1/30 Tiger I Comparison (1 Viewer)

[Mitch]

Katana..

I have this book but, here is a shot which shows the turret issue. Very close, to the hull hatches was always a Tiger 1 issue and something I read about drivers always complaining about in war accounts.
Mitch

 

[katana]

A way to evaluate these three models is to take from each its best features to construct the best Tiger I in Polystone. I would combine the proportions, tracks and opening/closing hatches of the CS model with the Sprockets and superb finish of the Honor Bound model and add the production capacity of K & C to reduce the price to levels everyone could easily afford. I wish I knew how Minichamps can produce the quality product with metal tracks and working suspension that they do at their price point.

 

[Mitch]

Katana...

Without getting into price etc as some of our members don't like this but, I would agree about detail but, I think to be fair CS at the price they sold their Tiger 1 would make it the leader in price point.

I like the detail of the K&C, CS and HB Tiger1's but, when talking about the price HB was a special edition not a general release though at that time HB AFV's were excellently priced and should the Tiger 1 had been a general release I could not have seen a sudden change in this pricing just because it was a Tiger 1
Mitch

 

[katana]

Mitch; correct me if I am wrong; but wasn't the K & C Tunisian Tiger I a limited special edition? Would that place it in the catagory of the Honor Bound Gold Tiger? The Tunisian Tiger was the first K & C Tiger I in 1/30 scale a large step forward in quality IMHO. Competition drives quality

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Mitch; correct me if I am wrong; but wasn't the K & C Tunisian Tiger I a limited special edition? Would that place it in the catagory of the Honor Bound Gold Tiger? The Tunisian Tiger was the first K & C Tiger I in 1/30 scale a large step forward in quality IMHO. Competition drives quality

The Tunisian Tiger was limited, but to a high number like 1250 and every model was identical. The HB Gold edition tiger was custom built (i.e., wheels, MG, crew, stowage, camo, hatches, etc. I doubt more than 100 were made.

Terry

 

[Mitch]

Thanks Terry

Thats why Its hard to place HB into the price debate as they were unique to the hobby IMO.
Mitch

 

[jazzeum]

Thought this post by Ana from some years back might be helpful

***

Guys,

Honour Bound Gold Edition will allow collectors customize tanks as their preferences. Our first tank is the Tiger I late version.

The first choice will be the colour. There will be 4 options: winter, double-colour, triple-colour and plain. Each colour option will have between 2 and 6 different pattern schemes, all viable. You'll be able to choose between the patterns that have a real photo or report source, or the 'might have been' ones.

After that, you'll have regiment choices. We have 5 different ones for now, but we will be getting all with time. After the regiment you'll decide the numbers you want on your tank, among several options. If you want any other special marking just let us know, and we'll make it for you.

Then, the skirts decision. From all eight to none. Which ones, which side. If bent or not. After those, the hatches, how many opened or close. And any other detail that you might specially want among those possibilities.

Up to here you've chosen the basics. This tank will cost $350 plus shipping. You'll get in in a new special box, detachable, on a wooden base, signed and marked exclusively with your name and date of manufacture. Each tank will be unique. The amount of possible combinations will make each tank different from the other.

After your basic choices you can go with the add-ons. Crew, how many, which ones among the options, whic uniforms. Battle damage: none, mild or severe. Mud, dust, rust. Weathered or straight from the factory. Accessories that you want attached to your tank. Scenery: if you want ruins, gates, walls, streets, trees, road and signs. You tell us what you have in mind and we will tell you what we can do. And if you can think of more options well, you are welcome.

I don't have the prices of the add-ons yet, but I'll have them soon. I'll let you know.

Thanks to all,

Ana

 

[katana]

Cost was not stipulated as a factor determining quality. Granted Honor Bound is the high end of the models under discussion. However the Honor Bound models have been found to have a serious accuracy defect; one not easily corrected! Thus cost does not necessarily determine quality or accuracy. Certainly the finish of the Honor Bound models set the standard for these models IMHO. A serious error in accuracy detracts equally; a zero sum outcome!

 

[Spitfrnd]

Cost was not stipulated as a factor determining quality. Granted Honor Bound is the high end of the models under discussion. However the Honor Bound models have been found to have a serious accuracy defect; one not easily corrected! Thus cost does not necessarily determine quality or accuracy. Certainly the finish of the Honor Bound models set the standard for these models IMHO. A serious error in accuracy detracts equally; a zero sum outcome!

I think whether the outcome is zero sum depends on the error; what was it in this case?

 

[katana]

The main accuracy error is the turret being set too far forward obstructing the hull hatches from opening as can be seen in the great photos posted by Brad of his Winter Tiger. The turret may be over size; but this seems unlikely as it looks proportionate? Most of the errors in the CS and K & C Tiger I's are not as obvious. regards

 

[Mitch]

Katana...

I have to say that this ''error'' you mention is something I have not seen in the ones I have and some friends have and, the only one I have seen with that is the one posted here on this thread. Mine have hatches open and have no obstruction from the turret and others I have seen all have hatches open and enough gap that would make it be appropriate to the real thing.
Mitch

 

[jazzeum]

I just took a look again at the HB Winter Tiger and the turret does seem to impinge on the forward hatches. I can't say if this is prevalent in all the Tigers made, just the one I have. It, however, doesn't detract from the magnificence of the model.

I would have liked to look at the Tigers Gallery posted by Ana some time back but all the photos are missing. HB may have changed servers. I can ask Ana to forward some photos if she still has them.

 

[Mitch]

I have all the HB pics on a memory stick and Sagers have a lot as does the Hobby Bunker and most do not seem to have this issue especially, as most have open hull hatches and, are as close as the real thing. Just never seen this until the winter pics were posted and Katana raised it.
Mitch

 

[fmethorst]

Both of my HB Tigers have the hatches partially obstructed by the mantlet.

Here is a top view picture of one of mine with a scale drawing for reference. It looks to me that rather than the turret being mounted too far forward it's a case of the turret being overscale (at least lengthwise).

Does this discovery reduce the enjoyment I get out of my HB Tigers? In this case no. I didn't notice it until it was pointed out. It wasn't significant enough to detract before and it isn't now.

 

[jazzeum]

Frank,

Fantastic looking tank. I know we sound like a broken record but what a shame they're no longer being made.

Cheers,

 

[Mitch]

Frank..

Thanks for the excellent graphic and, looks as if the gun cowling or whatever one wants to call it is fractionally thicker than should be. I had not noticed before as I have not seen one with closed hatches like this.
Mitch

 

[jazzeum]

I was just looking at photos of the tank Alex Prieto painted for Nasir and it looks like that one may have a slight obstruction but perhaps not as pronounced.

 

[katana]

Nice analysis Frank. The problem is subtle and I agree does not detract from the artistic quality of the model which is superb. The problem may be mold related. I think Ana mentioned once that a mold lasted for about 75 pieces and than had to be replaced. Obviously if two or more molds were used in the entire run one of the molds had this proportional inaccuracy and one did not. Only this would account for the fact that some models exhibit this problem and some do not. Without the evaluation of the accuracy of the three 1/30 models extant the problem may have gone unobserved. All three of the 1/30 scale models have problems in accuracy as previously noted. Hopefully noting these problems will contribute to better models in future.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Looks like the problem is from a combination of thickness of the mantlet, gap of the mantlet and size of turret all working in the same direction of error.

Terry

 

[katana]

I just took a look again at the HB Winter Tiger and the turret does seem to impinge on the forward hatches. I can't say if this is prevalent in all the Tigers made, just the one I have. It, however, doesn't detract from the magnificence of the model.

I would have liked to look at the Tigers Gallery posted by Ana some time back but all the photos are missing. HB may have changed servers. I can ask Ana to forward some photos if she still has them.

Brad; The Honor Bound Tiger I gallery is still at their website. Honorbound.com/Gold/TigerIgallery.htm