What's the best Tiger Kit?

Good question, but are you looking for a early, mid or late production kit. The newer Tamiya are great, if a bit on the pricy side. Iteleri makes a decent kit, There was an artical in the last couple of issues on how to improve it. Acedemy makes some real fine tiger kits with and without full interiors. Also what scale do you want it in. Example if your aircraft collection is 1/72, then you would want to look to Revel of germany for the absolutly best tiger I kits on the market in that scale. There are some 1/48 scale kits out there but they are more toylike than detail orientied. 1/35 will offer you a vast range of models to chose from. If money is object look hard at the acedemy kits. Good luck Bill

Your best kit will be the real expensive ones, new Tamiya and Academy Tigers with interior, etc. These run well up over the $30 mark. Avoid the old Tamiya Tiger, you will be able to spot it since it will be the only Tiger under $20.

A very good Tiger at a reasonable price is the Italeri Tiger I. They sell two different ones. One is the Tiger I Ausf. E/H1. I think this one is your best bet. It runs around the $20 range and give markings for a DAK Tiger in Tunisia. It does not have the dreaded zimmerit coating so kit decals can be used. Their other Tiger I Ausf. E (Late) has zimmerit coating that is molded on the kit surfaces.

Paul,

mirroring Crossracer message, you could try smaller scales and get the Revell 1/72 offerings... Those are very recent kits, extremely well made and detailled, and will be a good introduction to more complicated models in larger scales... They come with plastic tracks in sections and individual links allowing you to get a very realistic look. You won't have to spend lots of dollars for it either!

My daughter (12 years old) built Revell's StuG IV last year and after having built Hasegawa and Matchbox AFVs, she found it really easy to assemble, and managed to build a prize winning model in no time! You can see it on my website, on the AFVs page See my profile for the link).

i like the academy kits with full interior and as a tip go to ebay and bid on some kits as you can get kits for a fraction of the price.i have bought about 100 kits on ebay and not once have i been disappointed.ok bye Tom

Thanks to everyone. The time frame is not an issue, I'll be happy with early or late models of the Tiger. I just don't see how a tank exhibit would be complete without one. I'm looking at 1/35 scale to match what I have and just want a good quality kit that's accurate. Interior not required. You have all given me some great suggestions! Thanks again ... now time to go Tiger hunting.
Paul

Hi!!! guys,i just thought i would put in my 2cents.I recently ordered a tamiya 1/35 scale king tiger,the kit on the tamiya's website looks really good,i'm not sure of the price,my friend ordered it for me, he owns a hobby store ,i think full retail might be around 40.00. It will be at my house thursday(can't wait) i will keep you posted.I am getting back into military models,modeling in general after being out of it for about 15 years,glad to be back, just finishing up a1/35 sherman from dragon.Thought that kit was good quality,tracks were a little tricky.

I cannot speak for any other models, but I just received the tiger I early production by Tamiya in the mail. I have not had time to start it yet, but I must say that I can’t wait!! When I opened the box, I could not contain my excitement. Inside I found parts for both types of air filters, two different gun mantles, two different types of exhausts, an optional loaders periscope, and parts to have the option of an installed water proof cover over the turret ventilator. I also noticed that it comes with two turret pistol ports, but from what I can tell replacing the loaders hatch with the older pistol port may be a bit tricky. After a thorough inspection of the parts I don’t see any details that have been missed. I plan on replacing the fenders on mine, and drilling out the drivers apertures as for some reason they are not molded in. The tracks are the one piece, flexible kind, but are quite nicely detailed (but I will be replacing those as well). Like I said before, I cant speak for any other kits, but this one is well worth the price. I hope this helps

erick

the Tamiya Tiger you have is the Initial Production version (with two pistol ports rather than the large hatch on the right rear quarter). About 50 or so of the initial series had this feature. If you really want to depict a later one, email me. I have a spare Tamiya Turret with the hatch opening (however, I'm not sure if I have the hatch itself). Email me offsite:

roy_chow@icoc.org

I believe the Academy Full interior early ver. was voted the best Tiger model out in production today. I have one, just haven't started it yet.