IM looking at the AIRFIX 1/72 Tiger I Ausf E (Kit 01308) or Panther G (kit 01302)models.

Does anybody know if these kits have individual or flexible tracks?

Any help is appreciated

They have vinyl tracks, but I would recommend you put them down and pick up the Revell kits of the same subjects. Much better, only marginally more expensive and are truly 1/72 scale kits. Old Airfix kits were originally 00 scale and then boxed as 1/76 scale and finally "called" 1/72. They were not bad kit for their day, but you're looking at 1960s technology.

All Airfix armour has flexable track. The kits you mentioned are very, very old and the tracks have little or no detail. Unless they are the only kits available to you, you would be better off getting the newer Revell versions. Even the Hasegawa kits, with all their faults, are better than those Airfix relics.

Airfix has strong 'nostalgia' value, little else to recommend them. The exception (and there always are exceptions ) are the softskins both built from the box and as the basis for conversions, kits such as the R.A.F. Refuelling set and the LCM and LCVP are truly superb...

The Tiger (and Panther) were the first in the Airfix Armor kits - early 1960s... So I totally agree, they have nothing whatsoever to recommend them. When they were produced, the tracks were horrible 'rubber-band' type things. Best put in the 'spares -box' in the backyard which is emptied at regular intervals...

Their are two manufacturers currently producing 'state -of -the-art' braille-scale kits - Revell (Germany) and Academy. With the latter you will find all the variants on the Tiger your heart could desire.. As for the Airfix kit, Dump It!....Jim

R U N A W A Y !!! Agree with the others, I built those circa 1960-62, they are now lonnnnnnnnng obsolete.

The mid-70's versions of these same kits offered rubberband tracks that reacted to the rest of the plastic - the entire suspension would melt down on to itself! And stay away from the Heller or MPC re-boxing of these kits too.

Airfix only made a couple decent 1/76th kits - and their Panther and Tiger are NOT in that very short list.

MY2c.

Academy? Are you sure about that? Off-hand, I think Revell is the only company producing state-of-the-art kits.

You are forgetting one manufacturer, DML has some really nice 1:72 armor out that is not quite as good as some of the revell but are catching up.

As far as the airfix kits go i wouldnt recommend there armor at all alot of the time parts are poorly molded and dont fit very good i have a few lying around that i started and gave up on. Definatly go for the revell Tiger Ausf E. SUPER kit fits together nice and looks great.

Academy did a 3 kit ground support set which included the Kettenrad, Jeep and Kubelwagen. Nothing else in 1/72 scale ground equipment. Trumpeter has done a couple of nice 1/72 scale modern Soviet/Chinese trucks and the Elefant/Ferdinand German tank destroyers.

Whoops - Typo time, I meant DML ...God, how embarassing...Jim

mirage has some nice 1:72 scale kit, and so does extra-tech

I have to agree that except for their soft skin vehicles Airfix needs to do some more work.

Seems this scale is probably the most contended scale around at the moment even Heller (never thought I would say this) has been releasing some retooled kits.

As for manufacturers, don’t forget ESCI their M4A1 (Italeri reboxes it), is probably still one of the best out there, and quite a few of their other kits too.

Have a look at Doug Chaltry’s excellent site http://www.ontheway.us/. Amongst other things there is a kitlist, previews, reviews and comparison articles. There is a Tiger Comparison article, which covers what you would like to know. http://www.ontheway.us/articles/tigercompare.htm

I believe that at the moment Revell makes the best 1/72 scale examples of both the:

Tiger I Ausf E
Panther G

Revell is slightly more expensive than Airfix but, the difference is worth it (iro time, effort, detail and value for money).

http://www.ontheway.us The best site i have found for 1:72 kit reviews i go there before i buy any 1:72 kit to check out what others thought of it. The comparison articles and previews of some of the models have been the deciding factor in what i buy alot.

Revell Tiger is only around $9 or somthing, and is well worth it.

HAve fun building what ever you get