phlarris Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 (edited) So, a King Tiger appeared down the chimney for Christmas 🙂 It has been suggested that I should keep it for the Tiger Tank STGB in May. However, as this is currently my only kit, I couldn't wait that long, so here it comes (maybe I'll just get another Tiger for May 😉) I've read and watched loads about potential suspension problems, so it was with some trepidation that I cracked open the box yesterday. First impressions: the dark red plastic is slightly strange to start with. However, detail is very good. There's a nice little bit of PE for engine grills, and they've helped out with the tracks by including some 'ready-build' straight sections. No metal barrel for me 😞 However, really looking forward to it. Also, coming straight from a Panzer IV build, this feels huge 🙂 Here goes... Straight into the chassis and wheels. The wheels come with poly-bushes which enable them to be taken on and off the chassis, which is really useful. Just sprue-attachment cleanup really. Despite the horror stories, the suspension sat really well, and the wheels are nice and flat on the surface. Maybe I just got a 'good kit'??? So I'm always learning. If you want to learn about the different Tiger II variants, then I can recommend this excellent video from the Tanks Museum: That's all for now... I'm not a quick worker, but will keep you all posted 🙂 Edited January 6, 2019 by phlarris 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackMax12 Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 Looking good so far. I built one of these a while back and had some problems with the upper hull fitting the rear plate at the top. Took some fiddling and some Tamiya putty but turned out ok. Otherwise a decent kit and I liked the link and length tracks vs individual links. Mine didn't come with the metal barrel either but it looks fine. I think the red plastic is to represent red primer so you can scuff the top coat up and the red shows through. I didn't bother as it's easy to add some red wherever. I'd much rather work with normal gray or tan colored plastic, seems easier to see and easier on the eyes, but that's just me. King Tigers are my fav so keep it coming. Lloyd 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KonigsStreegan Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 I have this kit sitting in my closet while I build an E75.. But this is awesome! Gives me some hope for the kit since I, too, saw all those people with the horrid suspension/road wheel skew. I hope to see more from you on this kit! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfoot Posted January 7, 2019 Share Posted January 7, 2019 Good start. I too have one of these staring at me from the shelves. I’d only read good things about this kit, hadn’t heard about any issues with the suspension. Will follow this build with interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KonigsStreegan Posted January 7, 2019 Share Posted January 7, 2019 5 hours ago, bigfoot said: Good start. I too have one of these staring at me from the shelves. I’d only read good things about this kit, hadn’t heard about any issues with the suspension. Will follow this build with interest. There is a build video on Youtube that shows him running into the suspension issue. When looking at the tank head on, the right side road wheels were all angled slightly downward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phlarris Posted January 7, 2019 Author Share Posted January 7, 2019 4 hours ago, KonigsStreegan said: There is a build video on Youtube that shows him running into the suspension issue. When looking at the tank head on, the right side road wheels were all angled slightly downward. King Tiger Build Part 1 - 25:00 on for the problem, 27:07 for the 'money shot'. King Tiger Build Part 2 - 13:50 for the 'fix'. Whist there is a very slight angle on the wheels of mine, it is nothing compared to what he is showing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nocoolname Posted January 7, 2019 Share Posted January 7, 2019 I snapped up the Porsche turret version at Telford for a ‘daft’ price followed by the interior kit so am keen to see how this goes. Strange why they included the metal barrel in some and not others. Mine also came with a replica map for Caen for some reason. Might be useful for when I invent time travel perhaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KonigsStreegan Posted January 7, 2019 Share Posted January 7, 2019 1 hour ago, phlarris said: King Tiger Build Part 1 - 25:00 on for the problem, 27:07 for the 'money shot'. King Tiger Build Part 2 - 13:50 for the 'fix'. Whist there is a very slight angle on the wheels of mine, it is nothing compared to what he is showing... Great to know. thanks! the angle on his road wheels is horrid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phlarris Posted January 9, 2019 Author Share Posted January 9, 2019 Small update. Not loads of progress, but the upper hull is coming together, and the engine grills are on. There are some really small hooks on the engine deck (just visible in the photo). The PE is lovely, but quite a bit thicker than I am used to, so took a bit of cutting. Coming along slowly, and I'm skipping a bunch of steps so that I can paint the tools etc. off-model. So far, really liking the kit. Good fit for everything so far, and the Carpet Monster hasn't bitten yet 🙂 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Moore Posted January 11, 2019 Share Posted January 11, 2019 Great start phlarris, The issue with the suspension was down to the two insert pieces, C3 and C4, sitting slightly too high when fitted in the hull. It resulted in the axle mounting pins on those parts being out of centre with the holes in the hull sides. That, in turn, made the swing arms sit at an angle when fitted. It's an easy problem to fix, by simply trimming about 1mm from the bottom edge of the insets. On my own build, I only realised what the issue was after I'd firmly glued the inserts in place, so the swing arms remained at an angle. To be honest though, once the tracks were fitted you couldn't really tell the wheels weren't straight. I believe Meng have made a running change to the parts now, so that's probably the reason you didn't encounter the issue. Andy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phlarris Posted January 13, 2019 Author Share Posted January 13, 2019 It's coming along. Upper hull now 'done'. Grab handles replaced and all PE in place. I've decided to paint the pioneer tools and cables 'off-tank', so they're not on there yet. Upper hull assemblies... If anyone from MENG is reading. Is there any chance you could make some of the parts just a little bit smaller? They're not a challenge at the moment 😉 The full engine deck, just missing the final grilles (next photo), which I'll attach after the base coat is on... Additional engine grilles. Nicely formed with the included tool. And the full upper hull. Enjoy 🙂 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KonigsStreegan Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Handles looks spot on! nice. Any recommendations on the thickness of the rod used for those? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phlarris Posted January 13, 2019 Author Share Posted January 13, 2019 (edited) 3 hours ago, KonigsStreegan said: Handles looks spot on! nice. Any recommendations on the thickness of the rod used for those? I use 'garden cable' that I burn the green outer off. Not high tech, but it seems to work. I'm not 100% sure of the thickness, but I drill the holes out to 0.85mm and they fit nicely. It's not pretty on the underside, but does the job. And, yes, for the Rivet Counters amongst you 😉 0.85mm equates to just under 30mm diameter 'in real life', so it may be too big. However, when on the model it looks right (to me at least 🙂), and as I don't count rivets I don't care 😁 Edited January 13, 2019 by phlarris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SA80A2AR Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 LUVLY +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.P. Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 (edited) On 1/7/2019 at 2:39 AM, bigfoot said: Good start. I too have one of these staring at me from the shelves. I’d only read good things about this kit, hadn’t heard about any issues with the suspension. Will follow this build with interest. Oy! Is the suspension an issue on their Panther kit too? I have the lower hull complete on their Panther Late 'A'. I haven't heard of this issue....maybe because it's NOT an issue on the Panther. Edited January 15, 2019 by J.P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 On 1/13/2019 at 2:00 PM, phlarris said: If anyone from MENG is reading. Is there any chance you could make some of the parts just a little bit smaller? They're not a challenge at the moment 😉 Enjoy 🙂 Don't listen to the bad man, Meng. You keep those details coming. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phlarris Posted January 16, 2019 Author Share Posted January 16, 2019 On 1/15/2019 at 3:57 PM, J.P. said: Oy! Is the suspension an issue on their Panther kit too? I have the lower hull complete on their Panther Late 'A'. I haven't heard of this issue....maybe because it's NOT an issue on the Panther. I haven’t heard anything about any problems with their Panther kit. And to be honest, I haven’t had any with this one. The fit has been excellent. I’ve just fitted the upper hull, and it is very snug. Certainly no filler required with the front and back fit. It’s finally starting to look like a tank 😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phlarris Posted January 20, 2019 Author Share Posted January 20, 2019 (edited) Some days you have sessions where you get to the end, and can't really see where all the time and effort went. Today was not one of those days 🙂 I've done all I want to on the hull for the time being, so time to move on to the turret... Still some work to finish it off, but it's coming along... and it's finally starting to look like a tank!!! The turret has gone together really well. There's a very small amount of filling to do around the side at the back (probably down to me rather than the kit), but other than that, the fit is excellent. Still amazed by the size difference between the Panzer IV and the Tiger II. It'll be nice to photograph them together when the Tiger is done. And a question to finish is all off. Why the hell do we still prep and sand parts that no-one is ever going to see???!!! Edited January 20, 2019 by phlarris 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KonigsStreegan Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 Looking good! Makes me anxious to start this kit. haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phlarris Posted January 23, 2019 Author Share Posted January 23, 2019 Decision made. I've had a go at the plastic barrel supplied with the kit. I've filed it and sanded it, but am still not happy. Metal barrel on its way 🙂 I'm sure I could have got it looking good. However, the muzzle brake on the metal barrel is sooo much nicer. Who doesn't like a metal barrel 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phlarris Posted January 27, 2019 Author Share Posted January 27, 2019 Barrel here, built and ready to go. I needed to drill out the gun mount, but it fits well, and looks great. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KonigsStreegan Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 Wow that metal barrel looks 10x better. Nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phlarris Posted February 2, 2019 Author Share Posted February 2, 2019 (edited) Barrel fitted... and tracks on their way.... Meng helpfully provide a jig to aid you with getting the top sag, and some 'ready-built' track sections (top and bottom) where the runs are straight. All in all pretty good. Getting there... Edited February 2, 2019 by phlarris 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phlarris Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share Posted February 10, 2019 (edited) First coat... Suddenly a 'model' starts to become a 'tank'. Edited February 11, 2019 by phlarris 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phlarris Posted February 16, 2019 Author Share Posted February 16, 2019 Tracks... Love them, and hate them 🙂 Now 'primed' with a track mix loosely based on the 'Andy's Hobby Headquarters' track mix. Ready for a bit of gentle dusty weathering. Now on to the road wheels... and everything else 🙂 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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