Some Tiger Questions

The molds for the Tamiya 1/25 Tiger date back to 1969 and it really does show its age. If your plan is to simply build for nostalgia's sake, it's still a fun kit to build - but if you're looking for accuracy, be prepared for a ton of scratch building. 

Tiger fans are quick to note that the turret is not asymmetrical, the gun barrel is too long, the fenders and mudguards are all one piece affairs, and there is nothing under the engine grills but a cavernous void. If you get the version which included a partial interior, there are even more challenges in store to make things more accurate.

There were aftermarket parts available from Aber and On the Mark several years ago, but they might be hard to find now. The scale just never really caught on. In any event, you're looking at turning a sow's ear into a silk purse with this kit. Because of its size, you'll have a very impressive display, but unless you're willing to put in the work, it won't be as historically accurate as the DML offerings in 1/35.

David Bryden posts here from time to time and his website has some reviews on both Tamiya and DML kits, as well as a ton of info on the Tiger. Well worth your time to search it out!

6820 is a nice kit,has some basic PE,but it has one piece DS Tracks,it also depicts the Bovington Tiger 131 besides the whitewashed Russian Front version.

For a Tunisian check out 6608

Another early is 6600

Dragon does make excellent Tigers,except that they have the DS tracks now,which you may prefer or replace with some kind of indies

Here's David's site for kits,its a great resource

http://tiger1.info/kits.html 

Look at the new Rye Field Tiger 1 which was recently reviewed in FSM. I just started mine and so far am very impressed. The fit of the parts is superb and the detail matches the fit. Best yet it has a full interior.  

If you want a larger scale, Hobby Boss does a 1/16th scale Tiger I kit, although it does have some errors. http://tiger1.info/EN/HB82601-errors.html

Here is a fairly large list of Tiger kits available: http://tiger1.info/kits.html

I bought the old 1/25 Tamiya Tiger when I returned from overseas in 1991. I never finished it and thought it was not a very good model. It was around $50 back then, but I had months and months of pay that I was not able to use for such a long time that it was nice to be able to splurge.

Right now there are so many high quality Tiger kits that it seems a shame to spend a lot on an older poor kit. As far as upgrading with aftermarket, I'd just get one of the better kits and build it out of box.

No love for the 1/35 Tamiya kit? I saw a video review by Becker Modelling and his bottom line on the kit is that with just a few minor improvements you can get a decent Tiger and a generally pleasant build. Cost for the kit itself is much less than what you can find a Dragon for and the basic upgrades don't add too much more.

Or am I kidding myself?

BTW - found this version which is a pretty good bang for your buck:

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10163689

Tamiya kit with plenty of metal bits (though no upgrade to the tracks). Sadly out of production :(

Tamiya's 1/25 kit can't be fixed with a few additional bits. It has many shape problems that are practically unfixable, e.g. the track pitch is way off and the mantlet has the wrong dimensions.

Tamiya and Rye Field 1/35 kits are good choices if you aren't diving deep into the Tiger world. But if you want the best accuracy and can handle complex kits, then you might prefer certain of the Dragon kits. The main problem with them is that most people don't seem to like the DS tracks.

e.g. Tamiya's "early" doesn't provide the small S-mine launchers at the hull rear. Rye Field have them but they are crude and can be built only one way. Dragon's "early" kits provide the launcher and the support arms as separate parts, allowing you to assemble the device in several different ways.

The category called "Early Tiger" has by no means been fully covered yet. Three or four more kits are needed and will surely arrive. The makers have been focussing on specific rare types in order to get more use from their tooling; e.g. Rye Field's "Eastern front" kit addresses a batch of 9 Tigers, and Dragon's 6820 has just 3 decal schemes for Tigers of a specific month.

David

Speaking of bad interiors, Bandai also made a Tiger II and a Jagdpanther in 1/24 scale back in the 1970s. They have full interiors including the engine. I built both but sold the Tiger back in the late 90s so I can't remember if the interior is correct.

I still have the Jagdpanther and actually has what looks to be a partial Tiger I interior . I started about 5 years ago to carefully scratch build and change the interior to make it more presentable using the Tankograd in detail book as a reference. For one thing, the main gun details and mounting frame are completely wrong. I have slowly been fabricating parts out of sheet stock to correct the mistakes. It does have a very nice engine that need to be wired and plumbed up and very good workable tracks.

As mentioned by other members, Dragon makes some very good Tiger I kits. I have # 6730 Early Tiger I with the Wittmann figure and crew and looks very impressive.

Byrden

Tamiya and Rye Field 1/35 kits are good choices if you aren't diving deep into the Tiger world. But if you want the best accuracy and can handle complex kits, then you might prefer certain of the Dragon kits. The main problem with them is that most people don't seem to like the DS tracks.

e.g. Tamiya's "early" doesn't provide the small S-mine launchers at the hull rear. Rye Field have them but they are crude and can be built only one way. Dragon's "early" kits provide the launcher and the support arms as separate parts, allowing you to assemble the device in several different ways.

David

Thanks David. I think I may as well just get the most accurate one available now; I just know I'd regret buying a lesser kit. By the way, I was married in Vienna in the chapel in Schonbrunn Palace and love Austria and its inhabitants.

Thank you everyone for your input. I've gotten a pretty balanced look at my options with your help - and have decided on the Dragon 6820.

Thanks again!

Stephen

iSteve

 

Byrden

Tamiya and Rye Field 1/35 kits are good choices if you aren't diving deep into the Tiger world. But if you want the best accuracy and can handle complex kits, then you might prefer certain of the Dragon kits. The main problem with them is that most people don't seem to like the DS tracks.

e.g. Tamiya's "early" doesn't provide the small S-mine launchers at the hull rear. Rye Field have them but they are crude and can be built only one way. Dragon's "early" kits provide the launcher and the support arms as separate parts, allowing you to assemble the device in several different ways.

David

 

 

 

Thanks David. I think I may as well just get the most accurate one available now; I just know I'd regret buying a lesser kit. By the way, I was married in Vienna in the chapel in Schonbrunn Palace and love Austria and its inhabitants.

Thank you everyone for your input. I've gotten a pretty balanced look at my options with your help - and have decided on the Dragon 6820.

 

Thanks again!

Stephen

 

i have that kit in the stash,you will enjoy it as it is a nicely done kit,builds up very nicely with no problems.

iSteve

 

By the way, I was married in Vienna in the chapel in Schonbrunn Palace and love Austria and its inhabitants.

 

I visited Schonbrunn back in 1977 and just recently went back about 6 months ago. That is one beautiful place. You just can't get away from hearing Sissi stories while there. She was one beautiful lady. 

Tojo72

i have that kit in the stash,you will enjoy it as it is a nicely done kit,builds up very nicely with no problems.

Good to know! I just bought it for $100 CDN shipped.

Plasticjunkie:

Schonbrunn Palace is where Khruschev and Kennedy met during the Vienna Summit (we didn't know this when we planned our wedding). My wife was born and raised in the Soviet Union; my last name is Kennedy. To continue the negotiating theme, my son is named Mikhail Kennedy after Gorbachev.

That is a very neat story Steve.    That must have been a glorious wedding. As I understand it, there are apartments in the palace that are rented to the public. 

One thing I forgot to mention are the large swan that hang out by the front of the palace by the water features. Unfortunately they were not around when we went the second time.

By the way David, as you were a consultant/supervisor on kit 6820, did the product live up to your standards and expectations? Were you pleased with the results?

Byrden

I'm VERY happy with 6820. Dragon implemented everything that I asked for. It builds a really accurate model. I was disappointed only that they wouldn't include more decal options. David

Very glad to hear :)

Now I'm really stoked to do this kit!

iSteve

 

Byrden

I'm VERY happy with 6820. Dragon implemented everything that I asked for. It builds a really accurate model. I was disappointed only that they wouldn't include more decal options. David

 

 

 

Very glad to hear :)

Now I'm really stoked to do this kit!

 

So Steve,what option are you doing ? Don't forget to post some build pics for us.

Tojo72

iSteve

Byrden

I'm VERY happy with 6820. Dragon implemented everything that I asked for. It builds a really accurate model. I was disappointed only that they wouldn't include more decal options. David

Very glad to hear :)

Now I'm really stoked to do this kit!

 

So Steve,what option are you doing ? Don't forget to post some build pics for us.

Well sir, either the 131 or the Ukraine version for the camo, probably the latter. And I will promise to post pics, as bad as it may be. I'm not an armor guy, but I'm also thinking of trying the new Tamiya Sherman kit afterwards.

I'm going to post my Hurricane build soon as a lesson in what works and what doesn't - makes for more useful information, I think. Not happy with the end result, but then it happens to us all. Had a great build right up to the final paint job then it all went pear-shaped.

How about painting a variety of waste objects and practising your scheme before you turn your attention to the model?

David

Byrden

How about painting a variety of waste objects and practising your scheme before you turn your attention to the model?

David

Absolutely David.

I'm just finding my groove again for building "real" subjects. I primarily used to build science fiction subjects with a few real ones here and there. Now the reverse is true and I'm focusing my attention on aircraft for now. As excited as I am about getting this kit, the amount of detail that went into this kit and the quality of it dictates that I hone my skills significantly before I tackle it.

This whole hobby is about patience, yes?