I was at the local hobby shop today and I stumbled upon a DragonExpo 2007 Tiger I “Alfred Kurzmaul”. It was $54. I’ve got a couple of questions about it. I know it’s a rare kit. Is it worth the price in terms extras, markings, and “specialness”? Are any other Dragon Tiger’s similar to this kit that are less? I think that it being modeled off Kurzmaul’s tank is cool enough but I want your opinions oh great ones of the Armor forum.[:D]
Erik
if you have to ask you probably should buy it.[tup][:-^]
I actually have 2 of them in the stash, one to build and the other to pay for both of them in a couple years.
I think that $54 is under the going price now days, and cheaper than online when you factor shipping. I’d pick it up if I were you.
Here’s a link with pics of all the sprues [url=http://www.militarymodelling.com/gallery/images.asp?sp=&v=5&UAbN=486
]here.[/url]
According to Missing Lynx, it is similar to the DML Late Tiger #6406 released around the same time with a few differences:
Buy it only if you’re going to build it, IMO.
If you’re not, let someone else have the pleasure…
Don’t worry about it. I don’t do things like that. I can’t stand it when people buy rare items just to sell at a higher price. If I get it (I probably will) I plan on building it once I gain more experience building the kits I have now.
The kurzmaul tank isn’t a standard late tiger. The kit comes with mounts for the lights (on side of the hull towards the front), idle wheel axle cover, mid production loader’s hatch, and cupla without rain channel.
Since it doesn’t come with a turret top that’s seperated from the base of loader’s hatch, it’s much harder to make that hatch movable.
Kit only comes with decal for the kurzmaul marking (123).
The kit isn’t rare. You can get it on ebay for around $30. It doesn’t come with metal barrel, and the PE doesn’t give much more than tool clamps. (alot of engine parts aren’t visible unless you open the deck up. PE for fenders and exhaust covers aren’t included.
Personally, I rather buy the voyager PE set (newer one, comes with complete tool box) and build dragon 6406. That’s probably $60. Dragon’s out of production 3 in 1 (6253) comes with metal barrel too. That IMO is the best deal of late tiger kits out there right now.
It is a unique kit though in the fact that it is not a specifically late Tiger, but on that is in transition between Mid and late. No other kit on the market that I am aware of offers that.
In all reality, kits like these are just gimmicks since only a short run is available and distributed at the Dragon show. Hence higher cost and higher future value. I happen to think it is pretty cool which is why I bought one for building.
Thanks for the repiles. Does anyone have first hand experience building one? I know some Dragon Tigers had warped lower hulls. Is this true on this kit?
I’ve decieded not to buy it. I can’t justify spending that amount right now(my car had a bunch of work done to it last week). Plus an IPMS show is coming to town in mid Feb. I’m just going to save up and get a nice TD for the group build.