ARMOR - Tamiya 1/16 Tiger 1 Group Build

the Tamiya tank on that German Page are assambled, airbrush colored ,ready to use models. They will be delivered in an wooden box with RC-control and charger. All models of this series are full option models. The text below each model is the same so somethings are wrong (lights on Tiger I and II). So, no specials on this ones :(

Just finished building the tiger full function kit!!!! I love it…My question is Will installing metal tracks and no gearbox modifications damage the gearbox? Honestly I want to upgrade the gearbox also….

Nick:

Odds are yes, but it depends on how you drive. Tamiya did not design the chassis, drivetrain and suspension to take metal tracks. There are a variety of problems found, from chassis torque/flex, to shredded gearboxes, to cracked idlers, and sometimes even suspension arm failure.

First, make sure you are buying Kenny Kong's metal tracks. Only ~one~ eBay seller carries KK's, and they aren't list for auction, though they are on his webside. When in doubt, ASK - 99% of the eBay ones AINT Kennys.

Seriously consider an idler upgrade and then maybe gearbox brace of various makes, and perhaps one of my belly plates. BYA and ETO carry the idlers (from Axel & SchumoKits) Daryl from the ArmorHut (Yahoo) has some new designs, and Willy still has some of the older ones, and I'm ordering more plates tomorrow.

And if you're battling... gear reductions... but check the RCACN regs first.

I miss anything guys?

Thank you for the information!!!!!


Regardless the tank is incredible, the gear reduction is probable the only thing I may think about...

THANKS!!!

White Wolf.
Thanks for your info. I, too, have metal tracks for my tank. I already bought the BYA idler upgrade. I haven't been able to find where to get gearbox braces ( I have type 4 gearboxes) or belly plates. Could you point me in the right direction?
I might just end up using the 'stock' tracks for running it and the metal ones when on display.
Thanks!

Ok... Daryl makes the new gearbox braces, and Willy says he has some of the older style ones. Belly plates is my realm, & I was just getting ready to place an order (Canada Post lost Wlad's order ~again~)

You want a faster reply from Willy, flag it urgent... about the only way to get his attention.

WhiteWolf

PS: Last Call for Plates on this new Plate Order!!

Sorry White Wolf don’t mean to sound ignorant!!! Still learning terminology, does this mean replacing the tamiya metal plate or just providing a secondary layer of metal support in the hull… Great if you have picture or direct me to a website.


And what is the coast U.S A.

Nick:

It is in addition to the stock Tiger (and in the other kits, KT & Sherman) hull. It bolts to the belly, and provides 2.3mm of tempered 6061-T6 aluminum to the belly. I have a few pics, and a few here have bought mine and been happy enough to place repeat orders. Cost is $40 which includes replacement low-profile allen-head hardware for the belly.

I don't have a web site yet, but do have a few pics, and may be able to get 'installed' pics from a few of the customers.

I'm on the north coast... Canada. Not many of us Canuck tankers.

PS: the only 'replacement hull' thats made is more a conversion hull, made by BYA for the Jadgtiger conversion, which needs a longer hull. Wonder if anyone will make a stretched Sherman hull for the M4A4 w/ Chrysler Multibank engine.

PS: Last Call for current Belly Plates order.

PPS: Anyone else notice the Forum is clipping SIG-files now?

Hi All,

Has anyone been able to order anything from Willy and get it lately? I ordered stuff over 18 months ago and continue to ask every so often. I know he is busy and it's only a side line for him but I just dont know if I should give up or not. I know he's not mad at me (unless he got me mixed up with someone else).

Oh well, the tank sits at step #6 for another few monthes I guess.....;(

FYI...Some neat new stuff like tow cables with multi-piece ends,
nice brackets for smoke launchers,etc.A good outfit to deal with
if your'e not familiar with them
www.axels-modellbau-shop.de

QUOTE: Originally posted by Rocad Hi All, Has anyone been able to order anything from Willy and get it lately?

I tried to order gear reduction kit from him without success. I ended up making my own, which was not so bad.

How did you make your own gear reduction kit?????????

For the gear reduction info, go to page 75, there is a post under my name on 1/17/05

This Looks Great

21ST CENTURY INTRODUCING 1/9TH R/C ABRAMS

Apparently it is not yet released. You can go to this url and see an illustration, but not a photo of the actual model:


http://community.webshots.com/photo/125088680/275035643dUAzhF

I always thought this is a great gear reduction alternative but I can find the source to purchase… great price.



http://www.homepurchaseprogram.com/transmod.html

I always thought this is a great gear reduction alternative but I can find the source to purchase… great price.

http://www.homepurchaseprogram.com/transmod.html

Hi Nick,

I just read thru the web link you supplied. Are these companies still active?

Armour Concepts & Applied Effects

Does anyone know where I can purchase bothe the "Trans Mod Kit" and the "Gear Reduction units" mentioned?

Thanks,
Mike

Rocad:

Applied Effects is no more, and Armor Concepts apparently is, though someone said they managed to get through. Willy has some of the TransMod kits left, and has his own reduction units.

Yes, he is sometimes hard to get hold of, but MSN Messenger is the best way, and make ~sure~ you've actually ordered equipment, not just asked him for it.

As for Plates, you know I'm still making them, and I'm not sure Willy is though (with all his other stuff on the go) I'm ordering Tuesday, and if it comes down to one-off orders, my prices may have to go up.

Hi Guys,

I'm afraid that neither the Armour Concepts "Trans Mod Kit" & the Applied Effects Gear Reduction is available anymore. The people who manufactured them did it soon after the kit was released and only in small batches. I guess that they found it non viable commercially and hence stopped producing them (it was only a sideline/interest for them). It is a shame.

The trans mod kit was simply a gearbox bracing kit that also strengthened the output shaft area. No-one makes a straightfoward copy/replacement of this but I believe that Daryl Turner on the armornuts website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/armornutsrcarmorhut/ makes a gearbox brace that sits under the boxes instead of the hex standoffs.

So as far as I know there are only a few options left for gear reductions and no real definitive and commercially available, affordable solution...

Willy's (good luck and don't hold your breath!) but supposedly exellent.

Also Wecohe in Germany do a complete gearbox rebuild that reduces the speed in half and massively increases the torque, also including a top brace. I can honestly say it's awesome but it is expensive! I think this is a case of "you get what you pay for." I paid for it and was emailed by Uli at wecohe who said that they normally do the rebuild as part of the deal – no extra – and run them in and adjust if needed. Just send us your gearboxes. Result: One fantastic set of gearbox es, nicely lubed and unbelievable torque. If you can afford it, go for it! https://www.wecohe.de/shop_eng/index.html Also available in Nth America via a couple of places but I dont think they will do the rebuild for you. PDFs of the rebuild available at the wecohe site.

Also from Germany is a company called Jamara that makes a gear reduction set. I don't know if it was designed for the Tiger kits and cannot comment on its effectiveness but I know that Panzerpabst has installed one. Have a look at his site for a pic. I did stumble across a german site that had details but didn't bookmark it (drunk again). I guess you can google for it. Perhaps Panzerpabst can supply some details?

Alternately you could try adapting some thing you find elsewhere like CT_Mazi but a word of warning... unless you really know what you are doing and all about gears/ratios/etc etc you could actually do your gearbox a lot of harm by stripping all the gears etc see... http://groups.yahoo.com/group/armornutsrcarmorhut/message/3698

Another option posted by WW is "use a diode jumper to solve the problem" (previous page). The guys at Danville came up with this as a quick solution I believe but for some reason don't recommend it long term. Because it reduces torque? I think its posted here http://www.sead.us/technology.html (at the bottom of the page)

Also WW mentions "A final option is finding someone that can get Kyosho parts. I've seen a reduction on eBay that loosa a LOT like willy's at about $13 each, no motor. Next time I see it, I'll log the part #." Worth investigating...

I also read somewhere that the Bandai motors run at about half the rpm that the stock Tamiyas do... thoughts anyone...? I'm just guessing but people may have gone down this route previously. Mmmm...

I guess that overall, there are very few realistic, proven, available and affordable solutions available at the moment. Anyone want to address this... are you listening aftermarket manufacturers?

Did I forget any WW?

Lesse...

Ya covered most, but an update on my 'Kyosho' thoughts: the units that CT_Mazi found are almost identical. I suspect that they are what Willy is starting with. The trick is mounting them to the gearboxes without having them interfere with each other.

I ~do~ have an original set of Bob Wroe's reduction parts, which were menat to be used in conjunction with the HPC gears (or spare 15t:43t's), but again, these were meant for the Type 1's.

If you don't need too much reduction, there are other motor options, but most of the motors again are supplied by Willy... I'll suggest that perhaps he should make a separate 'orders' address, mebbe that would help him deal with demand for his stuff. That or ask in ArmorHut, as some others have found other sources, but aren't that open about them...

Sometimes, just sometimes, you get what you ask for...

GEAR REDUCTIONS!!!

Bob at www.etoarmor.com has gear reductions identical to Willy's in stock and for sale! They are US$75 the set and makes the max scale speed 24mph on the Tiger 1, and 22mph on the King Tiger with options available for slightly different speeds.

And if that is not enough he also has the gearbox brace, HPC metal gears and soon will have the "long-can" motors also featured on Willy's site.

They are not currently listed on the eto website (where you can get schumo and wecohe stuff) so email him bob@etoarmor.com for details.

Christmas has come at Easter! Enjoy!

Wlad

And now... smoking Tigers!

There has been quite a lot of talk on one of the UK forums about trying to create a smoking exhaust system linked to the throttle so you can have a realistic exhaust effect. Well at least 2 guys have done it, to a Tiger 1, King Tiger, Sherman and even a Pershing. This isn't a ready made kit but a make it yourself from a few bits and pieces. Basically you need to purchase a Graupner smoke unit (for model trains) and the associated smoke fluid, get a small fan from an old PC or buy one new, build a little box to hold the fan, the smoke unit and the smoke, some tube to go from the smoke box to the exhausts and connect the fan to the motor leads and the smoke unit to your battery pack and thats it!

His first video of the smoking King Tiger http://freefilehosting.net/player.cfm?id=91F4DBD1-CF1F-D571-A85B5820DFDF5FCF

Details and more video are here... http://www.hammerhelm.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/1v.html
and also... http://www.hammerhelm.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/1w.html

And for video of the real thing (Bovington Tiger starting up) http://www.akula971.com/Tiger.htm and click first pic at top left (49MB!)

It could do with a little refinement but I think its great!

Wlad

Hi Tigers,

after a break doing something on my cat I continued working on it a few days ago. In the meanwhile I had to fix somethings in my live (moved to new app., bought a new car ...)
But now the fever is back, I cannot wait until I'll back at home and continue ...
I'm working on the cable at the left side : I 've the Aber set with the real cable and try to make the rings at the two ends (I dont know the word, but I'll take pics).

I don't have a gear reduction at the moment but I'll try to use a Jamara gear unit.
There are 4 different ratios 3:1 2,9:1 2,5:1 2:1.

http://shop.jamara-produkte.de/product_info.php?cPath=77_142_95&products_id=225

Hi Guys,

I was on the BYA site and saw some really cool conversion kits for the Tiger! Finally a complete "Late Production" conversion with a new turret roof is available and there is a lot of other stuff included in the two kits available. Also the decals included in the kits are beautiful with enough to do 8 Tiger versions in one kit or the 4 versions used by Wittmann in Normandy! Go to www.backyardarmor.com to see

QUOTE: Originally posted by 64condors Hi Guys, I was on the BYA site and saw some really cool conversion kits for the Tiger! Finally a complete "Late Production" conversion with a new turret roof is available and there is a lot of other stuff included in the two kits available. Also the decals included in the kits are beautiful with enough to do 8 Tiger versions in one kit or the 4 versions used by Wittmann in Normandy! Go to www.backyardarmor.com to see

Hi 64condors,

Since you know so much about www.backyardarmor.com and what they offer, have you heard when the Tiger I Metal S-Mine Assemblies For The Front & Rear Hull will be in?

I've been waiting forever since they were first announced on the site, can't wait....

Those new conversion kits (especially the Sturmtiger Conversion kit) are just wonderful, a bit over priced though, would be nice if they offered cheaper combined kit prices, i.e.If you buy all the conversion pieces in any kit then you get a 10% discount. That would be nice and probably generate a lot more business for them.


BUDA

QUOTE: Originally posted by panzerpabst I'm working on the cable at the left side : I 've the Aber set with the real cable and try to make the rings at the two ends (I dont know the word, but I'll take pics).

I had a very hard time using the cable that came with the aber set. I ended up using the stock cable part and removed the seams, the brackets, and simulated the missing cable strands with a model knife.

re: Cable assembly...

I examined it too, but that was about the same time i was sent some 'home-annealed' stuff by someone. BYA and ETO are due to carry easy-accemble cable sets that include annealed (softened) cable, the shaped loop-frames, and a pair of sleeves to quickly assemble the cable. No more sodering of 5mm tubing.needed.

I asked Bob at ETO about being able to get the sleeves solo, and he said he would try... and they do sell the softened cable alone as well.

Odd fact:

I also found out an odd fact... its why we've not had much luck softening the PE sheets. It seems that copper & brass anneal in the ~reverse~ manner to steel... if you ~quench~ it, it softens, but if you let it slowly cool, it gets hard again. Will try my exhaust guards sometime soon.

Anyone had any luck finding Carr's solder paste in North America? The Canadian hobby distributors says they can't ship it due to new mail regs.

QUOTE: Originally posted by BUDA Since you know so much about www.backyardarmor.com and what they offer, have you heard when the Tiger I Metal S-Mine Assemblies For The Front & Rear Hull will be in? I've been waiting forever since they were first announced on the site, can't wait.... BUDA

It's schumo who produces them, axelmodelshop in Germany. I emailed them regarding the s-mines and this is what they said.

first samples for the s-mine launchers are ready. We estimate to have the first production ready for a release until end of April !!

So hopefully we'll be getting these babies soon. Then i can finally finish my tiger

Good stuff !!! The tow cables will be especially welcome because
they are not only very "workable",but the CORRECT diameter,
[ 2MM ]Tamiya has them way too thick,& the set I got from Dirk
last year are great except that the cast ends leave a little bit
to be desired...BTW,wonder how long before Tamiya releases a
mid or late version of the big kitty???
Roowalker

probably never but then again, trouble with Tamiya is - you just never know and there seems to be massive gaps in between releases so it could be a while yet before we see another production.