1/35 Meng Sd. Kfz. 182 King Tiger (Henschel) - My First Tank

[Floki]

Don't know how far ahead your thinking on this build right now, but what are your plans on showing the interior? Have the top lift off or cutaway? For tracks check out R model metal tracks I think ebay is the only way to get them in the US right now but they are a lot nicer looking, cheaper and less clean up than friuls.

[speedgraflex]

Yes! I was gonna ask that question as well. I saw a beautiful tank model on a judging table with its turret off. It was so amazing to lean over to look within... a sense of being in a protected private space. It was incredible.

[Stikpusher]

I know I might regret this but I'm going to complicate my life and order the interior set AND the workable track set. Or maybe the interior set and a metal track set since the interior set includes the torsion assembly (I think). Not the most prudent choice being my first tank model but who knows... it might be my last one too. Might as well make it count and leave no stone unturned.

John, there is not that much difference between doing an AFV interior and an aircraft interior. And having seen your previous projects aircraft interior work, you’ll be fine. Now tracks, that is just tedium, metal or plastic...

[jkim]

Thanks for the support guys! I know you'd all support me going for the interior build... a train wreck always attracts a crowd!

I have not plans on showing the interior other than an initial thought of having the turret removable. I'm assuming that is possible but even that is an unknown to me at this point. I'm not going to do any cutaways and there is a possibility that lots of the interior gets covered up permanently, which is not unlike many of my aircraft builds. But right now I am going with the removable turret and maybe I can have the engine cover removable too using magnets.

RE: metal tracks. I checked availability of the R Model metal tracks and they seem to be about the same price as the Friulmodel tracks. What makes R Model better than Friul? I can't seem to find much user information on the R Model stuff. If I go with Friul, which seems to be available for less than $40, does anyone know which set would be appropriate for a late model Tiger II?

ATL-16 Tiger II/Hunting Tiger
ATL-21 Tiger II/Hunting Tiger/Panther II
ATL-22 Tiger II/Hunting Tiger
ATL-37 Tiger II late/E-50/E-75/E-50 Flakpanzer
ATL-41 Tiger II Hunting Tiger
ATL-42 Tiger II Hunting Tiger

Friul website lists ATL-21,16, 41 and 37 as appropriate for a late Tiger II but what are the differences between these four?

[speedgraflex]

Haha! This is no train wreck, bud. It is the opposite—more a group of engineers watching the design of the latest car-truck-plane-or in this case a tank—roll off the John T. Kim assembly line. Think bottles of champagne and no bandages!

[Floki]

R model tracks from my experience have sharper detail and way less clean up. Friuls have a lot of clean up to do mostly opening up all the track pin holes. R models run for around $32 for a set then for around $40 you can get them with metal track pin and bolt heads to hold them together instead of the standard wire like friuls come with.

[Stikpusher]

I just saw your answer... leave the hull top deck and turret top deck unglued. You can remove each to display the interior.

[speedgraflex]

What about Masterclub? Check the comparisons out!

https://www.track-link.com/forums/modelling_kits/17971

[mostrich]

Yup, Master Club tracks are by far the best out there. The casting is flawless. But you have to pay for it, like you always have to for high quality.

[jkim]

Friul? R Model? Now Masterclub??? I have no clue but based on the link that Bruce provided and Torben's thumbs up, I've pulled the trigger on a set of metal tracks from Masterclub. They are actually a little cheaper than either R Model or Friul and the timing couldn't be better since there is a 15% EBay (App only) discount available for today only. So it came out to less than $40 shipped. Thanks for the recommendations gents!

I'm now looking at burnishing fluids to age/darken/rust the tracks using a chemical process. Who knew? I still haven't bought an interior set... I'm trying to find the best retail deal.