valued member of this Forum) he is the best of the best in on line Dealers. shaun