King Tiger: Takom or Meng ?

[KSaarni]

Hello everyone!

Trying desperately to get back some "mojo" regarding building models..

And I think I am on the right way.

Me and my wife had a domestic mini-mini-vacation (one night trip) in the Ardennes here in Belgium. While driving around the region where the famous Battle of Bulge happened, I saw among of kind of interesting things, also this Sd. Kfz. 182 Tiger II.

It was knocked out on December 21, 1944, more info under this link






But what King Tiger kit is the best or at least "best balanced";
Dragon, Meng, Takom, Tamiya etc etc etc ?

I have done some research, googling, reading reviews, watching youtube etc and have narrowed down the possible candidates to two:
Meng or Takom

The big question is, which kit of these two options would be best one ?

Foot note: I will not build any tank interior, but planning to buy some aftermarket stuff, such as metal tracks from Friul model etc.

Any recommendations ?

- Kari

[Floki]

Hyvää päivää Kari. It's good to see you around here. I have not built the Meng kit but the Takom kit is fantastic and would go together very fast if the interior was omitted. From the research I did before and during building the Takom the only real complaint from others is that it and the Meng set up too high. Apparently both companies took measurements from a tank with the engine removed. Even if it does set up too high In 1/35 it comes out to being around 1mm to me that's nothing. Here is a link to my build maybe it will help you decide in some way
http://www.spamodeler.com/forum/viewtop ... =26&t=3965

[BlackSheep214]

I like to refer to scalemates for reviews.

http://www.scalemates.com

Here are the Tiger tank reviews I found from scalemates. These were the search results when I chose Events - Battle of the Bulge. Hope this helps. I know it didn't pull up Takom kit Tiger for it wasn't on the list.


https://www.scalemates.com/kits/icm-353 ... er--976263

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/tamiya- ... er--132174

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/meng-mo ... r--1008063

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/revell- ... i--1119679

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/revell- ... fb--977622

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/tamiya- ... er--129573

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/forces- ... er--194682

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/trumpet ... er--148510

[speedgraflex]

Kari! I know nothing but I am here for the pictures and the advice! Thank you so much for your thoughtful and inspiring post. I feel your words most keenly about mojo. It’s possible to feel both part of all history as well as your own or in this case a specific moment in your life (vacation) meeting history. As usual I have no idea if this helps you on your quest, but I know there are others here who will write with authority. Kind regards from Los Angeles!

[KSaarni]

Hyvää päivää Kari. It's good to see you around here. I have not built the Meng kit but the Takom kit is fantastic and would go together very fast if the interior was omitted. From the research I did before and during building the Takom the only real complaint from others is that it and the Meng set up too high. Apparently both companies took measurements from a tank with the engine removed. Even if it does set up too high In 1/35 it comes out to being around 1mm to me that's nothing. Here is a link to my build maybe it will help you decide in some way
http://www.spamodeler.com/forum/viewtop ... =26&t=3965

Hyvää Päivää Clint ! :-)

Many thanks, I had totally forgot your excellent Takom build, that is really good reference stuff !

Interesting information about the hight, have heard of similar measurement issues with landing gears, but never thought similar would happen with tanks! :-)

- Kari

[KSaarni]

I like to refer to scalemates for reviews.

http://www.scalemates.com

Here are the Tiger tank reviews I found from scalemates. These were the search results when I chose Events - Battle of the Bulge. Hope this helps. I know it didn't pull up Takom kit Tiger for it wasn't on the list.


https://www.scalemates.com/kits/icm-353 ... er--976263

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/tamiya- ... er--132174

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/meng-mo ... r--1008063

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/revell- ... i--1119679

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/revell- ... fb--977622

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/tamiya- ... er--129573

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/forces- ... er--194682

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/trumpet ... er--148510

Many thanks Tom!
very much appreciated the effort you did to copy paste this!
As we have Flokis Takom build on SPAM, no need for more info regarding Takom.

I will scroll through these reviews for sure!

- Kari

[KSaarni]

Kari! I know nothing but I am here for the pictures and the advice! Thank you so much for your thoughtful and inspiring post. I feel your words most keenly about mojo. It’s possible to feel both part of all history as well as your own or in this case a specific moment in your life (vacation) meeting history. As usual I have no idea if this helps you on your quest, but I know there are others here who will write with authority. Kind regards from Los Angeles!

Many thanks Bruce, always as inspiring with your replies, helps indeed to build up the mojo !

- Kari

[speedgraflex]

My perspective is that the choice of kit determines the approach (scratch building, aftermarket, etc.) and few kits stand alone. A reviewer who writes “this builds into an approximation,” or “this looks like its subject despite its flaws” makes a kind of peace between accuracy and intention. We must choose the path. All the best.

[Stikpusher]

I have heard nothing but good things about Meng and Takom kits, but I’ve never built one myself. I don’t have any Takom kits in my stash, but do have a Meng Leopard. It does look to be extremely well engineered, but I can’t comment on fit or ease of assembly.
The only King Tigers that I’ve built were the original Tamiya Henschel and Nichimo Porsche turret types. And those were both long ago. Looking at the instruction sheets for both kits on Scalemates, although the Takom kit offers more options such as zimmerit and interior detailing, personally I’d opt for the Meng kit due to the inclusion of crew figures and link & length tracks.

[KSaarni]

Thanks Stik,

I had my Jagdpanther by Meng project last year and must say I was very satisfied with the kit.

Have studied different options, including the price aspect that weights in pretty significantly.

So I checked the prices on my local hobby shop and sorted them most expensive first and cheapest last.
These are all late production King Tigers, without interior.
Dropping out Italeri & Dragon

There are more variants available, but this is the list of those that "fit" my selection (except Das Werk in the list that has zimmerit, but added it in the list just as reference )

Academy_____ 45,00 €
Tamiya_______44,50 €
Takom_______ 42,50 €
Das Werk ____ 35,10 € -> Same as Takom (but zimmerit version)
Eduard______ 32,00 € -> Same as Academy
Meng _______ 30,00 €
ICM_________29,50 € -> Same as Revell
Hobby Boss__ 26,00 €
Revell _______24,00 €
Zvezda ______24,00 € -> Same as Dragon

As I don't really like the zimmerit versions, Das Werk (aka Takom) drops out. Academy and Tamiya also, due to pretty costly affairs. Takom being in the risk zone as well.
Eduard uses Academys sprues and this is the weekend kit, without PE parts, qiute big price difference with Academy.
(With PE price would increase to 36 €)

The reviews of ICM (and Revell) are not that bad, but somehow feels it's too simple build, too easy. Zvezda is a Dragon kit and I am not so sure I want to tackle such a kit now.

But, Hobby Boss has got good reviews also is pricewise ok.

Difficult, but then again, I have good experience of Meng from before..



- Kari