This isn’t an update, but my thoughts and feelings on this kit.
As I progress with my build I find that there is more work in this kit than I actually realised. If trumpeter’s offering is true to the real thing the KTII is a very complex piece of kit. To me initially I was in modelers heaven, but now, as I progress with the build I begin to loose interest quite quickly as it seems that the number of parts don’t seem to be going down!
This huge kit is really a series of smaller kits that go together to build up the tank. Sometimes I do feel frustrated, but as a modeler I know that I need a break when that happens. Somewhere in my frustration I am enjoying building this model. This is, to me, Trumpeters’ best offering yet. At 2400 kits world wide and a choice of clear or coloured hull and turret really this beast should be on the display shelf of any self-respecting track fan as it does provide a unique display opportunity despite a high price, but IMHO well worth it for the amount of kit there is in the box.
There are drawbacks with this kit - but there are drawbacks with every kit and despite this it is a very enjoyable, big and bold kit. Such as no decals for the drivers dials and not enough decals for the full load of shells. There’s about 60 odd shells but only decals for 30 some!
I intend to do a full builders blog on my second Tiger II kit rather than the updates here on the forum. I do hope that my WIP posts give you all the scale and scope of the kit and my future blog - given that i can find a decent blogging site - will help builders of this kit - Which I vote as Kit of the year.
Now I wait and start saving my pennies for Trumpeters next 1/16 kit. KTII with “Porsche” turret maybe??
Can I have a free one to road test Trumpeter, please???
Hang in there man! It’s an ‘uber kit’ to begin with! [:D] Now you’ll know how I feel when I tackle an R/C 1/16 Tamiya kit with resin replacement parts and SCHUMO & IMPACT metal upgrades. It’s enough to pull your hair out! [;)]
Take plenty of breaks and work on something else at the same time to save your sanity. That’s what I do. Maybe I’ll finish my M4A1E8 Sherman in the next few months. I started it on 11-07 and cannot quit adding details and modifications either. [:D]
This is not meant to be as ‘advice’ to you, but rather how I approached my Trumpeter T-34/85----Patience,patience, patience!-- you are correct when you say every sub assembley is a model to itself,— but aren’t all models?-- any scale? you have to give the correct amount of attention to each piece—my personal rule of thumb is ‘when you think you are done, look it over-- you probably arent!~—you are practically trying to fly through this build—savor what it offers–make improvements where you can. You will be richer for the experience. when I did the T-34, I spent a year and a half–I think now I could do one equal or better in 9 or 10 months ( already have all references) – but don’t try to rush something this big–I have seen guys try to ‘blow a build out’ this complex in a few weeks or couple of months-- it looks like it in the end.—there is no modelers’ heaven-- only heavan or hell as you choose. If the build feels like it is jamming you up, put it aside for a while. This is after all, a King Tiger—one of Germanys’ finest offerings–I don’t have mine yet, but I am 99% sure I will keep it and when I build it, I am going to build with the history of the Tiger paramount in my mind --I will get through the lack of decals somehow (even if I gotta have Redleg make me some!![#toast])-and fill the the ejection marks as needed-- every stinking one of them-- I am actually looking forward to 2010 in Sept when i can present the finished build at AMPSEAST here on the east coast.
That is how I feel about this model–sorry I rattle on so badly!—keep on posting James-- I look forward to every one of them----tread[8D]
Good thing that you got two of them then. James! LOL! Hurry up now; that second one’s just itching to get on the shelf with his brother! [(-D]
I give ya credit, man; my stash would kill me if I spent that much time on one kit! [;)]
Seriously though, my main thing would be lack of space–both for the build, and the finished model. I have a 1/25 Tamiya Tiger I that I’ve had since 1988 or so that I still haven’t started!
When I built my 1/16 T-34 as an out-of-the-box project I mentally set aside any kind of deadline, time schedule, etc. that I would normally associate with a 1/35 project. Considering the price tag, the parts count, and the sheer size and details of this monster, it’s something that I would naturally assume will take a lot of time and effort to assemble. May I suggest that instead of trying to view it in the scheme of 1 project that you instead “divide and conquer” and approach it as a large-scale project with several inner-stage or sub-set milestones? That way you can still feel like you’re accomplishing things and making progress but not so far from the ultimate finish line that you feel its hopeless and you’re never going to get there? I’ve felt similar frustration when working on the DML Pz IV E “Super Kit” that had 1000+ parts…you’d spend an entire day and not get through 1 full step…it wore on you if you were only thinking about the final product and not the incremental progress.
The initial euphoria of recieving something long awaited has now given way to a realization of the task you’ve set for yourself and it’s going to take some time and effort to get it done, slow and steady is the key. Work on it when you have the motivation, don’t force it, and don’t impose an artificial deadline that you have to rush against…and you’ll enjoy the process much more. Just my [2c]
You have been doing a great job on your build thus far… it just sounds like you need to step away for a bit…The kit is a little overwhelming and the lack of clear instructions does not help the matter. I personally just ordered the new King Tiger Super Detail Photo Book Vol.8 Published by Model Art Co.Ltd in an attempt to clear up some detail points that I am missing from my current references.
Also I emailed Archer about the lack of a drivers instrument panel. Maybe they will come up with a replacement.
As far as my own expectations on possible completion of the beast, I am clearing 12 months out for this one…as Treadwell stated so well, this kit represents a great kit of one of Germanys’ finest offerings and truly deserves the royal treatment.
On a side note in regards to the Porsche turret, I noticed that the decal sheet has 2 dials for the azimuth indicator…the Henschel only had one…looks to me as the Porsche Turret very well may be the next version Trumpeter kicks out.