Has anyone here built this kit? How was it? How does it rate for accuracy? I’ve read good things about it, and would like to build it some day…thanks!
There is a build review on Armorama.com and a completed Tiger I on the Constructive Comments forum on missing-lynx.com. If you go to the missing-lynx forum, you will have to go back a couple of pages to find the Tiger. As best as I can remember, both builders had nothing but good things to say about this kit.
I’d say build it and let those of us who have yet to try it know how it went!
Glenn
Actually, now I think I am going to hold out until the Dragon 1/35 “3 in 1” Late Production Tiger I kit comes out–It will be in May, from what I understand, and have all of the same or similar special features. I suspect it will be about the same price as well…
I’m working on this kit right now, the early one I mean. I am not really enjoying it. There is a problem with the fit of the upper hull to the rest of the body, the cooling vent grilles seemed to be the problem! there was a huge gap inbetween the top joint of the rear plate to the top right around the Engine hatch, not even taping it up for the night gave it any hold. To be honest guys, I am not really happy with this kit. I think Dragon has done better in the past. Sure you get some great toys, but the instructions are horrible to understand. I was suprised that they were the typical b/w and not the easy to follow colour ones like the T-34/76 or the King Tiger kits that I built had. I guess I was expecting something better!
I am building the kit right now as well. The problem that James is talking about is easily fixed. The hull upper deck has a molding that interferes with the fan housing side walls. Just turn it over and sand the ridge down flush and your problem will be solved. Let me get some pics up and I will edit this post in a few…
OK here is the problem…
The sidewalls on the fan boxes are probably correct…Since I am doing a full engine compt on this build I didn’t sand these down:
Underneath the hull upper deck, this molding interferes with the fan box walls and must be sanded almost flush to acheive proper fit up:
Once this is done, evrything falls into place perfectly:
Hope this helps everyone. This is an excellent kit, and little problems like this are bound to appear. It was easily fixed.
Regards,
Steve
i think the early Tiger will be out after the Late Tiger
Crocket, is the the Tamiya Engine?
Actually, the Dragon Tiger I Late Production is supposed to be released sometime this month (May 6, according to the Dragon website, although I have yet to see anyone who has it available as yet). I have it on pre-order.
Unfortunately, I have heard less than stellar reports of the readiblity of Dragon’s kit instructions, which is a shame given the high quality of the kits.
Thx Steve.
Even when its easilly fixed it is good to know about the problem and how to solve it.
Very good hints!
About Dragons instructions, I totaly agree with Uproar. It is a shame that good quality kits require a review artical in a magazine like this to be built properly 
Jon- No, it is the Verlinden resin/PE engine compartment modified to fit this kit.
Johan - You are welcome…I respect the comments of the group, however I really don’t see much of an issue with the instructions. So far, they have been correct and I find them to be as good or better than most. Maybe it’s because I build a lot of DML product and I’m just used to the way they draft their instructions?
I suppose one could make the argument that the exploded drawings are rather small and you must determine which identifiers mark out the different parts for the three variants, but, other than that I can’t fault them guys.
Steve
You are right in both sentences Steve:
The problems with the fit are easily dealt with and,
The instructions are precise and correct (despite they lack the necessary corrections).
And that’s pretty much my point, why don’t they ship an adder to every kit with recognized and called for corrections?
Thanks so much for all of the clear photos and explanation, Steve. I suspect the Late Production Tiger is likely to have the same or similar problems–nice to be able to anticipate them. I have a Dragon 1/35 Panzerkampfwagen Tiger (P) as well which I am looking forward to starting, which has some fairly similar features–haven’t really had a chance to look it over much yet. Looks like a nice kit too–I’ll post photos when I start on it.
Thanks Steve, Problem fixed… I guess I just got a little impatient with wanting to get it finished and pics taken of it. It’s comming along nicely now. Thanks again!!!
How does the Dragon 3-1 Early Tiger 1 compair to Tamiys Early Tiger 1? I’m thinking about making a purchase.
Based purely on what I’ve read, apparently the Dragon is more accurate (turret shape, etc.) and comes with lots of AM-esque additions like a metal barrel and PE. It seems to also come with lots of optional parts.
I’ll bet that the fit problem goes away when you use the Tamiya kit. Also the Tamiya comes with the track lengths rather than individual links. The links will look more accurate if you build them well, but if you build them poorly they can look really terrible, and they are a pain to build, and some people just prefer the lengths. (I myself like resin links that snap together, but that’s my little thing and it’s a digression. [:p])
Dragon is cheaper too, I think, though I haven’t compared the prices.
Steve, thanks for the heads up and fix for that fit problem.
I’ve had some issues with Dragon instructions in the past and have found that a real good read through of the instructions before beginning assembly usually will pick up the inevitable numbering and drawing errors. And with Dragon (or any other kit)- to paraphrase Master Carpenter Norm Abram (measure twice, cut once) - dry fit twice (or 3 or 4 times) glue once.
Pete
gjek,
I think that the DML 3&1 is the better value. It is an “initial” tiger, without feifel air cleaners and side mud deflectors. I am building it now and you get a bunch of extras (turned barrel, a gob of PE, etc.) for less cash than the Tamiya kit. They are both good models, the Tamiya turret is incorrect (if you care about that sort of thing). Ball park retail is about $38.00 USD for the Tamiya and about $28.00 USD for the DML (these prices will of course , vary…-inevitably someone will chime in with a post about a great deal they found on E-bay!).
I will say this, I’ve built a lot of Dragon armor and this kit is the most “precise” fitting DML release that I have ever built. Yes there are a few hiccups, but nothing that beginner or intermediate modeling skil cannot correct. After all, that’s part of the fun, isn’t it? Working through little issues and figuring out solutions?
IMHO - go DML all the way
Regards,
Steve