INTRODUCTION

The Aero-Mate Tiger 1 is one of the most detailed and well engineered 1/16 models that I've ever seen. The kit comes with everything you need to build the early Tiger 1 including a small driver and wrench that allows the builder to screw the small scale nuts into place as well as a small screwdriver for the many smaller screw sets that go into building this kit. The Aero-Mate Tiger 1 is a complete build, from the commanders copula all the way down to each and every individual track link

Received for review

Aero-Mate supplied RC Tank HQ with a partially assembled kitset as pictured which came with a detailed packing list enabling easy identification of each of the clearly labelled/numbered part sets.

At the time of publishing the Aero-Mate Tiger static kit is available at a cost of $US 2,099 with the electronics being an additional option

 

Drive Systems

Aero-Mate takes a different approach with the Tiger 1's drive systems offering brushless motors instead of brushed giving the tank a powerful drive-train. Each motor drives a steel worm gear housed in an aluminium case that connect to a outside reduction gear that drives the main front sprocket, just like a real Tiger 1.

 

Chassis The chassis of the Aero-Mate Tiger 1 is all aluminium and screws together, the design offers historical scale thickness in each side of the chassis and front armour giving the Tiger 1 more realistic look and movement. The driver shield can be moved to a closed position and the driver an radio hatches can also be opened and closed.

 

Suspension

During the building process loctite 232 is needed on many of the suspension parts and the builder will have to purchase this separately from the kit and I highly recommend using loctite on the suspension as the bolts and screws are many and will blackout when driving if loctite is not used. I found the suspension a joy to build each wheel hub contains two metal shielded bearings that are to be installed and the hub is in two halves that connect and are secured by small screws I recommend purchasing a magnifying headset like a jewel's visor as the work is scale an very detailed. Each suspension arm is steel and again very historically created they simply snap into place inside each completed hub then inserted into the lower chassis for a more detailed view of the construction process you can refer to our forum. I found the road wheels attach to the hubs just as the real Tiger 1's did with actual scale nuts and bolts the detail on this kit is simply out of this world Aero-Mate designed this Tiger so historically close to the real tiger you can even insert the spring metal torsion bars through the suspension arm from the outer-side of the upper arm just as it was done in the factory in WWII. Each road wheel has a real rubber tire that fits the wheel via a groove.

Idlers The Idlers are very well designed with metal shielded bearings and steel axles that run through a thick strong tensioner The tensioner system adjuster is designed just like the real Tiger, and is concealed under the idler tension cover caps located on the rear plate. The solid steel Idler runs through the steel idler arm and secured via a grub screw, the brass ball works as a set screw and should stay snug against the inside rear plate.

 Rear plate/exhausts

I was simply amazed at the accuracy of the scale thickness and position of the predrilled holes. The exhaust pipes are milled from brass are also built and glues is used to secure them to the manifold then steel exhaust guards and bolted into place. Notes; The exhaust manifolds are threaded on the inside which may indicate a future smoke system upgrade.The steel exhaust guards will have a nice rust on them allowing for natural weathering.

Front plate

The front plate is easy to assemble and also offers scale thickness, the machine gun also pivots and is hollow for insertion of a LED that is provided with the kit.

Turret

The turret is highly detailed and a heavy focus an the real tank is obvious, the turret moves with watch like precision from a small geared powerful motor even the escape hatch opens just like the real thing, also the commanders hatch is created with historical view and secured to the drum with scale boltheads offering a fantastic finish. The main gun is spring loaded and the elevation arm is finely milled brass and is also powered by a small geared motor.

 

Electronics

Included in the kit is the electronics which include two brushless ESC's a brushed ESC to run the turret traverse and elevation and a multi functions unit and speaker. The MFU (multi functions unit) controls and produces the tanks sound like; main gun fire, machine gun fire, Tiger tank running sounds and other functions like the lights and LEDS for the Main Gun flash and strobe for the machine gun even makes the entire tank recoil.

Conclusion

In closing I would like to say I have never seen such a fantastic Tank Kit , full metal full functioning every hatch functions like the real tank, the level of detail is unsurpassed this is a must have kit for every serious RC tanker

 

You can read more on the Aero-Mate build and functions setup on Panzer Forum 

 

DEMONSTRATION VIDEO COMING SOON