Tamiya Tiger I 1/16 barrel upgrade

[daleboucher]

Hello,
I'm currently working on building a Tamiya Tiger I and would love to hear your thoughts on barrel upgrades and your preferences.

1. Aber offers a detailed aluminum barrel, but it's solid, which means it can't accommodate the flash unit. On the other hand, Schumo has a hollow aluminum barrel that is compatible with the flash unit. Which option do you prefer?
2. Is the Aber barrel too heavy for an RC unit?
3. Do you use the flash unit, and what are your thoughts on it?
4. Does the flash unit (visible inside the muzzle brake) detract from the model's realism?

Thank you!

[SoCalBobS]

Depends on your intended use. Those of us who conduct battles using IR emitters and receivers prefer to place the emitter in the barrel, which makes it visually easier to aim. Some place the emitter elsewhere, usually in the mantlet, and place a flash unit in the barrel. Also, there are flash and smoke units that flash the light and blow out smoke when the gun is fired. A flash reveals your position when you shoot if the enemy can see down the barrel. Helps a little to balance battles.


If all you are striving for is static or display realism, none of the above is necessary of course.

[Panzermechaniker]

The Tamiya muzzle flash unit is fine until it inevitably stops working and replacements are very expensive and difficult to find. I ditch them as soon as that happens now. It also removes a long not very flexible wire that messes up the rat's nest of wiring that is a stock Tamiya turret and causes rotation and elevation problems. If you are intending to use the Tamiya TBU system I'd ditch it. I still prefer to use the Tamiya barrel mounted emitter housing. Easily removed and far more effective than inside the mantlet mounting