Tiger II -- No rubber tires?

abutt2 · February 4, 2005, 1:12pm

I’m the guy building the Tamiya Tiger II in Winter clothes, and trying to get everything as right as I can. I’ve looked at dozens of photos and cannot see any evidence of rubber tires on the wheels of a Tiger II. Nor does the castings of the wheels show the typical separation for the tires. Is this true? If so, I would think the wheel edges would shine from wear similar to the high points of the track treads. Need the experts here. My son, Allan, found me some good pics on white washed German armour and painting techniques to achieve the effect.

Bud

JWest21 · February 4, 2005, 1:33pm

The wheels are steel and parts that contact the tracks would be a polished steel cover from the constant friction

TMN1 · February 4, 2005, 1:34pm

yes its true !! Tiger II’s did not have rubber tires like the early and mid production Tiger I’s did.
There was rubber in the wheels to cushion them but it was inside the wheels and not visible.

abutt2 · February 4, 2005, 2:27pm

When I’ve got this kind of a question, I know where I’ll get the right answer. Thanks guys.

Bud[:D]

JWest21 · February 4, 2005, 2:35pm

One of my current projects is the Tamiya King Tiger Ardennes

wipw · February 4, 2005, 4:15pm

How are you liking that so far, Jason?? (I still haven’t taken the shrinkwrap off mine!)

Anonymous · February 4, 2005, 4:22pm

i like the bike and figures in that kit with a few bits more , the rest are the same as the old one below, its a good kit

JWest21 · February 4, 2005, 5:29pm

Jon said it all. Tamiya’s KT is very nice. Great fit but a little pricey

tigerman · February 4, 2005, 5:37pm

The Tamiya KT is a very good fitting kit. Looks pretty nice when done also. Yes, isn’t it sweet to not have to paint those [censored] rubber tires?

JWest21 · February 4, 2005, 5:39pm

Funny, I was thinking that when I was doing my Tamiya Tiger.

tigerman · February 4, 2005, 5:42pm

That is why I bought their Late. When I was younger I bought the old Tiger I and it had what, a 100 of those stupid rubber tired wheels. I said never again.

JWest21 · February 4, 2005, 5:43pm

Yeah…the worst part with mine is I painted them, did the rubber and then discovered that the base color may have been different, so now I am going to redo all of them

tigerman · February 4, 2005, 5:49pm

I feel your pain. [V]

wipw · February 7, 2005, 11:25am

Stupid me!!! I’ve got the DML, not the Tamiya. No bicycle in that, I believe!!! Duhhhhh

tigerman · February 7, 2005, 12:48pm

Been forgetting to wear that respirator when spraying again, haven’t you? [;)]

wipw · February 7, 2005, 2:29pm

Respirator? RESPIRATOR?? We don’t need no stinking respirators!

Cough, cough, hack, hack! WOOOOOW, MAN!

JWest21 · February 7, 2005, 3:03pm

You were just busy thinking about your Tiger, weren’t you??

Bismark · February 7, 2005, 3:21pm

Okay guys, I think I get the drift here. Do you mean that there was no visible rubber on the tires of a King tiger? I thought that was rubber just inside the first outside rim in the recessed area? I just finished the Tamiya Ardennes Tiger II and spent extra time making those areas on the wheels black. Say it isn’t so! All that time with the ambush pattern…[xx(]

TMN1 · February 7, 2005, 3:37pm

Im sorry to say it but no !! there was no visible rubber [:)]

Anonymous · February 7, 2005, 3:39pm

the Rubber was inside the tracks and inside the hubs, sorry but you went through all that trouble for nothing