My 2 cents:
I recommend the Sherman first, so you will have an opponent for your Tiger I.
Later purchase and build the KT.
Why?
The Tamiya King Tiger as an out of the box build is a so so performer. It needs some running mods you have not considered, if you are going to fight it on battle days and or really enjoy running it in the backyard.
Of course, if it is an indoor model, the KT mods are not necessary.
The Tamiya kit idler spring tensioners do not work very well, so at the very least those need to be upgraded to keep the tracks from breaking or coming off.
Suggested King Tiger Battle Day Mods:
1. Idler spring tensioner system (email for more info:
[email protected])
2. Gearbox mount brace to stop the hull from flexing and deforming (email for more info:
[email protected])
3. 3 to 1 gear reduction (KT scale speed is way to fast as is the Tiger I)
http://www.axels-modellbau-shop.de/k...g:::1_2:2.html
The Sherman on the other hand is almost bullet proof as an out of the box build and as you know, it is budget friendly. And there is a great T23/76mm turret kit available now (email for info:
[email protected]).
After seeing the recent Sherman build results of others on this forum I interrupted my Tamiya Panther build (also awaiting the arrival of corrective Panther parts) and built a Sherman with a T-23 turret.
The build is a battle day oriented M4A3 (76) W HVSS/M4A3E8 “Easy Eight” Sherman Tank; Tamiya F/O with TBU and I am pleased with it. It works great and required very little post build tweaking
to get it to run well.
I just sprayed it with rattle can paint, Tamiya Olive Drab TS-5 (late production color) and dusted it with Testor's Dullcote. I will detail paint and weather it later. Probably, will not even drag out the airbrush to finish it. I will dry brush it with PrismaColor Chalk and seal it with dullcote.
Sherman Budget:
Kit $339.
Hong Kong Air Mail with Insurance to CA $115.
TBU $75.
T-23 Turret Kit $120.
Spray Can Paint $23.00
Receiver and crystal for existing radio $30.00
Total Build: $702.