Building a Mid-Production Normandy Tiger 1

[Abe Froman]

Oh god, wish I had never said anything!!!!

Seems like a world of potential inaccuracies that will bug me for the rest of my life. Cannot wait for my reference books to arrive.....real minefield all this...usually do SCI Fi ( 29" Millennium Falcon being built and full size metal Pulse Rifle from Aliens - real gun bits, Studio Scale SHADO Mobile from Gerry Anderson's UFO series )

Takes me back to when as a 15 year old in a model club, some "EXPERT" told me that the Tiger 1 should not have the Feifel fitted in Europe...turns out he was wrong and a bit of a di*k ( I now know it depends on when, but my model was early Tiger...not that I had any concept of what, when why, then! ) But he was a real D**k regardless LOL.

I guess at the end of the day I want it to be reasonably accurate enough to clear my OCD compulsion of never being able to build out of the box ( without buying £200 of aftermarket bits ), enough to make me be able to live with it when I know that others would criticize. Its a fine line LOL

I just want it to be accurate enough and look great. HELP!!!

Are we all a bit MAD?

DB

[brizo58]

Hi ,
Could I ask where did you get the MENG nut&bolt set from been looking for some time but no luck. Brian...P.S found Em!! Hannants have them all 4 sets. . Brian...

[jarndice]

ABE, In the words of the "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" DON'T PANIC, The Aerial stowage tube modification will take some care but any half competent modeller will be fine, just do not rush it, and it is FREE.
The Cupola is always wrongly mounted on the Turret on the early model 1/16 Tiger no matter who makes it (Except TAMIYA) the Hinge on the lid of the cupola should be in the 20 to 8 position with a view slit facing directly forward (The Turret must of course be pointing straight ahead)
I am certain your's is not, this is how to fix it.
Put a blade through a view slit (it should be relatively loose) LIFT GENTLY a couple of times then put the blade in the opposite view slit and again LIFT GENTLY, you may well hear a cracking noise about now, that's the glue failing, keep doing this BUT GENTLY!! Until the Cupola comes free, Look at the base of the Cupola and the mounting on the Turret, you will see a slot in the turret mount and a knob on the Cupola base, the one fits in the other, unfortunately it is wrong and the knob on the base of the Cupola has to be ground off, once that is done the Cupola can be placed in the right position, and yet again it is FREE. So there you are two Modifications done at no cost.
When you read up on the Tiger 1 and listen to people like David Bryden you will notice that different models of Tiger 1 (basically Early, Mid, and Late)have different modifications, there are a number of sites on the web dedicated to German Armour of the second World War in general and the Tiger 1 in particular. Research is something most of us find ourselves doing because it is very rewarding knowing what you have is RIGHT. shaun

[Abe Froman]

Hi ,
Could I ask where did you get the MENG nut&bolt set from been looking for some time but no luck. Brian...

Its on ebay
eBay item number:
111351338733


DB

[Abe Froman]

Shaun, got that bit already..love the slice the groove and the Cupola comes free, mine has oozing glue and had to be sawn off completely!! And so it begins...LOL

[Abe Froman]

Shaun, I guess its no different from the different versions of the Millennium Falcon...just need to role up my sleeves and get stuck in.

Here we go...will start my own thread so I don't ruin TFTM,s thread.

Good site...glad to be a part of it. Salut

[jarndice]

ABE, I wish I had known about your trouble with glue, The answer to that is "ZAP7" a debonder which eats Cyano glue and is marketed by RIP-MAX in the UK, always worth having some around. shaun

[DavidByrden]

some "EXPERT" told me that the Tiger 1 should not have the Feifel fitted in Europe..

I can't think of many Tigers using Feifels in Europe.
There's the training schools, of course, and SS.Pz.Abt.101 got their new Tigers in Italy before heading off to the East.
s.Pz.Abt.504 actually used Tigers with Feifels in action in Europe, if you count Sicily as Europe.

Anyway; if you want a list of features for a January 1943 Tiger, I could write one.

David

[Abe Froman]

Think Sicily would be part of Europe! and I believe Wittmans early Tigers have the filters. Also found many camo schemes for 1943 Tigers with the system too...tho as Its a new subject maybe I am looking at the wrong thing.

But a quick look at the internet says that the Feifel was discontinued in Oct 43, therefore surely every pre Oct 43 Tiger had Feifel? And I guess a fair amount of those went into European campaigns? Am I incorrect...its all new to me.

As I guess there were not may Tigers made each year, spread across the many campaigns, I am happy to have a few examples in a specific campaign paint the way.

A list of Jan and lets go mad and say Feb too 1943 features would be so helpful. Thanks..I really do need some learned assistance..it will only drive me a little crazy later if I get it wrong.

Any Help...Gratefully accepted

DB

[Abe Froman]

BTW when I say Jan Feb 43...I mean that's when the tank was made..so could be later in the war..assuming it did not break down or run out of fuel and be abandoned..