Tamiya or Not Tamiya

[Gillaspy2005]

Hi all, I know that this question has probably been asked a hundred times but why not make it a hundred and one! So I am moving jobs and it looks like I might get some spare cash when I do, enough to maybe justify a Tamiya tiger II purchase (would love a JS2 but erm £900!). I have a tiger and panther (heng long) that I have slowly upgraded then painted and I really enjoyed doing this. I also enjoyed putting the metal upgrades and making the tanks a bit 'beefy'er'.

So my questions are, is it actually worth putting any upgrade bits on a Tamiya? From what I have read they don't really need it and actually operate a bit better without the metal? If it is worth it what would be the recommendations?
Secondly are they actually worth the large outlay overall?

Cheers Chaps

[tomhugill]

Hey, I see your in manchester, the MAD club have their meet in two weeks time where you could see all types in the flesh. I'm in Walkden and have quite a variety of tamiyas if you'd like to bob over to have a look

[Ad Lav]

They divide the hobby with the pricing but if you want to build a kit up from scratch they are
The best around.

Don't really require any upgrades although you can put them on. Some models need better idler systems.

Detail parts upgrades are personal and wallet dependant.

Worth the money, yes.

I have five tamiya and one heng long.

[Gillaspy2005]

I have been looking at the for the last couple of years but something always seems to get in the way, things like a buying a house, then a kitchen then the front room being redone, you know just small things!

Good to know that they don't really need upgrades, only if I want to.

Thanks for the heads up Tom, been over the MAD a couple of times when it was in Hyde, might try and get over to walkden and have a look, whats the date of the meet? That's quite a list you have there btw, seen some of your work on here and don't mind saying that they are very very impressive.

[43rdRecceReg]

This outlet has the Tamiya King Tiger for what seems a reasonable price. Amazon.co.uk have also begun peddling Tamiya 1/16 tanks, and so it's worth a peek there. You could also shop further afield for a 'bargain' ( a relative term when connected with Tamiya 1/16 models)..in Germany or Japan. (Outlets listed on Tamiya's main website)
I've not shopped with the Wonderland Models outfit, based in Edinburgh..yet..anyway.. but Shaun (Jarndice) has had a positive experience buying from them.
https://www.wonderlandmodels.com/produc ... 7QodMvIAeg

[Max-U52]

One great thing about the Tamiya kits are that most of them have been around long enough for guys to find any problems and come up with a fix. For example, I think some tanks are better if you use the gearbox brace, but all this stuff has already been figgered out by the guys that came before us.

[Gillaspy2005]

Thanks for the help everyone, looks like a good price on the wonderland models site. Will let you know if I get one, I really would like to get a precision kit. Thanks all

[43rdRecceReg]

Thanks for the help everyone, looks like a good price on the wonderland models site. Will let you know if I get one, I really would like to get a precision kit. Thanks all

Well, if Wonderland come up Trumps (cards..not Presidents ) I might well be using their service later in the year, when I.. like you.. scratch that 'precision model' itch Living in Scotland, as I do, might also reduce the postal charges Bon Chance!

[[ICE]monkey]

with what i ended up spending on my first hl tiger 1 i could of bought a tamiya one , as for running the tamiyas run fine out of the box , and plastic tracks turn better on grass

[tomhugill]

I've just picked up a tamiya king tiger (which is for sale ), you're more than welcome to have a good look/play with it to really see what you're getting with the kit!