Would one encounter the same problem with the wheels on the Tamiya King Tiger kit as well? I have 2 of their 90’s production kits.
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Michael, I don’t know.
I suspect they might.
I know the 1989 Tamiya Late Model Tiger kit can use the old 1970’s Early Tiger’s wheels without too much issue because I bashed the two kits back in the early 1990’s.
May see if a Tamiya 1990’s era King Tiger can be pulled from the the stash to test a steel wheel on the old 1970 Tiger 1 just for kicks.
Update, Edit 12-7-2023
Working on tracks…I belive 96 was the magic number for a real Tiger. I’ll build two runs of 95 and add extra link(s) as needed when test fitting tracks to the model. Have ~85 assembled for one run…
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While the first 25 links with five parts each were fun even a bit of a novelty with the old MK’s, reality of the grind has taken place.
Discovered I seem to have exactly 192 links or exactly enough for two tracks with 96 links and no spares. Hopefully, I miss counted and have a few spare links.
More fun than a visit to the proctologist office but less than having a cavity filled at the dentist office.
Total time on links so far ~ 6 hours.
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Wow, I admire your dedication to this. Those tracks would drive me Insane or Blind.
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Michael, thank you. Had to whip out the optivisor for sure with all the small parts.
Halfway there, I think 9 hours one track.
Pretty impressive with the quality engineering & design. This is the only set of injection molded plastic tracks, I’ve seen that flow and move like high quality 3D printed or white metal.
However, they are fragile, just check out how little of that pin circled in blue on the left can engage with the arttached link.
To the second track…
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These tracks sound about the same as making home made ice cream - a brilliant, fun novelty until you’re halfway into it and you find out how much f*cking work it is!
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Matt, that is the perfect analogy!
An ice cream freezer with a hand crank no fancy electric motor.
Finally both tracks are done!
Total time: 14 hours & 32 minutes.
My time likely would have been about 18 hours without the Zoukei-Mura & GodHand nippers. The sharp point on ZM’s proved superb nipping parts but especially small track pins on assembled tracks. I couldn’t do that with the blunt nose GodHand’s. Nipping the nubs on the guide teeth after cemented to the tracks for me the GodHand’s were invaluable for fine trimming.
None of the links bind or cemented together. In part due to care in assembly but also due to outstanding design. Only two track pins were lost in assembly of 960 parts. Usually, 5 to 15 fly away/tweezer lanch but due to good engineering that just didn’t happen with this track set.
Easily the most amazing injection molded plastic tracks I’ve assembled.
Y. Tomioka Design office deserves major kudos 
for this product.
ModelKasten deserves major kudos for getting the right designer .
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I once built a Tiger Tank model that put the current crop of Tamiya kits to shame. It was considerably larger in size and interior parts. Today’s kits are seriously disappointing, microscopic, even in the 35 scale. I wished I could find a 35 scale that was just like my original Tiger. Fully detailed interior as well as exterior. Of course it’s been ALOT of years gone by since I built that kit. Late 70s. So I can’t recall the brand name of the kit. But I’m pretty sure it was a Tamiya kit since it had rubber tracks. Maybe a Monogram? It was a beast of a model and I spent a lot of hours working on it. Maybe. Just Maybe a Refield will come close to scratching that itch I’ve had every since my first Tiger Tank.
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Sounds like the Tamiya 1/25 scale one. A huge monster, especially for back in the 70s!
Ken
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Sounds like good memories and a lot of fun!
The only Tamiya kit that meets that criteria, I’m familiar with would be the 1/25 scale Tiger from 1969. It’s been re-released many times.
scalemates: tamiya 1/25 tiger-1
Box art
I built one long ago in the mid 1970’s. Working suspension, working individual link tracks, full interior plus engine - state of the art for that era. It definitely put the 1/35 kits to shame of the same time period and was way more fun to build.
Mine needs a rework…
BTW - The 1/16 scale Tiger 1 came out in 2000 or 2001.
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Yeah it could have been. But it’s been so very long since then LOL. But I just remember spending every chance I had working on it until I finished it. It was painted dark gray with a rattle can. So such thing as an airbrush for me then.
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Thanks to my youngest sister who rescued it, I still have my 1/25 Tiger that I bought at the PX in Ft Leavenworth in 1971-72. Got repainted in the early 90s.
Now covered in cobwebs on top of a bookcase.
And this is a kick ass build you’ve got going Wade.
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Al, it’s always good to see a model that’s a long term survior! Love the Tiger!
Thank you for the kind words on the build because its about to get medieval…
Tracks wrapped, it’s back to the kit wheels.
Set the razor saw jig up again and cut rhe other seven wheels. Did all eight outer sets so I can pick the best six sets. ModelKasten wheels will replace the front pairs.
The rough cut grooves. Worked over with back of an Xacto blade to clear debris from groove and make sure the grove tracks correctly. Follow with widening grove with scriber.
The process was smooth as butter after working on tracks the last few days.
I think that will have to do for simulating three wheels.
Wow! The kit outer wheel for the other set is too FAT, compared to my grooved wheels!
Plan A
Zero issue, will chuck it in the drill and cut it down to size. Oops, the spindle is too big for my MiniCraft drill even with an adapter (old paint brush handle).
Defeat
Plan B
Zero issue, will chuck it in the MiniCraft lath with the big drill and cut it down to size. Oops, the spindle is too big this one as well even with an adapter (old paint brush handle).
Defeat
Rinse-repeat etc…
Defeat
Plan Z - Go Nuclear
Winner!
Blue points to wheels that was shaved down,to make thinner. Red points to the shaver. Wheel needs to be ~2mm thick so ~.5mm or so has to go.
Seven wheels remaining to thin and eight to groove
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Man Wade you are just eating this kit alive! Keep on keeping on!
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Matt, thank you. Hopefully, enough progress happens to wrap the suspension soon.
Thinned all of the offending wheels to nearly the same thickness. Per cheapo Harbor Freight caliper, everything was with in .1 milimeters.
Set up a new jig, similar to the old jig and grooved the other thick wheels which were yet again a different thickness.
Removed the Model-Kasten wheel and decided to test fit the modified wheels…
Rear view
Wheels down…
I think when tracks are on just enough of the modified wheels will show.
I will have to build the Model-Kasten assembly, tomorrow to see what else needs tweaked for the wheels to live in harmony.
Overall, felt like a good model hobby day with 14 of the 16 wheel sets wrapped!
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Best laid plans…
The Model-Kasten double wheel is 4.9mm thick vs the kit double wheel which 2.8 mm thick. The 2 mm difference is glaringly obvious. The MK’s will work but I’d rather have the wheels roughly the same size.
The “smart thing” to do is to just use the kit wheels and accept having that front outside tire on the model.
Like this…
…but I want the Leningrad area Tiger look…since that’s where “218 aka waffles” would have been stationed…
Rolling the dice…
…CHOP!
Oops…the Tamiya adapter/bushing fell out.
It extends ~ 2mm on back side of wheel. Need to make sure the wheels will line up with the other wheels. That also happens to be flush with the rim.
Set with LC, will reinforce bond with CA…
…because the front has to be made flush.
After that’s done and the other wheel pair modified hopefully the flange can be added without too much hassle.
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Tamiya 1/25 Tiger is a fun kit, but that interior is laughable by today’s standards.
I built one OOB just for fun and enjoyed myself!
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@TankManNick Nick, welcome to the thread!
Since 1/25 scale Tamiya Tiger released in 1969, I’d say still being a fun build is one hell of a win for the 54 year old model kit.
At some point, I may rework my 70’s era 1/25, adding zimmerit would rock.
Cheers 
Meanwhile back in the hobbyroom…
One wheel with flange! Woot!
Just have to do one more, then detail both.
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Wade you are amazing at figuring this out! Well done.
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Great work Wade 
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