ABE'S EARLY TIGER 1 BUILD

[blimp]

Hiya Abe - I recently did my Tiger 1 etch with this solder paint , http://www.finescale.org.uk/index.php?r ... ct_id=3712

* p.s. This is the Voyager etch Tiger 1 set ( the Aber stuff is over complex IMO )

[Abe Froman]

OK, sold...off to maplins for the solder paint and a burner!

Added a thin surround to the hull aperture for the two forward hatches...not sure you can really see it here



Better here



Am I right in thinking that on a grey tank all hatch internal faces on the tank will be grey too?

Next, the ball mount and domed outer shield for the MG.

More soon.

[Abe Froman]

Tank Config as I see it:

Feifel ( might go second version with single chamber ) and pipes
S mine Launchers
Aerial
Early Cupola
Spare tracks on tank front and turret ( 5 plus 2 )
Pistol port on turret
Early Tracks
Exhaust guards
Tamiya stowage bin
Tamiya mantlet
Aber fenders on side
Tool Box on rear
Mudguards on rear
15 T Jack
Early ( ish ) 2 x Bosch headlights on hull top - 1 x each corner.
engine starter - early model with one hole in middle and the metal rod bit on chain ( in middle and vertical rather than angled )
Smoke grenade launchers

Tools to config and locations
Aber cleaning rods to appropriate location
Watertight plate in situ ( one near the front drivers hatch ( moulded in on the HL )

Thinks that all unless you fine folks have suggestions.

Ideally tank could be Jan 43 to spring 43, bearing in mind that it could also be Jan 43 with some upgrades or build changes as it went through production ( I don't know I am just making it up as I go )

Fire away with any thought, they will be most appreciated as this is your field I am dabbling in.

D

[jarndice]

ABE Hi, The Feifal air cleaners in the early (seperate Tanks) are made by ABER and AXEL's sell them but with your lack of affection for PE you might want to stay with the later pattern, In my experience the metal upgrades are not that much of an improvement on the Plastic ones.
When it comes to the "S" mines and the headlights there is somewhere on the Forum a timetable of what and when changes were made to the Tiger 1 It would be worth your while searching it out, that way you will be closer to the right silhuette and perhaps save MONEY!!!
The Plastic toolbox if properly painted looks great and in my humble opinion does not need changing unless you are prepared to go the whole hog and do the working hinged lid version, bearing in mind that with the Feifal air cleaners above it, it pretty much just sits there so you would not get any use from a working hinged lid.
Smoke grenades were not a 100% fitting on Tiger 1s so studying a few photographs would help give you an idea of which one's did and did not have them.
Just remember a plan is only a guideline and should be flexible enough to allow for change, (We were taught that in the Regiment!) shaun

[PainlessWolf]

Abe,
Good Morning, Depending on year, the inside of the hatches will be either elfenbein ( an off white, ivory color ) or primer red. Following along!
regards,
Painless

[DavidByrden]

A January 1943 Tiger might not have S-mine launchers, though it would have the welded bases. It might not have the starter handle shaft stored on the bottom rear. It might not have exhaust shields. It might not have the standard turret bin; there were several prior types. It might have the small holes above the driver's visor, or they might be plugged up.

It would have 5 long portions of the gun-cleaning rod stored on the hull top. In February they were changed for 6 short ones.

In March, the rear engine cover plate was changed, causing the latch on the engine hatch to move. The Feifels were simplified. The turret got an extra periscope. Around this time, the tracks were added to the turret sides; 8 at first, then 7.

In April, the sprocket design was changed, and small legs were added to the engine hatch.

In May, the frames were deleted from the rear mudguards, and the engine was changed to a HL230. I guess that's where you stop.

All of the above Tigers had smoke launchers.

The insides of crew hatches were normally painted in the external base colour.

David

[Abe Froman]

David, great info...will go and do some research...cheers man.

Cheers also Shaun and Painless. Definitely not going for an opening tool box. And looking at some of the Aber, especially with regard to the cupola periscopes, they lack the robustness of the real thing...I guess etch can be overly thin at times.

Have ordered my blow torch and popping into Maplin tomorrow for some flux paint. Then all I need to think about is not poisoning myself with the fumes or burning down the house with the torch

I can hear the ambulance already

As for a flexible plan, mine is so flexible I could end up with a Tiger II !

Saw Fury last night. Was great to see a real Tiger rather than some cobbled together thing on the wrong wheels and tracks as in Saving Ryan! Overall I thought the movie was OK...bit too similar to Ryan though in terms of Brad Pitts character and Tom Hank's.

Toodle

and

Pip

[Abe Froman]

Hi all. I bought some spare track links for the turret but they have solid guide horns ( thinks that's the correct term ). Does anyone know of a manufacturer that does accurate spare links? Guess I will need some for the front of the tank too!

Question, the front track seems to be just slotted down into the bar that runs across the front hull. However I have seen photos of Tigers with less track links on the front and narrower bars holding them. Did the crews weld these bars on themselves or was is factory fitted and they just started fitting less spare links at the front?

Also does anyone do the big rear deck latch arms ( the ones moulded into the HL dec ) to hold the opened plates on the real thing? Might like to replace these or could just build them if anyone has a drawing.

D

[jarndice]

Why Hallo again, The opening engine hatches have always eluded me, as far as I know there is only a centre hatch available and that is for a LATE model Tiger 1.
The spare track retaining bar is available from FORGEBEAR but it is only ever a flat pattern and this was fitted by the factory BUT there are many pictures of field modifications that show rod or bar rather than a flat construction, so you can if you want make your own.
Now to spare tracks, if you are going to fit some of them to the side of the Turret you will need "METAL SPARE TRACK HOLDERS"these are made by SCHUMO and they are about 40 euros a set the product number is T10014.
There is a scale stencil on a Tiger 1 build on the Forum to show where to place these on the turret, it was submitted by David so it can be trusted.When I bought my spare track holders from Schumo the pack included a stencil but in case your's does not there is the one on the Forum.
The spare tracks are from "Impact" and the product number is 16t3-11sl about 3 euros each which includes a track pin, you can order multiples so that you have enough for the Turret and the front.
All of these track associated goodies are available from.
http://www.axels-modellbau-shop.de
Go on it's only money shaun

[Abe Froman]

Shaun, decisions made:

Jan/Feb 42 ( the ish variant )

No Turret tracks
Cleaning rods 3 +2
Closed binocular holes on drivers vision port
No additional periscope on turret for loaders hatch
Engine grills fitted
wing nits latches either side of bow MG
S Mines
Smoke launchers
Fluffy Teddy tied on front tracks ( )
Aerial
Early Fiefels

Shaun, so acquainted with axels already to the detriment of my wallet thickness! Suppose I should give them some more Euros and buy some links for the front. At least I saved $65 + on the Schumo turret track holders....but then I am buying the Schumo S mine launchers so I guess its a nil gain or loss overall.

Take it easy out there...



And that spec is written in concrete ( flexible concrete?)

Question - dimensions of the Wooden jack block? My HL didn't have one. So will balsa build.