New Tiger what do you think? (1 Viewer)

[Old Guard]

Well by now some of you probably have the new Tiger I in your hands. So spill the beans what do you think about it. How does it look and is it historically accurate? Let’s hear some feedback. Pictures are always good to.

Old Guard

 

[Combat]

I have seen the beast! There is a noticeable size difference that makes it a very impressive piece. Overall I think most collectors will be very satisfied. I give it a 7 out of 10. Just a couple of criticisms:

1) The accompanying figures look rather bland and not among the better quality sculpts or painting in recent memory. Just compare them to the new WWI Scots.

2) The track detail (again) does not reflect the same level of improvement that I have noticed on some other recent KC vehicles. Maybe I just expect the SL to be the top quality.

3) There are a lot of dinks and dings in the paint job which gives it a realistic look, but is not to my liking. Prefer it to be a little more pristine.

4) It has the Afrika Korp markings - which is historically incorrect (to the best of my knowledge). Not a big deal, but seems to reflect a trend of simple historical errors that are most likely made to increase sales or perhaps with the belief that no one cares.

 

[Louis Badolato]

I will receive mine probably Tuesday or Wednesday, and will give my opinion then. However, to those treefroggers complaining about the crew figures, I just don't get it. The figures look very realistic to me, well sculpted and painted and in natural poses.

I noticed a request for an action posed tank crew. How is Andy supposed to accurately depict a tank crew in action poses, when in action, the tank would be completely buttoned up, and you wouldn't see any crew? The only way you could accurately depict a crew outside a tank in action would be a crew scrambling for the hatches, having just been suprised by a passing aircraft or an Allied patrol.

If you want to depict the tank as produced in action, pull the crew off, put some dead and wounded figures around the tank, and put an American G.I. up on the turret about to drop a grenade into the hatch he pulled open.

 

[The Breaker]

I just received my AK Tiger yesterday and it is an excellent set. The turret and the 88mm gun in particular are terrific. Sure you can gripe about the tracks but they really are't that bad. I'm surprised of the criticsim of the crew, K & C is giving you the entire crew with all forms of poses and head dress, planning the next operation.

I am not a hardline K & C guy, I drink the Britains koolaid and also really like the HB stuff, but I'd like to give K & C credit where credit is due. Kudos to K & C for the AK Tiger I.

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

I received mine today, and in my opinion it's one of K&C's best tanks to date. Top notch paint job. I thought the crew were very well done too.

 

[maddadicus]

Any chance for photos of the new ,next to an earlier Tiger....Thanks,Michael

 

[pugio]

I received mine today, and in my opinion it's one of K&C's best tanks to date. Top notch paint job. I thought the crew were very well done too.

got mine today and totally agree. i placed it next to wittmans tiger just for comparison and i could have sworn i saw jealously in herr wittman's eyes. great job K&C

 

[jazzeum]

Any chance for photos of the new ,next to an earlier Tiger....Thanks,Michael

In November's dispatches, Bob Neville intereviewed Andy and they did a side by side comparison with WS 43.

 

[jazzeum]

I have seen the beast! There is a noticeable size difference that makes it a very impressive piece. Overall I think most collectors will be very satisfied. I give it a 7 out of 10. Just a couple of criticisms:

1) The accompanying figures look rather bland and not among the better quality sculpts or painting in recent memory. Just compare them to the new WWI Scots.

4) It has the Afrika Korp markings - which is historically incorrect (to the best of my knowledge). Not a big deal, but seems to reflect a trend of simple historical errors that are most likely made to increase sales or perhaps with the belief that no one cares.

I will be receiving this week next but I had to comment on this post. Of the photos I have seen of the sculptures I find them to pretty good and the AK sculpts have always been top rate, among the best K & C does. The WW I sculpts are not as good, in my opinion. But that's a personal thing and I'm sure we all have sculptors that we like more than another.

However, there seems to be a misconception that the AK markings are not historically incorrect. I did a little research tonight and that is not correct. The 501st Panzer Division was attached to the Afrika Korps so the tank is historically correct.

 

[agmtanks]

I received my Tiger and I really like it, though I must admit I like all tanks from every company.I did look at my favorite book on Tiger Tanks " Tiger I on the Western Front" by Jean Restayn and did not see #125 on any of the 28 pages covering Abt 501. Restayn makes the comment that "period photographs show clearly that there was no red inside the figures.This is only applicable when the Tigers later went over to the 10th PanzerDivision,with red numbers in the 700 and 800 series."
Can someone confirm this observation?
And which Tiger tank book has a picture of #125?

 

[unglesbeemj]

Brad, where do I find this interview? Is it something you could post? thanks, mike

 

[Harrytheheid]

I have seen the beast! There is a noticeable size difference that makes it a very impressive piece. Overall I think most collectors will be very satisfied. I give it a 7 out of 10. Just a couple of criticisms:

3) There are a lot of dinks and dings in the paint job which gives it a realistic look, but is not to my liking. Prefer it to be a little more pristine.

Simply can't believe this one...!!!
Sorry, but IMO that's complete and utter £**in' BS.
So what are K&C supposed to do then Combat? If they were to offer pristine paintwork on their AFV's, then all that'll happen is that other people will moan and groan about that....!!!!
Maybe they should offer AFV's with no paintwork whatsoever so that collectors can do it themselves and completely foul it up......or contract the paintjob out to some guy/gal who specializes in offering such a service. Then I reckon we'd see some real justification for moanin' and groanin' on this forum.

Cheers
H

 

[unglesbeemj]

Given the level of detail in Wolfgang Schneider's "Tigers in Combat" (Vol 1 is what you are looking for, Vol 2 are SS units), suspect that it will answer all questions on numbers, markings, and organization being asked. I only have Vol 2 -anyone have Vol 1? These books have a wealth of info on Tigers. "Sledgehammers", by Christopher Wilbeck is an excellent resource for detailed action accounts of various Tiger units. It has extensive coverage of the Tiger engagements in Tunisa, but alas, no photos.

 

[uksubs]

Given the level of detail in Wolfgang Schneider's "Tigers in Combat" (Vol 1 is what you are looking for, Vol 2 are SS units), suspect that it will answer all questions on numbers, markings, and organization being asked. I only have Vol 2 -anyone have Vol 1? These books have a wealth of info on Tigers. "Sledgehammers", by Christopher Wilbeck is an excellent resource for detailed action accounts of various Tiger units. It has extensive coverage of the Tiger engagements in Tunisa, but alas, no photos.

I've got both books & will check them out

 

[uksubs]

Just checked my tiger books & this is what i found out
Markings on the turret should be white & there was no tank 125 in panzerabteilung 501
In one of the book it say that only the command tank had the turret number painted red , but other books have mistake this to mean the whole battalion

 

[unglesbeemj]

Should be able to confirm #125 from a T/O for 501 Btn in Schnieider's book. #125 would seem to be in line with the T/O issued to heavy tank battalions by the General Staff on March 5, 1943 (pg 21, Sledgehammers), authorizing a heavy tank company of 3 platoons with 4 Tigers each. Assuming 501 followed this structure, but I cannot confirm w/o specific T/O for 501 in Tunisa (Nov 42 - Mar 43). Prior to the March 5 T/O, it would seem the Heavy Tank Battalions were given a great deal of latitude in how the companies were structured, with various mixes of the Panzer III. Interesting to note that on Mar 17, the 504 Heavy Tank Battalion took over the remaining Tigers from the 501 and continued action until surrender in May (pg 57).

Cannot confirm the use of red numbers. However, can confirm that elements of the 501, and in some cases the entire Btn, came under the 10th Panzer Division's Panzer Regiment 7 in Tunisia (see pgs 39-58, Sldgehammers).

This may also answer the question in an earlier post about the accuracy of the AK palm/swastika marking on the K&C Tiger - 501 was operating under Panzerarmee Afrika, which had been forced to withdraw to Tunisia in 1942.

 

[unglesbeemj]

well that is a joy kill. Perhaps K&C need to update their reference library? which book do you have in your photo? I should also update my own.

 

[uksubs]

well that is a joy kill. Perhaps K&C need to update their reference library? which book do you have in your photo? I should also update my own.

Tiger 1 - on the western front by Jean Restayn
In Tigers in combat 1 it give you a list of every tank for every panzerabteilung for every year & there no 125 in 501 panzerabteilung

 

[unglesbeemj]

well perhaps this can be a tank from the 504 that picked up the tanks from the 501 in March 1943? Or any possibility the reference to the outline numbers applys to tanks after Tunisia?

On another subject - any idea if the the Tiger is still at the Bovington museum? Seems its been on its way back to the U.S. for some time but still at Bovington. I plan to visit the tank museum in Saumur, France in April, want to photograph the Kind Tiger and Tiger on display there.

 

[Combat]

Simply can't believe this one...!!!
Sorry, but IMO that's complete and utter £**in' BS.
So what are K&C supposed to do then Combat? If they were to offer pristine paintwork on their AFV's, then all that'll happen is that other people will moan and groan about that....!!!!
Maybe they should offer AFV's with no paintwork whatsoever so that collectors can do it themselves and completely foul it up......or contract the paintjob out to some guy/gal who specializes in offering such a service. Then I reckon we'd see some real justification for moanin' and groanin' on this forum.

Cheers
H

Harry- I don't quite follow your point. As I said, it is my preference that the tank not have so many dinks. Others may prefer it this way and KC can do whatever they want. How about stating a preference if you have one?