Eagle Design King Tiger: Initial Review (2 Viewers)

[Hunter Rose]

The Eagle Design King Tiger arrived today.

This one is a mixed bag. My initial impression is it is not one of Eagles better vehicles. I an not enamored with it out of the box and there are some definite issues for me, mainly dealing with incorrect proportionality between different components of the tank.

Here are my thoughts in no particular order:

- Scale is 1/30-ish. The hull is essentially the same size as the FL King Tiger. The Eagle turret is noticeably larger in height and width. The cannon barrel is HUGE. Looks more like a 120 mm cannon on an M1 Abrams than an 88 mm.

- Works decently well with FL figures.

- Mudguards are not great. They look OK from the side and rear, but they are much too flat on top in shape and too wide for the tracks. They look bad when viewed from the front. Same issue the TCS King Tiger had.

- My barrel was a little curved as it arrived.

- Paint weathering is pretty good. The Dunkelgelb and Rotbraun are acceptable. The Olivgrun is much too light and lime green for my tastes. It's lighter than on the tri-camo 88 or tri-camo Panzer III. A wash should fix it.

- The vision blocks for driver, loader, radio operator are just hollow and see through. Not a huge deal but it gives the impression it was cheaply made.

Overall impression is I'm less than impressed and a little let down. It seems a little expensive at $210. If this was a $150-$175 model I would be less dissapointed. The Eagle Stugs and Panzer IIIs are much better models IMO. My main issue is the weird proportions, The very tall/wide turret coupled with the too thick/incorrectly shaped mudguards make it look really poor when viewed from the front. From the front, it doesn't even really look like a King Tiger to me. It looks decent from the sides and rear.

I'm going to use this as a project tank. I plan to replace the barrel with one of my extra JJD Jagdpanther barrels. Also going to remove some mudguard sections (their plastic). I'm optimistic it will look much better with a little work.

It's much more a TCS type tank than a FL/JJD/Figarti level model. I like the FL King Tiger much better; even with its flaws.

 

[TomNT]

Great review, thanks for posting and the pic's in my opinion clearly show the deficiency of the ED KT when compared to the FL version.

Tom

 

[wayne556517]

To small so will pass

 

[Hunter Rose]

I'm optimistic with a little work it will come up very nicely.

Here's my mock-up of the JJD replacement barrel.

The crispness of the JJD barrel detail and the more realistic size/proportions of the cannon will bring up the realism a lot.

 

[katana]

Nice to see that the Idler is correctly located. The metal tracks look really good and not full of mud.
The removable tracks on the turret are a nice feature as is the opening hull hatches.

I agree the green is too bright and this is the case with both the ED and FL models IMO.

 

[katana]

Great review Hunter! Excellent side by side comparison photos; but they do not show a disproportion in the turret size. The hull deck and turret roof is the same height in the photos. The absence of the turret side bevel in the FL model alters the appearance. I cannot understand how a detail like the turret bevel could be omitted in a $465.00 model and be present in a $210.00 model.

The dimensions are correct for 1/30 scale. Width 4.96" Overall Length 13.5" Height Cupola Top 3.875". Dimensions as measured from my example

The muzzle brake diameter is .312" on the ED KT. The same diameter as the muzzle brake on the Figarti Tiger I. Two sizes of muzzle brake were used on the King Tiger. The early version was larger than the later; but they were interchangeable and were interchanged in repairs in the field.

I find the errors in the FL model more obvious than the errors in the ED model and the cost differential is significant. I will repaint mine and post photos when it is complete.

 

[joesgis]

HR,
Thanks for the review and photos. I hope you're rework goes well.

Joe

 

[Hunter Rose]

Great review Hunter! Excellent side by side comparison photos; but they do not show a disproportion in the turret size. The hull deck and turret roof is the same height in the photos. The absence of the turret side bevel in the FL model alters the appearance. I cannot understand how a detail like the turret bevel could be omitted in a $465.00 model and be present in a $210.00 model.

The dimensions are correct for 1/30 scale. Width 4.96" Overall Length 13.5" Height Cupola Top 3.875". Dimensions as measured from my example

The muzzle brake diameter is .312" on the ED KT. The same diameter as the muzzle brake on the Figarti Tiger I. Two sizes of muzzle brake were used on the King Tiger. The early version was larger than the later; but they were interchangeable and were interchanged in repairs in the field.

I find the errors in the FL model more obvious than the errors in the ED model and the cost differential is significant. I will repaint mine and post photos when it is complete.

Agree the Eagle King Tiger comes in at 1/30.

My issue was with the cannon/mantlet, not the muzzle brake. The muzzle brake is pretty good in detail, and I plan to re-use it on either a Figarti or K&C Tiger I to give. To me the cannon is too large, primarily in thickness of the mantlet and rear portion of the two-piece barrel. In totality, to me they look thicker than the King Tiger cannon looks in real. We debated this on Hobby Bunker, and plenty of other collectors thought the cannon looked fine. I just think the thinner, more detailed JJD and FL cannons look more realistic.

For the turret, I'll get back to you on that. Something about the turret is just "off" to me in its proportions, especially when viewed from the front. When I can nail down what is bugging me about it I'll follow up.

The mudguards when viewed from the front are poor, and my primary reason for being disappointed. I'll admit I pulled it out of the box and was happy with it up until I viewed it from the front.

I'd say I like the Eagle King Tiger 75%. It's 1/30 and I think it looks good from the sides, rear, and angled. Viewed from the front I am not a fan. Once I tweak it and get rid of the mudguards, I think I will like it a whole lot more.

For the Eagle vs FL opinion, both tanks have issues. Which errors jump out/bug you the most is probably specific to each collector. I think we can all agree that a perfect 1/30 King Tiger has not been released yet.

 

[Hunter Rose]

HR,
Thanks for the review and photos. I hope you're rework goes well.

Joe

No problem. Its fun and I love this hobby.

I hope the rework goes well too! . I'll post some progress pics as I progress. This will be the first time I'm attempting to drill out a gun mantlet and remount a different barrel, so it should be interesting.

 

[TomNT]

Agree the Eagle King Tiger comes in at 1/30.

My issue was with the cannon/mantlet, not the muzzle brake. The muzzle brake is pretty good in detail, and I plan to re-use it on either a Figarti or K&C Tiger I to give. To me the cannon is too large, primarily in thickness of the mantlet and rear portion of the two-piece barrel. In totality, to me they look thicker than the King Tiger cannon looks in real. We debated this on Hobby Bunker, and plenty of other collectors thought the cannon looked fine. I just think the thinner, more detailed JJD and FL cannons look more realistic.

For the turret, I'll get back to you on that. Something about the turret is just "off" to me in its proportions, especially when viewed from the front. When I can nail down what is bugging me about it I'll follow up.

The mudguards when viewed from the front are poor, and my primary reason for being disappointed. I'll admit I pulled it out of the box and was happy with it up until I viewed it from the front.

I'd say I like the Eagle King Tiger 75%. It's 1/30 and I think it looks good from the sides, rear, and angled. Viewed from the front I am not a fan. Once I tweak it and get rid of the mudguards, I think I will like it a whole lot more.

For the Eagle vs FL opinion, both tanks have issues. Which errors jump out/bug you the most is probably specific to each collector. I think we can all agree that a perfect 1/30 King Tiger has not been released yet.

I totally agree with everything you wrote. I have received the ED winter KT and it's not what I expected. I will write my concerns about it at a later date.

Tom

 

[uksubs]

I totally agree with everything you wrote. I have received the ED winter KT and it's not what I expected. I will write my concerns about it at a later date.

Tom

Look forward to your review mate

 

[chemiebay]

Nice to see that the Idler is correctly located. The metal tracks look really good and not full of mud.
The removable tracks on the turret are a nice feature as is the opening hull hatches.

I agree the green is too bright and this is the case with both the ED and FL models IMO.

I got back to modelling my tank models, no more problems as I choose the colors I want {sm4}

 

[chemiebay]

Repaint old material in order to improve them is also funny, these Sturmtigers are from the old New Model Army brand:

 

[joesgis]

No problem. Its fun and I love this hobby.

I hope the rework goes well too! . I'll post some progress pics as I progress. This will be the first time I'm attempting to drill out a gun mantlet and remount a different barrel, so it should be interesting.

Good luck HR! I'd love to see photos of your progress!

Joe

 

[Hunter Rose]

Good luck HR! I'd love to see photos of your progress!

Joe

I'm going to start a separate thread for that. I made some significant progress today.

The Eagle King Tiger looks a lot better...a LOT better.

 

[TomNT]

Look forward to your review mate

Here's a little review and some pic's of the winter ED KT that I no longer have. I agree with Hunter about the oversized mudguards and barrel, the one I had also had the same issues. It also came damaged which is why my words indicate that I no longer have the tank. I contacted Weido and he refunded my money and I sent the tank back to him. He was good about it so I commend him on that.

So my opinion is two fold, it wasn't built properly and there are quality control issues.

Tom

 

[uksubs]

Here's a little review and some pic's of the winter ED KT that I no longer have. I agree with Hunter about the oversized mudguards and barrel, the one I had also had the same issues. It also came damaged which is why my words indicate that I no longer have the tank. I contacted Weido and he refunded my money and I sent the tank back to him. He was good about it so I commend him on that.

So my opinion is two fold, it wasn't built properly and there are quality control issues.

Tom

Thank for the report Tom , bit concerning the amount of stuff that being sent out with problems to be honest

 

[katana]

Thanks for the excellent photos Tom. The metal wheels do not look broken; it looks like the glue join of metal wheel to the resin hull failed. A better glue would solve this problem. I find Slicon RTV works very well with dissimilar materials. Plus it is resistant to shock failure; which resin type glue/adhesives are subject to.

Here's a little review and some pic's of the winter ED KT that I no longer have. I agree with Hunter about the oversized mudguards and barrel, the one I had also had the same issues. It also came damaged which is why my words indicate that I no longer have the tank. I contacted Weido and he refunded my money and I sent the tank back to him. He was good about it so I commend him on that.

So my opinion is two fold, it wasn't built properly and there are quality control issues.

Tom

 

[TomNT]

Thanks for the excellent photos Tom. The metal wheels do not look broken; it looks like the glue join of metal wheel to the resin hull failed. A better glue would solve this problem. I find Slicon RTV works very well with dissimilar materials. Plus it is resistant to shock failure; which resin type glue/adhesives are subject to.

No worries Kat and yeah, it appeared the glue failed but I wasn't interested in fixing it and I shouldn't need to do that anyway. Hopefully Weido will look into this and correct the glue issue and/or sort out the quality control at his factory.

Tom

 

[katana]

I recommended to Weido that he use a flexible adhesive to bond the metal wheels to the resin body. RTV Silicon would be suitable as it remains flexible and absorbs shocks without fracturing. Plus it bonds well to different materials.

Here's a little review and some pic's of the winter ED KT that I no longer have. I agree with Hunter about the oversized mudguards and barrel, the one I had also had the same issues. It also came damaged which is why my words indicate that I no longer have the tank. I contacted Weido and he refunded my money and I sent the tank back to him. He was good about it so I commend him on that.

So my opinion is two fold, it wasn't built properly and there are quality control issues.

Tom