At 1:40 Yes, you're right about the tracks being irrelevant to the kit. I honestly think Takom intended those extra sprues to be in the Carius kit, and they are here by mistake! At 5:05 Sorry, but no, the correct way for the umbrella is slanted - I drew a diagram, it's on my site. Takom's problem is they made the umbrella straight while its legs have to be slanted.

Thank you for this build review! Such quality kit reviews are hard to find because most ''reviews'' are just eyeballing sprues without ever building them. I read about RFM Tigers have fit problems and suspension system molded in the wrong direction (among other things) that would have never come out if those kits were never build and lets be real, most ppl buy kits and NEVER build them. Either way, I ordered the new Takom Early Tiger (that one that came in the new Tiger big box). In general, Takom kits are quality so I have little doubt they could screw up that kit too. Its been 20 years since I got a Tiger kit... my first one was the Tamiya one that was tooled in the 70s and I still have PTSD about that kit LOL.

7:00 “It’s that sort of thing that … can get you disqualified from a competition.” That sounded personal 😆

I've never built the mid version but i will be getting one of these . Looks awesome. M

I've just bought this kit, the Zimmerit is the best I've seen on any model. It builds up nicely, too. I must admit I passed on the tracks for a set of RFM ones, but that's not to say they are in any way bad, just my personal preference. Highly recommended to Tiger fans like me.

There’s only one channel I come to when taking Tiger’s and kits of Tiger’s and I’m here watching it..Just got this kit yesterday and it looks a stunner..Also got a Takom Hetzer and it also looks great..Takom makes very nice and fair priced kits..

I split the sprues with ten guide horns in half and cut back the ends of the sprue to make some space. then I glued the guide horns into the links and they sat flat. You can't glue the links together in the guide without doing the guide pins because they have to go around the wheels

Thanks for the update & information! I am no Tiger expert, so I am learning a lot!👍Interestingly, I was just looking at some Eschelon & Star decal sets yesterday, which provide a lot of information regarding whether or not the Tiger had zimmerit & whether it was an 'initial', 'early', 'mid', or 'late' version. I don't know how accurate their research teams are, but I would think that they have relatively few mistakes in terms of zimmerit & versions...however the paint schemes may or may not have beens easy to ascertain in B&W photos. One thing I will add is that all the Tiger I decal sets did open my eyes with one thing: Given the incredible levels of attrition, especially on the Eastern Front, I was quite surprised to see quite a few 'initial' and 'early' versions survive through much or all of 1944. So, as you point out, some of the Tigers would have had to cobble together parts from whatever was available in the workshops & what could be salvaged from Tigers which were destroyed or had to be abandoned. Consequently, one really has to check one's references if accuracy is a high priority (and you now have me very tempted to get that book, which I have heard about, but...🤔 Anyway...I am. looking forward to seeing your completed build, AND your painted & weathered final model! Cheers!😀

😎😎 a very nice looking model would love to get it , got the tiger 1 and 2 book in that series not got the one you got welljell 😭.

The photograph of the tiger with the umbrella had the turret at an angle so is it possible that the umbrella was at a more diagonal?

Can I get the link for model shop you get kits from pls

interesting

Interesting you should mention the umbrella being at the wrong angle. If it is the same as the Otto Carius version then the whole cupola is at the wrong angle. Maybe if you adjust the cupola to the correct angle (with one of the viewports pointing directly forward) then it might bring the umbrella to the correct angle also.

I'm just going to come out and say it, you will never find a perfect Tiger. After reading all the books, photos, damaged vehicles I've seen late tigers with early turrets early turrets with late turret modifications all sorts.