After all of that wheel drama that flange is pretty!
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Randy, Johnny & Matt, thank you!
I appreciate everyone that’s stayed the course with this slow moving thread.
Realized there’s a very cool silver lining with the Model-Kasten Tiger wheels. The whole set is intact other than 2 of the 16 optional flanges. There’s a whole rubber wheel set for newer 90’s Tamiya Tiger kits for another project.
The Sturmtiger on display in Russia 
, I believe is the original prototype Sturmtiger.
In WW2 the prototype looked like this with rubber tyre wheels! It was the only Sturmtiger to be fitted with rubber wheels from what I’ve read.
There may be a rubber tire Sturmtiger on the market in 1/35 but I’m not familiar with such a kit.
Stash to the rescue…or a Stash-Scue…
Perfect Tamiya for the Model-Kasten wheel set! Of course, the kit late Tiger 1 tracks will need replaced. At a recent IPMS Roscoe Turner meeting, I came away with these non-working Model-Kasten early tracks from a fire sale.
No zimmerit either so it could be a fast build at some point.
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That first Sturmtiger is based on a “Mid” hull. It actually has part of the S-mine system still fitted! And there must be Feifel parts too.
David
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Thank you , David!
You’re keen insight & sage advice is always appreciated. I’ll have to “source” additional parts etc.
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Is interesting to see that the Kubinka Sturmtiger has a bolted on lower front hull glacis. THe Tamiya kit does not offer that.
Meng does offer a set of Nuts and bolt caps that will work on replicating that.
I think the set is Set D.
And AFAIK, only Ryefield Models offers a kit that would replicate the Kubinka Sturmtiger.
Trumpeter makes a 1/72 scale version of the prototype with the rubber wheels, but you can make a 35th scale by cobbling the really roadwheels off the Tiger with the Tamiya kit, like Wade mentioned, so that’s not a big deal.
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Looks like it is sporting transport tracks too…
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Reynier, thank you for sharing the information on the RFM kit. Dreams of the Kubinka Sturmtiger are in the future.
Test Fitting
The wheels, sprockets & idlers still fit.
Track fit, dreading a possible Check UnderWare Light if the track guides won’t interface with the idler & road wheels.
Took few wiggles then a loud click but seems OK.
However, there’s a sprocket issue.
Track has 95 links and will need one additional link for a total of 96.
Very tight on the sprocket, the fit is unacceptable but hopefully fixable.
Plan A I think beveling sprocket teeth slightly on the front and a bit more aggressively on the back will address the issue.
Plan B Should Plan A fail, enlargement of the spots on the track where the guide teeth go, like some Dragon Panther’s require maybe needed.
Plan Z - “Nuclear Option”
aka (Go Floquil or go home)
Eyes Only - Classified Military Model Building Secret.
Rumored to involve airbrushing with a xylol based enamel & Liquid Cement to create “fusion” and make parts go together.
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You forgot Plan XXX. A well placed M-80 firecracker.
Then it would look like it got hit by a JSU-152.
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How many kits ended up like that when i was a punk kid? couple firecrackers inside and I make my kits look like it got hit by a Maverick missile…
Ah! Those were the days… 
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If anyone needs a cheap Tiger 1 for a blown up project I have a Tamiya one sitting on my shelf that I was going to do alot of work years ago. Just let me know.
. VBG
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Sable I did that to a Bismark model when I was a teenager and almost blew my ear drums out in our bathroom tub. I had door and window closed and my ears rang for a while. My mom came running in and was pissed and wondered what the heck I was thinking. VBG Yes those were the days!
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M-80’s? 
Sounds like a winner.
Hope to work on “218” late tonight.
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Ah, the wonder years. As in, wonder how we made it with all 10 fingers!
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Yes, get over this hurdle “218” and then its on to Tamiya MM-157. Another Oldie. The King Tiger from 1975.
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Michael, this wonder that first released in 1967?
There’s a 99.9% chance of a set of On The Mark Photo-Etch for that beast in the aftermarket stash. However, I don’t have the kit. It looks a little too “vintage collectors” priced.
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Wade you can get Tamiya 35164, same kit, for $30.
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Matt, that’s definitely a better price.
However, do you think there’s any interest to see one of those built these days?
Bonus King Tiger video…
WJHJ - #19 Turning and Driving the King Tiger, Panther & Stug
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I know Wade, I know, Meng, Takom, and RFM (and Dragon) have far eclipsed these kits and made them obsolete in both price and detail. Some may be interested in watching us bring one of these kits up to speed with a lot of old school modeling and aftermarket, but lets face it - modeling days (or years) are numbered, and there are better (and more fun) kits out there now than 50 year old Tamiya kits. Best to let the ancient Tamiya offerings collect dust and acquire a new, top end kit.
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Matt, agreed
Other than a Tamiya Pz IV D, H & Italeri Leopard from the 1970’s, this Tiger 1 is probably my last visit to that era.
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Life’s too short. Build new kits.
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