1944 'Elefant' by Hooben

PainlessWolf · Post by **PainlessWolf** » Tue May 10, 2016 9:36 pm

Good afternoon,
Mr. Wobbly, Sir, I completely agree. Once I opened the kit up and saw the hull and casemate ( another casemated AFV? what is it with me, have I grown leary of turrets since I had to build then _rebuild_ the Pershing's complicated number? ) I realized that I hadn't worked on anything this big since the 'Palace' and the Porsche King Tiger before it. It will be a Monster once I get my seedy claws firmly latched onto it. ;o) Markocaster, you ask and I have done so! Jtracks, this kit is available in degrees of complexity and price. I asked for the RC-Ready version along with the aluminum barrel as the only Hooben options. This version includes the servos and mounts for the main gun and basic lights and switches but no sound or smoke or MFU or TX or Battery. ( Arc \ Hooben does offer all those things on their site ) Tracks are nylon but the suspension is beefy metal as are the sprockets and gearboxes. All wheels and the gearboxes are set up with bearings. There is a basic track adjustment at the idler sprockets but I think that better exists out there. Same with the MFU \ TX. This will be my first foray into the world of IBUs and TARR smokers and visaton speakers, etc. I waited a long time for this one so I'm going to do it right. Pics:

pedal2metal · Post by **pedal2metal** » Wed May 11, 2016 2:20 am

One thing I noticed with mine right away when I opened it was that it did not have the same layout as everyone elses. For example, the metal parts were in a motor box and the vip card is missing (no big deal there), but what is missing in mine that worries me is the extra tracks that normally is in that clear section. I might have to write and ask about that before it goes on too long.

jtracks · Post by **jtracks** » Wed May 11, 2016 6:19 am

Thanks for the info and photo's Painless, I will be following along.

Markocaster · Post by **Markocaster** » Wed May 11, 2016 3:06 pm

Thanks for the photos painless, can't wait to see you put this beast together

PainlessWolf · Post by **PainlessWolf** » Wed May 11, 2016 3:55 pm

Good morning,
P2M, it sounds like you got a 'Monday' kit ( put together on a Monday by a surly Employee ) Would be worth your while to inquire after your missing track segment. Thanks, gentlemen. It is a very cool kit with tons of potential. I'm now considering the metal tracks since the suspension is so strong and the sprockets and gearboxes have bearings. The nylon tracks look great also. Anyone out there who can advise one way or the other from experience?
regards,
Painless

pedal2metal · Post by **pedal2metal** » Wed May 11, 2016 4:11 pm

Good a.m., Yes, I too w/b curious if the K.Kong tracks are worth it or not. The price is what is holding me back at the moment ($140 plus another $37 for S/H) seems high to me but they can charge whatever they want since they are only ones making them as far as I know, (maybe Impact?) The cool factor is where it's at though! (PW: I'm writing to Mrs Zheng now, so we'll see... others claim they are fairly decent about replacing missing/broken parts); so we'll see.) I want those track segments for the back of the beast! : )

Rangie81 · Post by **Rangie81** » Fri May 13, 2016 1:51 pm

Just when I think I have decided on my next purchase, something else amazing catches my eye....
Great kit, looking forward to seeing your build.

PainlessWolf · Post by **PainlessWolf** » Sun May 15, 2016 12:25 am

Afternoon all. The Post brought some research materials for this build today. The Squadron book will be incredibly useful as it includes walkarounds of the only two examples left extant after the War. The Dragon Diecast has the paint job I am favoring for the moment. The vehicle is in 1/72 scale and incredibly detailed for it's size.
Pics:

Ad Lav · Post by **Ad Lav** » Sun May 15, 2016 5:59 am

Nice idea! Same as what we did with the KV, nice to have a 3D model to come back to when doing the camo.

pedal2metal · Post by **pedal2metal** » Sun May 15, 2016 7:01 pm

Yea, that is funny, I too just purchased that same book, and also bought a tiny dragon elefant, but it is different scheme. That book has plenty of photos which is cool, I just wish there were interior shots in existence. That tank restoration show showing them redoing the apg elefan has a quick pan thru of the interiot but its so fast its crazy. I also bought the Ryton pub book titled schwere panzer, and that is a good one too. (Ps: hooben ark wrote me back and claims theres plenty of track links in the two bags. Whatever that means... Looking at other peoples photos, their link bags look just as filled as mine, but Im still missing that section for the back side and front. I'll have to put them together here soon and see before too much time goes past.)