Is Hooben a dirty word?

[MrChef]

Great perseverance build! It would nice for a mainstream company to pop out a T54/55. Such a ubiquitous tank...and they're everywhere!

Mike.

Mum's the word but I've heard a T55 is in the process of being produced that's Not a Hooben...

But I've been sworn to secrecy... Truth

[Marc780]

Marc780: Yet through all your frustration and expense, you sure made a unique RC tank look good!

Thank you I really appreciate the complement! And to me that goes double when it's for a model tank that is so poorly designed, the end user is basically compelled to re-engineer almost every moving part on it!

Like I said, to me this model is so difficult to build, it squeezes most of the fun out of it - but I really liked knowing I was creating one of the (relatively few) functioning 1/16 T-55 models in existence. And choosing which paint pattern I was going to paint it, was about my favorite part. That particular scheme is based on an Egyptian T-55 (one that happens to be called the "Rameses" by the Egyptians, if you can believe that).
And while in general I don't use other modeller's tanks as a reference, I tried to base the pattern on this one painted in a Syrian camo scheme:

This tank was not built by me unfortunately, it's a 1/35 scale static model that was painted by somebody else.

So I did a lot of researching before I painted mine, and I learned one thing about how the world's tanks get their colors: Most of the camouflage schemes on real armored vehicles (German WW2 tanks being a notable exception), are (hastily) done in the field, not in the factory - and no two tanks look exactly alike. Because more often than not, the camouflage pattern the tank wears was probably designed on the spot and then painted on by its own crew!
The point is, so long as a model builder at least uses the same colors the real ones did, it's hard to go wrong with your camo pattern.

[tankme]

What ever happened to this tank? viewtopic.php?p=363933#p363933

[Shameless86]

I received mine yesterday!! Its was about what I expected from hooben.

I hit her with a scheme inhad saved which whas labeled as s.pz.abt 507 in tarnopol early 44 idk I just liked its look this will like go thru several schemes

Not bad at all for 68 bucks!!









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[HERMAN BIX]

Damn I wish I could get one, that’s great

[MrChef]

I received mine yesterday!!

Well that is a nice quick improvement!!! I mean the basecoat is almost identical to Tamiya Dark Yellow 2...

Received mine today.



This tank has Soo many details that are just Right! and the rest is just Wrong.

NOW I can totally see why everyone who has experience with these says unless you have experience don't waste your money and be frustrated because there are better options out there.

The wrong?

Well literally this stuff either fell of out of the box and or wasn't affixed properly from the factory. It amazes me the stuff stayed on the tank till I took it out of the box then it just fell off without me touching it.








Then there's alot of good details for a late Tiger I and of course there's some details.



That MG ball mount is just



Yea those pegs and holes ain't lining up too well....



H'mmm that'll sand off though.



Not the worst paint job by far but some very glaring misses.

On to the fun part the good of the electonics. Just about non-existent explanations in the manual. I never felt so disappointed that I can't read Chinese.

Sorry but am using Imgur for video.

The controls are twitchy, not even as smooth as Taigen V3. The sound quality is abysmal but interesting after knowing HL and Taigen V2 and V3 Tiger sounds for so long.

Cool light feature is the lighted convoy lights.


BUT the Biggest Good thing is this tank has the best barrel recoil out of the box

phpBB [video]

The track recoil I can do without

phpBB [video]

Yes that's a particularly bad sound loop when it's idling. Not your connection or the video quality.

Overall Not horrible for the $68. But I would shudder at the thought of paying what they regularly list them for. If I spent between $300-$500 for this and it still had these issues I'd spread Hooben hate too.

But definitely a jumping off point for a project that will definitely include cutting, sawing and damage.

Ohh almost forgot to mention. I noticed a funny detail. The first 2 side skirts are shorter than the 2 rear ones. This is supposed to be a late Tiger I. Only the early Tiger I's and specifically can be noticed on Afrika Tigers had 2 shorter front side fenders. Tigers soon after went to 4 equally length fenders.


And it comes with waterslide decals. Not sure how good they are but likely better than the 3818 crap that HL includes.

[MrChef]

Damn I wish I could get one, that’s great

If it comes up again I'll buy it and ship it to you. Keep your eyes peeled for the sale. $68 is a steal for a decent base for a project and I have no issue fronting it for you and shipping it to you.

[Shameless86]

I received mine yesterday!!

Well that is a nice quick improvement!!! I mean the basecoat is almost identical to Tamiya Dark Yellow 2...

Received mine today.



This tank has Soo many details that are just Right! and the rest is just Wrong.

NOW I can totally see why everyone who has experience with these says unless you have experience don't waste your money and be frustrated because there are better options out there.

The wrong?

Well literally this stuff either fell of out of the box and or wasn't affixed properly from the factory. It amazes me the stuff stayed on the tank till I took it out of the box then it just fell off without me touching it.








Then there's alot of good details for a late Tiger I and of course there's some details.



That MG ball mount is just



Yea those pegs and holes ain't lining up too well....



H'mmm that'll sand off though.



Not the worst paint job by far but some very glaring misses.

On to the fun part the good of the electonics. Just about non-existent explanations in the manual. I never felt so disappointed that I can't read Chinese.

Sorry but am using Imgur for video.

The controls are twitchy, not even as smooth as Taigen V3. The sound quality is abysmal but interesting after knowing HL and Taigen V2 and V3 Tiger sounds for so long.

Cool light feature is the lighted convoy lights.


BUT the Biggest Good thing is this tank has the best barrel recoil out of the box

phpBB [video]

The track recoil I can do without

phpBB [video]

Yes that's a particularly bad sound loop when it's idling. Not your connection or the video quality.

Overall Not horrible for the $68. But I would shudder at the thought of paying what they regularly list them for. If I spent between $300-$500 for this and it still had these issues I'd spread Hooben hate too.

But definitely a jumping off point for a project that will definitely include cutting, sawing and damage.

Ohh almost forgot to mention. I noticed a funny detail. The first 2 side skirts are shorter than the 2 rear ones. This is supposed to be a late Tiger I. Only the early Tiger I's and specifically can be noticed on Afrika Tigers had 2 shorter front side fenders. Tigers soon after went to 4 equally length fenders.


And it comes with waterslide decals. Not sure how good they are but likely better than the 3818 crap that HL includes.

Thanks!!

I GUESS THE ELEFANT I GOT WAS 90% ALSO HA HA HA. Hoobens lend themselves to a quick scheme like that I think. The elefant is the same way, hooben basecoat.

The main things I like are the tools, cables, and clamps. The main things I don't like. The rear engine deck , the gun mantlet, I just dont like that mantlet idk, and the horrid electronics. The inside is packaged 100 times neater than the elefant.

I didn't notice the other details you pointed out but now I can't unsee them hahahaha

Hopefully I can hold off from swapping in the beloved HL MFU but even the 2 year old seemed un satisfied with the controls hahahaha. He can run um and I aint kiddin ya!!!

Like you said, for 68 I like it. Kinda





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[Stormbringer]

wish it was available this side of pond cos at $68 cant go wrong

[MrChef]

Thanks!!

I GUESS THE ELEFANT I GOT WAS 90% ALSO HA HA HA. Hoobens lend themselves to a quick scheme like that I think. The elefant is the same way, hooben basecoat.

The main things I like are the tools, cables, and clamps. The main things I don't like. The rear engine deck , the gun mantlet, I just dont like that mantlet idk, and the horrid electronics. The inside is packaged 100 times neater than the elefant.

I didn't notice the other details you pointed out but now I can't unsee them hahahaha

Hopefully I can hold off from swapping in the beloved HL MFU but even the 2 year old seemed un satisfied with the controls hahahaha. He can run um and I aint kiddin ya!!!

Like you said, for 68 I like it. Kinda

Yess the details for the tools and mounts are cool. Even the Cables and clamps are cool. The engine deck can be remedied easily enough and covered with PE screens.
This triangle plate on the engine deck near the snorkel cover is nowhere to be found on HL or Taigen and is a necessary and appreciated detail-



The handle for the crank start is another cool often overlooked detail. Heck I even made one and just didn't mount it yet.


The cable clamps are another appreciated detail-




This one picture is an example of multiple cool details-
1. Tools and clamps
2. The vent cover that NO ONE besides Tamiya includes
3.The detail of the wing nuts on the clamps
4. The properly repositioned tools for a Late Tiger
5. The joining line that runs the middle of the top of the upper hull. You can see the line in the deck going from under the vent cover and back towards the turret. The top of the Tigers upper hull roof was 2 plates welded in the middle from the front plate to the engine compartment. This is a detail that is often missed and needs to be added. I forgot about it and decided not to do it when I had moved on with my 133 project.

Now to address your comment about the mantlet. Yes it isn't the reinforced one. But there were several different mantlets that were used on the Tiger I, the style of the one on this tank included. This was actually a thing. As well they were finished differently. The question about this one as it's supposed to be the infamous 007 the unconfirmed answer is did it have 1 or 2 optical sight holes? This is still unknown.

That's why I say there's SO Much good going on here but yet SO much stupid