I GOT MY TRUMPETER KING TIGER II ....... WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!

Modeling Subjects Armor
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Yes, all you track fans out there Trumpeter’s 1/16 KT II finally breaks on to the shelves and I managed to get hold of 2 of them… depleated my redundency cash a bit but after a long nosey in the shop (along with a dozen others) well worth the wait and outlay!

The things a beast, the box is big and heavy… with it’s own carrying handle (essential given the box size!) but with only, according to the label on the box from trumpeter limited to 2400 kits world wide and only a brief look and nosey round the box I have to say that this just has to be model kit of the year and any self respecting armour fan just has to have this on their bench.

Treadwell… If you liked Trumpeters 1/16 T-34 kits… you’ll love this beast!

James

Happy as a pig in mud!

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You got two out of 2400 worldwide? Nice

Now show us some pics [:)]

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[#ditto] Let’s see some pics!

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I hate you, and two of them to boot.

Seriously, congratulations.[#toast]

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FYI: it’s a limited run kit because of all the clear parts that allow one to peer inside the full interior. The molds for the clear parts are highly polished. I guess they’ll take these same molds and impart some texture to them as they use them to make the opaque styrene parts for the non-invisible Tiger II.

(you guys remember the Invisible Man and Invisible Woman kits from way back?) There was something not right about that woman… at least to my 7 year old mind! LOL

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Sorry my dear chap. Both clear and opaque hulls and turrets are included in the box. I’ll post some pics in a few minutes once their uploaded to photobucket.

My apologies for the state of the pictures. they’re straight from the camera with no altering whatsoever. I’ll post some better stuff when I get daylight and time. It will take at least half a day to photograph the parts and sprues in this kit!!!

WARNING: No zimmerit is on the hull or turret of either the clear or standard hull/turret. A drawback for some, a major moan for others… for me… I’m sure that some tiger II’s went into combat without the stuff on!

From a look through the instruction book which is like a novel, the engine is a masterpiece of it’s own and would look good just displayed alongside the tank! it seems that the sprue that contains the rubber pipe things is actually rubber of some kind… god knows how I’m going to fix them!!

Also, the instruction book is remarkably lacking in paint directions. There are one or two directions for the major colours, but apart from that, you’re on your own, pal!!!

I wonder if Bovington will let me climb in and out of their king tiger with a camera, flash, notepad, pencil and shade card???

All in all, so far after a deeper nosey round the kit it seems that everything’s crisp, clear, detailed and lots and lots of parts. The main armament shells are slide moulded and there’s some decals to go on the shell cases, The main barrel is aluminum, the tracks are pre-assembled, but IMHO do need painting a steel colour as the colour they’re moulded in just doesn’t cut it for me. There are spare track links as well, springs metal rods… my goodness it’s a kit and a half!

THe sprocket and idler wheels and cast in metal. I’m sure there’s a reason behind this, but it’s not a kit to be played with… there’s going to be too much time spent on building it - besides it’s a hefty price to let the kid play with it.

James

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That’s great news, but sad to hear you no longer have any redundency cash! [:D]

But it’s up to you to be the first with not only some pictures of the beast, but the clear zimmerit too! [;)]

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Here’s the pics you’re all asking for. My apologies for the state of them, but I will take a full set of all the box contents indaylight when I’ve got about half a day to spare.

This one has my Italeri 1/35 S-boat on it to show the size of the box… it’s also about 10Kg in weight.

Italeri… THIS is how to pack a kit!

Anything in a green box are clear parts!

I hope that this has given you all a taster of this kit. I think that it’s the best out yet… and I’m just about to start it.

Don’t worry… I’ve another kit hidden under my bed that I can review properly. I just have to get into this huge beast! I can’t wait any longer!!!

James

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Awsome! Just brilliant!!!

Seems like many smaller kits in there :slight_smile:

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Congratulations. Suffice it to say that I am very envious. I’m seeing internet prices from $400-$600. Mind if I ask what you paid for yours?

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I got mine for 280 GBP I get a 10% discount for pre-order.

I’ve been stripping off sealed plastic bags and delving in deeper. It’s a series of kits that go together to make one big one. It’s big, it’s a beast and I’m going to have to mop the drool before I have to start swimming.

James

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Hey, thanks! It’s like an early Christmas morning … on the 12th of December! Looks like too much fun there, please show progress pictures when you can.

This should take about 9 to 16 months!

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You lucky lucky b@%#*!?

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first off dude[:D] CONGRATS on snagging 2 of them![tup]-I wish I had the cha ching to do 2–am I to understand you did not pre-order?, but meerly waited for it to show ?—in any case,thank you man for the pics —I saved and blew up the decal pics-- It looks to me like they included decal ‘dials’ for the gauges. am I correct?—I hope so, cause I was gonna hate making my own and they didn’t show in the pre-release pictures-- I am excited to hear you say the Maybach 230 engine is so well executed—Honestly, the 1/16 T-34 was one of the toughest models to pull off and complete, but with new technology in molding,ect ect—it sounds to me like Trumpeter may have pulled it off—could you give a little more detail on the tracks?–originally I thought they had to be assembled by the modeler, ( fine by me) but how well is the pre assembled track?-- and is it adjustable to length?-(either by adding or subtrackitng pairs of tracks or is the rear idler or front drive adjustable?–sorry for so many questions so soon—I hope mine is on the way—any pics, before assembly, while you are still unpacking it, would greatly be appreciated. and of course pics of the build itself!!!-- by the way, the KT was produced without any zimm from around mid 1944 on–I will look for the exact dates of when it was suspended and post them up. thanks alot—tread[8D]

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James, what are your plans, one all painted, one all clear, or will the clear one have some areas painted up? Please give us your prelimenary thoughts on how you will finish / display each of your 2.

My understanding is that the limited part is because of the Henschel(sp?) turret.

Now I am thinking if I want to get a second or wait for the Porsche turret version???

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Pre-assembled styrene tracks? Nice…That is a beauty of a kit. Should be mammoth when finished.

Tread, can’t wait to see what you will do with yours. I think you ought to start a 1/16 KT build. LOL

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Thanks Eric[:D]-----

I can’t wait to see what I will do with mine either[(-D]–I am planning an 18 month build window–that way I could make ampseast by 2010–(whew-!!)–I hope my skills are up to the apparent quality of the kit, yet I hope there is room for some details that the modeler can improve on. Actually, I am researching this vehicle and I find (on line). less valuable documentation than on the T-34-- can’t figure that out?—anywhoo should be a cool ride----and for those interested, the date of the end of production zimm for the sd.kfz 182 I have as November 1944— not an absolute-- would appreciate any one elses info on this-------tread[8D]

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James, you’re absolutely correct on that packaging, probably the best I have seen!

I have seen on ebay metal tracks, shackles, pioneer tools etc for 1/16 scale RC tanks. I’m just glad that this build will not require zimmerit…although in this scale you have something to work with and hold onto…LOL!!!

Looks like you are the only one so far that has one that is posting on the 3 or 4 armor boards I frequent…so you’re first with this one as you were with the S-100!

Those that have one coming, would like to hear your thoughts on how you will display it. I guess you can do all clear, partial paint and clear, or all paint with the ability to remove the hull and or turret.

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SHeesh! You got two of them??

Glad to hear the Depression is not hitting some people too hard! There is hope! [:O]…[swg]

Seriously, though–great score! Your spare time is pencilled in for the next year or so!

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If you wait for AM parts like PE upgrades, make that “for the next two years” [(-D]