The JMBricklayer RC Tiger Tank 61501 is a life-like model that will keep you entertained for hours and even comes with a bang!
In the last review from JMBricklayer after we got the chance to review the 3-In-1 Medieval Weapon 30001. In this review, we also got the opportunity to review and build a Tiger Tank!
The JMBricklayer RC Tiger Tank is unique in design and comes with a rotating turret, and built-in gyroscope and can even simulate the sound of the engine that gives you that rare tank-building experience. JMBricklayer sells this tank for $59.99.
First Impressions
The Tiger tank is built using 800 high-quality building blocks that once complete measures 9.60 x 5.11 x 4.33 inches (LxWxH).
The 800 blocks are packaged in individual bags in order of assembly and this will become clear when we explain when building it or you may also understand how this works as you have already built a model from this brand.
The provided instruction booklet requires you to spend a little time studying as you only have images no instructions and no real part numbers either. At each section is a picture within a grey background of the finished item with a white box showing which parts are required.
Just like the 3-in-1 medieval weapon we have already reviewed in the instructions provided If a black bar is needed, you should select the bar which is of the same length as in the picture. If a holed strut is shown you sometimes get a blue figure which is the number of holes overwise you need to count them.
Let’s explain our experience in building the tank.
Design
The first thing to say is how life-like the representation is of the real Tiger 1 tank. Building the tank was fairly straightforward and took my father-in-law about a full day to build. He also said that a 14 year should have no issues building this tank.
The parts are mainly all grey in colour and the parts are slightly smaller compared to if this was a lego creation but still offer the same level of tightness you might expect and will stay together unless you pull them apart. There are 800 plastic pieces which can be assembled into the tank but it comes with a motor and a controller so you can drive the tank.
Once built this model toy can move in all directions comes with a rotating turret and comes with a built-in gyroscope that can simulate engine sounds. This is done with the provided motor and lithium battery. You can control the tank via the mobile app or the 2.4GHZ remote control. If using the app you will find the Bluetooth signal worked very well.
Set up
The set-up of the tank can be done in two parts building the main body and the tracks part one of the build and part 2 is the gun turret. You will notice the bags are numbered either 1 or 2 and there is a separate bag for the motor.
The instruction guide includes 71 pages with 137 steps all shown in images alone they are a little basic but what you do have is a red line to indicate where each piece should go. You will also notice there are markings for the tank making the build even easier. You will find a 1:1 image of the piece is shown on the page so you can hold the piece next to the instructions to ensure they have the right piece. You will also notice each step focuses on just a few pieces at a time.
When starting to build just take care when selecting the small black joining pins as there are two types and a mistake is likely. You will start with pack 1 but there are two packs and two packs with 2 printed on them. When starting stage 1 you will notice it’s not actually in a separate bag.
When you get to stage 4 you will need the other parts in pack 1 and then fast forward a few steps and at stage 15 the wheel parts are in a separate bag. Step 19 is the track assembly there are 61 parts made of interlocking plastic pieces for each track. I would recommend counting them out before you start as it makes it easier. The tracks are well-built and good fun to drive the tank around but might be tough to navigate an obstacle course.
Fast forward again to step 58 which was quite tricky as you have to press the parts upwards. I was impressed with some of the technics used to turn bricks into a real-looking tank. The details are incredible such as the exhausts mufflers that are built sideways and lean at an angle just like in a life-size tank. The turret also has a lot of details including smoke grenade launchers and the front of the tank even has two specialized pieces for the driver’s slit and bow machine gun.
Performance
The motor is located in the body of the tank with a space for the included USB cable to be put into the motor to charge as well as having a power switch. The provided controller requires 2x triple-A batteries or you can download the app and control the tank via your smartphone.
You can drive the tank forwards and backwards and also rotate the body and turret from left to right. The app also allows you to make the sound of gunfire and when you fire the tank even moves back a little to simulate the recoil of the gunfire. You will also notice when you turn on the tank and controller the tank makes a rumbling engine sound making this tank as realistic as possible.
Verdict
This is the second set we have built via JMBricklayer after the 3-In-1 Medieval Weapon 30001. I was even more impressed by the fact they have tried to make this tank as life-like as possible by including a number of special pieces which also add to the detail of the model. The instructions are well illustrated but I would like like a bit more detail as on some pages the image is just a little basic.
Price wise I felt at $59.99 is quite competitive when you consider other brands in the market. Would I recommend the set sure thing if you have a teenager who enjoys lego this will feel like a similar challenge. It’s also fantastic for anyone with an interest in war or military history. Once built it will look fantastic on my shelf with other models.
Product Rating
Design: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Set up: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Performance: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Value for Money: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Overall ranking: 4.7 out of 5.0 stars – 4.7-star rating
The JMBricklayer RC Tiger Tank 61501 is available for $59.99 via their website directly. – Want 15% off use code: VIPWG15%
Also read our review: JMBricklayer 3-In-1 Medieval Weapon 30001
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