Tamiya 1/35 scale Tiger I Panzerkampfwagen VI Sd.kfz.181 kit revisit and twin motor gearbox retrofit

A kit revisit of a Tamiya 1/35 scale Tiger I Panzerkampfwagen VI Sd.kfz.181 past build. A retrofit of the Tamiya twin-motor gearbox converting the Tiger I from a static display to a motorized tank kit.

[@JMdfcv]

Ha, very cool! I built that Tamiya Tiger with the same decals but the wired remote version, similar time period too.

[@davidchin350]

Wired remote control is also very cool to turn the tanks but the joystick attachments to the metal contacts usually bend or crack over time.☹️

[@edsgarage9966]

Thanks for the DIY tutorial on retrofitting. I can see the facilitation with seeing these in action.

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Ed, very mesmerizing watching the track action 🙂

[@KHModelWorks]

That was awesome, you brought life to an old build, and it was unstoppable. And a great demonstration of how to solve problems and make it all work.

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Kurt, my first and not my last Tamiya motor retrofit. The unstoppable Tiger I 🐅. It was fun and love watching these self propel.😁

[@scalemodelcarchief]

Very cool David. The Tank made short work of crossing the notebooks. Well done bringing it to life. 😀👍🏻

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Steven, the twin motor unit has tremendous torque compared to the single.😊

[@ovidiuschley3346]

Fantastic project my friend and the gearbox for the TIGER I look amazing and so well done . The final assembling and looking at the TIGER I running is absolutly awesome . Thank you so much for sharing my friend and have a great time , take care !🎩👌🏻👍🏻🤝🏻🏅🏆👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@davidchin350]

Thanks for stopping by, glad you like it 👍

[@PanzermansBunker]

Awesome job retro fitting that Tiger static to Tiger motorized. It is fun and mesmerizing to see a model drive by itself. You have me interested in digging out an old build. I made an old Nichimo kit of a Hummel self propelled artillery vehicle. It comes motorized, but I quit the build due to its toylike finish. Maybe I'll revisit it after all. Thanks for the inspiration, David. Happy modeling my friend.
Bill

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Bill, that Hummel sounds like the perfect kit to try retrofitting. Have fun.🙂

[@moparnut6286]

I love when things get motorized... Thanks for sharing David.

[@davidchin350]

Same here John, adds another dimension of a challenge to the build.🙂

[@joramamodellbau3987]

Hi David. A very successful mobilization of your tiger. Worked very well! Another interesting side of the hobby.
Wish you a nice weekend. Greetings, Joachim

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Joachim, I love watching motorized tanks self propel. The Tiger I 🐅 is such a robust looking tank.👍glad you like it 🙂

[@joramamodellbau3987]

👍

[@goforitpainting]

Hi David, I look forward to the sequel. Have a great weekend.

[@davidchin350]

Thanks for stopping by, more conversions to come possibly 😊

[@markfrommontana]

Very impressive David. You built the original well and executed a nifty conversion. 👍👍

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Mark, love motorized tanks🙂

[@SmallADVentures1973]

That's really neat putting tgat motor in there, David, really nice build,brother ✌️😁

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Stephen, my first time attempting a retrofit. Had fun improvising.

[@poppysrcandmodels]

Wow! Very nice, you did an awesome job on that David! Those are really neat models! 👍😎👍

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Jeff, love motorized tanks. Something very hypnotic about watching tracks in action.🙂

[@marksmithdiecast001]

24 likes! Nice job David! That is really a cool tank! I love your Military collection!

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Mark, more motorization retrofits to come.😊

[@hillbillymodeling]

Nice retro fit David, thanks for sharing! Johnny

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Johnny, motorization is fun.

[@mikeandhev]

Nice work on getting the gearbox to fit and work in the Tiger model.

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Mike, glad you like it.👍

[@jrsscalemodelz4378]

Very nice looking build David 👍🏻

[@davidchin350]

Thanks JR👍

[@mightyjjk1298]

Totally cool! Nice job on getting it to go. Didn’t know they had those motors still available. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@davidchin350]

Thanks John, many Tamiya motor kits are available as science educational kits. If your feeling up to the challenge give it a try, it's fun to watch these self propel.🙂

[@ramblers69]

Nice work David, really cool

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Tom😊 How was Jaxcon? I saw your VW Moonseye in Rick's video.👍

[@johngligo4049]

Nice revisiting of an earlier tank build David! It was definitely fun watching your twin motor in action! Glad you were successful getting it installed into the tank and seeing it move! I was thinking about buying a tandem motor kit like that for one of my RC loaders.

[@davidchin350]

Yes the twin Motors are very useful. I will attempt to convert one of my tanks into a 2.4 ghz rc by installing a receiver as well.

[@johngligo4049]

@@davidchin350 That shall be neat! Can't wait to see the results 😊

[@philRminiatures]

Impressive motorized Tiger David!

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Phil 👍

[@kyledehartsscaleworks]

This is very cool David. This is some awesome stuff. Cool old build to put the motor in.

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Kyle, I'm glad the retrofit worked out.👍

[@kyledehartsscaleworks]

@@davidchin350 it was a great idea!!

[@SteveJonesScaleModellingSite]

Very interesting video David. Never knew Tamiya did these motors. Great info my friend

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Steve, Tamiya offers many variations of motors as science educational kits so choose the right one for the application.🙂Glad you enjoyed it.

[@seamybmw]

Nice retro fitting David looks great 👍

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Seamus, love motorized action.😊

[@TI4438]

Excellent vid, dude. Ya can't go wrong with a Tiger I.

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Ed, I think we both built the same Tamiya variant from 1970🙂

[@TI4438]

@@davidchin350 correctomundo!

[@islandrc-duke1972]

great build and motor retrofit

[@davidchin350]

Love scale models with motorized action.

[@greybeardmodels]

Interesting exercise David. Well done 👍✌ Cheers Bob

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Bob👍

[@modelspeedshop]

Very nice fab work David, that thing is cool brother
👊🏻🇺🇲

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Mike, improvising is my middle name.😊

[@SevenWelt]

Hello, Very Nice work from you!👍
Nice greetings from Germany!🖖🍀

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Seven, glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Very cool David!

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Tim, love motorized action.😊

[@ZinzanModelling]

Dear David,
This is an interesting call- back to my youth! I recall that, now and again, one came across a motorised kit and they were quite exciting for that. I remember that the gearboxes and motors came pre-assembled and were simply dropped in.
The result was rather good excepting the slight lowering in the position of the sprocket wheel, but I think that's a minor consideration in the grand scheme of things!
Regards,
Z

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Z, these motorized tanks are a blast from my past and you can find some still for sale. It was fun to me since I always wanted to retrofit a vintage Tamiya.🙂

[@modeltankguy]

kool beans david works great nice video keep them coming ill have to try this out

[@davidchin350]

The conversion was fun, definitely give it a try.🙂

[@modeltankguy]

@@davidchin350 will do thanks for sharing bud

[@michaelhintzmikesminiature1812]

This is really Cool David!!! Thanks for sharing

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Mike, love watching tanks self propel🙂

[@ericsmodelgarage]

Awesome video, David! Came out super!👍

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Eric, did you ask to exchange shop cards with me in the comments of an earlier video? Trying to remember who it was.🤔

[@ericsmodelgarage]

@@davidchin350 I believe I did at one point, but if I hadn't yet, how about trading shop cards!👍

[@davidchin350]

@@ericsmodelgarage okay I'll send you one since ure po box is listed on ure channel🙂

[@themediocremodeler-zm7ny]

Nice video my friend. The tank is really cool. I learned a lot. Thanks for sharing the video.👍

[@davidchin350]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. I love to motorized things🙂

[@themediocremodeler-zm7ny]

You are very good at it too!@@davidchin350

[@MODELMIND72]

Super sweet Styrene Goodness!

[@davidchin350]

Thanks👍

[@davidparsleyscustomscaleemerge]

Nice work!

[@davidchin350]

Thanks David, love kits that are motorized🙂

[@rcplaytime]

that is sooo cool 😎 i love that 👍 brilliant 👍👍👍👌👌

[@davidchin350]

Thanks, love watching motorized tanks in action.🙂

[@davepriddy9263]

All you need to do is put 1/8 to 1/4 inch polystyrene sheet to under to get the sag in the tracks that you are looking for.

[@davidchin350]

@@davepriddy9263 even moving it will dress the tracks??

[@FreeMan-JPLK]

Very cool ! 👍

[@davidchin350]

Thanks, glad you like it 👍

[@wtarcadewithgab8053]

this is a nice tank, but i wonder if it is possible for me to retrofit the tamiya m1a1 with this gearbox

[@davidchin350]

Thanks for watching. You should be able to retrofit the same motor into the Abrams. Watch my RC motorized Abrams video and your kit should be the same less the motors and gears. Tamiya drive sprocket wheels should have the 6 sided nut fitment and just scratch build the nut onto the axle like I did to handle the torque. You should have room since Abrams drive is in the rear and engine compartment seems big and square. Good luck with your project.

[@wtarcadewithgab8053]

@@davidchin350 thank you!

[@janwetzlar]

i think in the 80 their was a TIGER WITH SOMEWHAT SIMILAIR MOTOR AND WIRED REMOTE FROM TAMIA FOR THE TIGER I got it here from my fathjer he build it back in the day sry for caps lock ^^

[@janwetzlar]

i think its the same viontage tiger my father build it in desert afrikakorps scheme

[@davidchin350]

@@janwetzlar yes Tamiya did offer wired remote control and radio control as well. If you look at my videos I have some wired RC tanks as well. I prefer just motorized now since the wire gets in the way and over time the joystick on the controls start to crack due to stress on the plastic.