Model Forum / General / Models / May 2008

Latest Dragon.  If we wait, maybe they'll have zimmerit to match the King
Tiger.  AFV Club is also nice.

Claude Allen

    prototype, very early, early, mid, late or frankentank
   version? Specific version, perhaps? Maybe something in the
   exhaulted Michael Wittman, perhaps?

                            Bruce

On May 1, 6:57 pm, "JLEJO...@COSLINK.NET" <JLEJO...@coslink.net>
wrote:

If you want an easy build, the Tamiya Early or Initial Production kits
are accurate, well-engineered and have soft plastic band type tracks
(though the center guide teeth on the tracks are molded solid when
they ought to be hollow). You'll need to add the engine deck screens
using an aftermarket set (either Tamiya's own set or any major brass
photoetch supplier--Aber, Eduard, Lion Roar, etc.).
Dragon's kits have more detail, including parts for underneath the
engine gratings and a basic turret interior, and include photoetch and
turned metal parts in the kit. Their upcoming Tiger I late model with
the molded on Zimmerit should be outstanding. The original Dragon
releases had individual link tracks, but they again had solid guide
teeth. The most recent Tiger I re-release (the late model without
Zimmerit) has soft plastic tracks with hollow guide teeth and
excellent edge detail.
AFV Club's Tiger I isn't bad, and it has soft plastic track with solid
guide teeth. No Zimmerit is provided. AFV Club also has outstanding
individual link workable styrene track sets for early and late Tigers,
as well as transportation tracks. These have hollow guide teeth, and
involve just two large parts per link, rather than the five used on
Model Kasten's. They fit all current Tiger kits, and cost under twenty
Us dollars from most retailers.
The older Tiger kits from Academy need more work (though some boxings
offer a complete interior). Italeri's Tigers are best avoided.
Gerald Owens