Review
Ammo of Mig: 1945 King Tiger
staff_Jim
PublisherNew Hampshire, United States
Joined: December 15, 2001
KitMaker: 12,571 posts
Armorama: 6,599 posts
Posted: Friday, June 16, 2017 - 05:51 AM UTC
The first plastic kit to be produced for Ammo of Mig, this King Tiger offers 2 in 1 builds with 4 different decal/camo schemes diagrams and some highly unique build options.
Read the ReviewIf you have comments or questions please post them here.
Thanks!
Croatia Hrvatska
Joined: September 13, 2006
KitMaker: 306 posts
Armorama: 282 posts
Posted: Friday, June 16, 2017 - 08:17 PM UTC
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Joined: January 26, 2007
KitMaker: 1,024 posts
Armorama: 1,013 posts
Posted: Friday, June 16, 2017 - 09:24 PM UTC
Just for one significant shortage of this kit, as discussed before it would be impossible to accomodate the range finder sistem between the turret roof and the main gun breech...
It's not too much, but it's all we got...
Alberta, Canada
Joined: August 20, 2008
KitMaker: 1,295 posts
Armorama: 1,191 posts
Posted: Saturday, June 17, 2017 - 03:13 AM UTC
Mit Infrarot means " with Infrared " as in it comes with the infrared scope model FG 1250 version of their infrared night vision technology.
Do what you love, and love what you do... then everything else is simply an extension of that which drives your heart.
Manitoba, Canada
Joined: January 03, 2016
KitMaker: 3,791 posts
Armorama: 3,778 posts
Posted: Saturday, June 17, 2017 - 08:40 AM UTC
Personally I believe that if the German companies and engineers involved stated that it would be equipped with a range finder and infra red set I believe that they would have somehow made it work. Otherwise I think that this is one of the few paper panzers that I could look forward to building.
Region de Coguimbo, Chile
Joined: November 19, 2014
KitMaker: 60 posts
Armorama: 49 posts
Posted: Saturday, June 17, 2017 - 11:02 AM UTC
Lovely kit, but I'll wait for the AM companies to release dem yummy detail and conversion sets.
Currently on workbench:
Tamiya M26 Pershing
Dragon/RPM Hummel
Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
KitMaker: 2,408 posts
Armorama: 2,300 posts
Posted: Saturday, June 17, 2017 - 02:26 PM UTC
They should've checked the German spelling...
Alabama, United States
Joined: March 09, 2015
KitMaker: 281 posts
Armorama: 273 posts
Posted: Saturday, June 17, 2017 - 07:18 PM UTC
Kit is Takom's without interior.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Joined: January 26, 2007
KitMaker: 1,024 posts
Armorama: 1,013 posts
Posted: Saturday, June 17, 2017 - 07:30 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Personally I believe that if the German companies and engineers involved stated that it would be equipped with a range finder and infra red set I believe that they would have somehow made it work. Otherwise I think that this is one of the few paper panzers that I could look forward to building.
Just to be clear: what I meant in my comment is that there is no way to place the rangefinder system inside the "regular" Tiger II turret, since there would be no room between the turret roof and the main gun breech.
The height of the turret must have been increased, thus requiring a redesign and modification of it.
This was already stated in Schiffer Books' "VK45.02 to Tiger II" book, by Jentz and Doyle.
Not to talk if you choose the 105mm gun...
The kit does not include this option. You can find here a visual comparison between the two "versions" offered in the box:
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e8c8caa84d5b730e0d214e738/images/397af93b-266e-46f9-b050-f55f66f6d857.jpgI'm not saying that no one can live with this, just pointing out a not-so-minor mistake of this kit.
It's not too much, but it's all we got...
Alabama, United States
Joined: January 26, 2006
KitMaker: 1,381 posts
Armorama: 1,347 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 18, 2017 - 08:27 PM UTC
I’m currently working up a build for a review and I suspect my review will be rather harsh, which sucks as I am both glad they came out with this kit and generally like Ammo’s products and would love them to keep doing esoteric kit mods. However, you pay the same price as the Takom kits with full interior and you lose the interior. Then you have two major modifications to the King Tiger in the plans with a new engine deck hatch/grill system and a modification to the turret walls and roof to allow the range finder to be installed. They got the engine deck right but used the “standard” Tiger II turret shape with a couple of range finder bulges slapped on. It also retains the canyons between the turret roof plates there were a criticism of the original kit instead of the flush or very slightly recessed welds on the surviving examples. It’s a well molded kit, but significantly less value for the money than the original and they flubbed one of the two main updates they needed to make for the kit. There are also small details on the turret roof that reflect the fall 1944 production tanks versus the 1945 versions.
You can see in the comparison with the old yet accurate CMD conversion kit where they went awry with the turret.
New York, United States
Joined: December 01, 2007
KitMaker: 1,575 posts
Armorama: 1,509 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 18, 2017 - 09:16 PM UTC
The tracks in this kit look to be mirrored. The tracks seen on KTs in the Jentz/Doyle book show asymmetrical tracks used. The track hangers in the drawing of the final production (21 Mar 45) KT are set up for only asymmetrical (non-mirrored) track shoes. A photo of a final production turret in the book (pp. 134-5) also clearly show that the alignment of the hangers and studs is for asymmetrical tracks. What references are these companies using to make the presumption that handed Kgs 73/800/152 tracks were used? All evidence points to a single non-handed link. If the Bovington V2 KT ("Porsche" turret)was used as a reference, it wouldn't be correct. The tracks for this particular vehicle were removed from a tank which was used to test them. Using Dragon 6232 as an example, the track link that would be needed is Part F2, which makes up the "left hand" run. The track run for the right side would be the left side flipped, just like on Tiger Is.
http://hitemlowandhard.blogspot.com
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Joined: January 26, 2007
KitMaker: 1,024 posts
Armorama: 1,013 posts
Posted: Monday, June 19, 2017 - 02:29 AM UTC
"Poderoso caballero es Don Dinero" -Powerful gentleman is Mr. Money-, as says the famous poem of Don Francisco de Quevedo (Spanish poet 1580-1645).
Sooner or later, almost everyone gives up accuracy or extra-work in exchange of an easier and faster profit...
It's not too much, but it's all we got...
North Carolina, United States
Joined: January 21, 2004
KitMaker: 803 posts
Armorama: 740 posts
Posted: Monday, June 19, 2017 - 09:57 PM UTC
So it's a TAKOM kit right?
North Carolina, United States
Joined: January 21, 2004
KitMaker: 803 posts
Armorama: 740 posts
Posted: Monday, June 19, 2017 - 09:58 PM UTC
Why pay extra for Mig Jimenez' "branding"?
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Joined: January 26, 2007
KitMaker: 1,024 posts
Armorama: 1,013 posts
Posted: Monday, June 19, 2017 - 10:25 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Why pay extra for Mig Jimenez' "branding"?
Good question, but I'm pretty sure that there are enough people out there that will do this... just because of the brand.
If I have to find a reason, I'll say that the "what-if 1945 features" might be interesting -accuracy aside-
It's not too much, but it's all we got...
Canelones, Uruguay
Joined: December 27, 2006
KitMaker: 773 posts
Armorama: 765 posts
Posted: Monday, June 19, 2017 - 11:37 PM UTC
Alabama, United States
Joined: March 09, 2015
KitMaker: 281 posts
Armorama: 273 posts
Posted: Tuesday, June 20, 2017 - 05:38 AM UTC
Would love to see Takom release this kit with interior included.I would buy one.Always wanted a July 1945 Kingtiger.
New Jersey, United States
Joined: September 22, 2006
KitMaker: 1,081 posts
Armorama: 1,066 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 01, 2017 - 05:44 PM UTC
Oh Boy another tiger !
Alabama, United States
Joined: March 09, 2015
KitMaker: 281 posts
Armorama: 273 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 01, 2017 - 05:54 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Why pay extra for Mig Jimenez' "branding"?
If you want the July 45 version with the revised engine deck this is about the only game in town.Since it has Takom origins I hope Takom releases their own version with interior. Up till now Trumpeter E75 was the closest to the July 45 version in kit form.
New York, United States
Joined: March 08, 2010
KitMaker: 3,662 posts
Armorama: 3,078 posts
Posted: Monday, July 03, 2017 - 12:13 AM UTC
Active Campaigns on the bench:
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Slovakia
Joined: July 03, 2011
KitMaker: 21 posts
Armorama: 20 posts
Posted: Monday, May 27, 2019 - 07:11 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I’m currently working up a build for a review and I suspect my review will be rather harsh, which sucks as I am both glad they came out with this kit and generally like Ammo’s products and would love them to keep doing esoteric kit mods. However, you pay the same price as the Takom kits with full interior and you lose the interior. Then you have two major modifications to the King Tiger in the plans with a new engine deck hatch/grill system and a modification to the turret walls and roof to allow the range finder to be installed. They got the engine deck right but used the “standard” Tiger II turret shape with a couple of range finder bulges slapped on. It also retains the canyons between the turret roof plates there were a criticism of the original kit instead of the flush or very slightly recessed welds on the surviving examples. It’s a well molded kit, but significantly less value for the money than the original and they flubbed one of the two main updates they needed to make for the kit. There are also small details on the turret roof that reflect the fall 1944 production tanks versus the 1945 versions.
You can see in the comparison with the old yet accurate CMD conversion kit where they went awry with the turret.
CMD turret can't be accurate, the new rangefinder would collide with loaders periscope in it. And by simple trigonometry, you cannot win the claimed necessary 4,5 cm at that spot by moving the middle plate edge that little forward. Actually there is space enough above the recoil cylinders even at full depression in the normal turret for the stereoscopic rangefinder, just build any interior available and look or look at the pictures from Patton museum example with the cutouts. It is all wild guessing and any variant that is technically possible can be built safely, as we speak about a hypothetical vehicle. If an unaltered turret suits, it would be the safest option, so AMMO can be more right thatn wrong.
