For the first time since I've owned it, I just drove the Totentiger around casually all by itself this weekend. No IR battles, no other tanks, just me and the Tiger. I removed the IR emitter from the barrel, re-installed the cannon flash and took it over to a local elementary school park.

A curious 12 year old boy riding his bike stopped to investigate what was going on. He then informed me that my model was a "Panzer" tank! He also told me that during WWII, Germany was trying to take over the entire world, and that the Japanese even helped us (the Amerikaners) to defeat Germany. He knew this from one of his "Call of Duty" video games.. He seemed confused when I told him that Japan was never our friend during WWII and that they were on the same side as Germany.

He asked if he could drive the Tiger. I thought, can I trust this kid to not damage my tank.. When I was his age, I suppose I would have asked to drive it too, if the roles were reversed. After informing him that it cost $600 (he was shocked to hear that), to not jerk the throttle stick back and forth between forward and reverse (as that strips the gears and they are expensive to replace) and showing him how to work the controls, I handed him the transmitter.

The kid turned out to be a pretty good driver! Driving it in a similar manner that I had been doing. Wunderbar! I was impressed. Tamiya tank vs. 12 year old boy, equalled no damage He even gave the cannon flash a little workout. What a good kid, he just needs a few history lessons and he'll be ok. As the sun was setting, just before he left, he did say that the tank was "really cool" and that he wished his parents would buy him one.

After he left, I amused myself with gunnery practice at dusk, watching the cannon flash merrily away while enshrouded in darkness! Below are a few photos taken before said kid discovered Totenkopf Tiger 931 on this fateful day.

RESA,

Do you understand what you just did?

Yeah yeah of course 931 is a beauty, we all know you are skilled, but what really is great is what you did for that young man. Hats off to you Brother!

Now he has a little more knowledge and maybe just maybe this might lead to something bigger for him. I know how hard it is to turn over the controls to "Civilians," but you did it.

Thanks for using our hobby for what it does best...Educate!

Don

Yes, I agree with what Don said! Very commendable.....and brave! I won't even let my son touch my HL tanks! <div>
</div><div>Apparently the kid didn't even bother to listen to any of the dialog and story in Call of duty or pay attention to who his enemy was as a marine, lol! Get his gamer tag? Gotta keep away from his friendly fire! </div>

That boy will be changed forever, even if just slightly, by your kindness and trust.

It was hard to let my son drive my HL pershing even with no upgrades from the stock non S&amp;S. 

A Tamy with a detail job like that, a nice tank and a nice guy!

Nicely done my friend, nicely done.

Doug

Thanks for the compliments guys. Just to set the record straight, I've yet to display any sort of skill at painting or finishing one of these tanks. This tank was built and painted by Manchu9inf at his factory in Georgia. I've simply utilized non-painting and detailing skills, such as making mechanical and electrical modifications and repairs on it. I've been more of a tank mechanic than anything else to this Tiger. I've spend more hours doing that kind of stuff than actually driving it!

I'd like to repaint the tank sometime in the future. That will have to wait though, until I can obtain the proper equipment to really detail it out and step up the realism of the model a few notches beyond where it currently is.

I'm sure the kid that drove my tank felt kind of like I did when I drove Jeff489's KV-2 last month. He gave me the controls to his brand new KV-2 and even let me battle with it! Granted I am not 12, but still, that was mighty kind of him. Though I think I may have felt like I was 12 again when he handed me the controls lol.

Tony - you really should let your kid drive one of your tanks, that is just cruel. I don't know how old he is, but if I could trust a 12 year old stranger with my Tamiya, you should certainly be able to handle your own son driving your HL.

Steve,
That was a cool thing ya did, no doubt the young man left with a little more knowledge and learned that not all cool things come from an electronic game box!
Before you bought that tank, I did a similar thing with my niece, I think she was 7 when she saw uncle Will driving 931 in the back yard. She wanted to drive it too, and since I am her only uncle how could I decline. Needless to say, she had a blast driving it!
Will

Steve, thaqt very cool what you did, bravo!