Corgi armor

[Tuttle]

Hi everybody,

Longtime lurker checking in! I collect mainly Tigers and T-34's. I've always been tempted by the Corgi 1:50 Tigers, but have held off. The Corgi T-34's are great. But what is now the collective opinion of the Corgi Tiger's?

Thanks.

[Windspruce]

Tuttle,

I have the D-Day Tiger (60503) and the Kurland Tiger (60507) which looks better than the prototype picture Corgi uses. I did not get the Whittman Tiger (60501) as the model does not look as good as the prototype Corgi depicts. There is a lack of weathering and odd placement of accessories.

The Tigers are for the most part well done, the tracks and turret rotate and the gun elevates - weathering on the exhaust, road wheels and tank body is decent. There are separate tow shackles on the front, the rear shackles are molded on. The tow cables are not as nice as on some other models and each has a MG (although I removed this from my D-Day Tiger). I have made a few simple modifications to bring them up to par with the other models.

The barrel tips are not drilled out like most of their other models, they are indented. I used a 1.80mm drill with my Dremel to match (very closely) the 88mm of the real thing. I then painted the hole with black paint. I don’t have an airbrush which would have created a better effect.

http://loracs.com/models/kurlandfront.jpg

I also painted simulated wood on the MG to breakup the monolithic black plastic look as seen here.

http://loracs.com/models/kurlandside.jpg

The vinyl tracks do not lie on the road wheels in a realistic manner so I have used brown thread to tie the track down. There is an easy and hard way to do this if you are interested. This tiger has the tracks tied down.

http://loracs.com/models/d-dayside.jpg

This Tiger does not have tied tracks.

http://loracs.com/models/kurlandside2.jpg

You can get both of these for under $20 as they are in the History Channel series. While not as nice as the History Channel Cruiser or Cromwell, I was satisfied with them.

Mike

[Tuttle]

Thanks for the info. Windspruce ... and yes, I'd like to know the "easy' way to tie down tracks! Also, do you or does anyone have any familiarity with the Corgi "Premire Collection" Tigers?

Thanks

[Windspruce]

I do not have any of the Premier Collection Tigers. I will try to get some more pics this week showing the methods I used to tie the tracks and what worked well. Got to get the tractor started and mow today since it is finally overcast. Mowing in the sun when it is 90º+ out ain't fun.

Mike

[Gambit]

Thanks for the great ideas to improve Corgi's tanks.
Would you please PM your easy method to tie down the tracks.

[Windspruce]

I should have mentioned this above - if you are going to drill out the barrel tip, it helps to start with a smaller drill size first, then use the 1.80mm drill bit. This helps to create a pilot hole for the 1.80mm and reduces the chance of the drill bit "dancing" on the barrel tip. I have started using two successively larger pilot holes before using the 1.80mm which has helped control the drill bit as I am doing this freehand. Keep in mind this is metal not plastic and the barrel will heat up some.

Gambit - I will get some pictures up this week, should be easier to follow then my ramblings.

Mike