New Tiger Build.

[jackalope]

Hmmmmm. Wonder why they went to the trouble to get the turret and the upper hull right and then messed this up? Well I trust you so I'll shave them off, easy peasy.

Anything else I should make sure to do or change that you can see?

Oh 1 quick question for you, I have early tracks and road wheels however the upper has a late headlight and the cupola is also the late style, would this be something that would have been done? Would this be a mid production Tiger?

[DavidByrden]

Wonder why they went to the trouble to get the turret and the upper hull right and then messed this up?

Oh, I wouldn't say that. There are a few other mistakes on the turret and hull.

I have early tracks and road wheels however the upper has a late headlight and the cupola is also the late style, would this be something that would have been done? Would this be a mid production Tiger?

Yes, it would be, but there would also be a folding gun lock on the rear deck...or at least, two rectangular supports for it.

David

[jackalope]

What else is wrong with the turret and upper? Or at least the part I'm using.

The gun lock thing was on all mid production Tigers? If so guess I'll have to build one.

Please know I do not take any comments the wrong way, I'm asking for help and know how to except it, so thank you very much David.

[DavidByrden]

Well, I haven't done a complete check of the Hobby Boss model, but I can see these issues;

- Periscope holes above driver's visor should not be there.
- Turret bin is somehow too narrow, it should almost touch the escape hatch on the turret.
- Turret escape hatch has bevelled sides, it should be a simple disc.
- The latching hook on the engine door is in the wrong place.
- The turret "chin" is the Early type, a Mid or Late would look different.
- Mantlet has very sharp edges, in reality it was a rounded casting.
- Turret roof has a weld line across the middle, it should not have.
- Turret roof should have a weld line across the front, it doesn't.
- Rear mudguards have "mirrored" holes, in fact they were both like the left side one.
- Rear air vents have "mirrored" holes, in fact they were both like the left side one.

I listed some of these issues here; http://tiger1.info/EN/HB82601-errors.html

David

[jackalope]

Periscope hole above the drivers visor? Forgive me you lost me there. Is it in any of the shots I've posted thus far? I'll fix it just let me know what it is.
The turret bin looked right comparing it to the H/L ones I have but I will look again, perhaps I didn't look as closely as you.
This I will check too but if I remember correct its a separate piece so easily corrected.
Did I make mine incorrectly that I did? I used the H/L hull for this area as I stated.
Turret "chin"? Again I apologize you have lost me. I'm no where near the expert you are if you could possibly post a pic or 2 for me to learn from.
Mantel shape can be changed with sand paper, luckily I happen to have a bunch! What do I need to do here?
The weld line is easily corrected thank you for pointing this out to me as I'm sure I would have missed it.
I do not plan to use the Hobby Boss mud flaps so I'm good there.
The rear air vents where exactly? Again I must apologize as I'm not sure what you are referring to.

My build uses, and please feel free to offer suggestions at any time!, the Hobby Boss road wheels, H/L upper cut out as you see in the pics, the Hobby Boss upper deck plate again as in the pics, the Hobby Boss turret, a Taigen lower hull with Taigen drive sprockets, idler wheels and early metal tracks.

The main reason in using the Hobby Boss was its road wheels, the fact that turret rotation is correct for the Tiger which is why the hulls were spliced together and the shape of the turret being correct. Now true all of these "correct" items I mentioned are said to be "correct" by members of the OTHER R/C tank forum and with my ignorance of the shape of the turret I have only their word to go off of. Have I made a terrible mess that can not be fixed and should just be thrown away or am I at least starting down the correct path? HELP!

[jackalope]

Ok I see some of the things you refer to in the link they seem easy enough to fix. Thanks man!

[jackalope]

So I removed the welds from the upper deck and the top of the turret and started to fit the Hobby Boss road wheels to the Taigen lower and sadly I found they will not fit. The suspension arms for the Hobby Boss Tiger are different then the Taigen arms are because the arms are different the back spacing for the Hobby Boss road wheels will not fit the Taigen arms. At this point it looks like I'll be forced to use the early model Taigen road wheels I already have instead of the Hobby Boss one, bummer as the Hobby Boss wheels look so damn good!

Back to the upper deck for a moment, I have decided to glue the 2 upper parts together and just use the Taigen hold down system to keep the 2 halves together. I had originally thought I would glue the upper and lowers together and just use magnets to hold the Hobby Boss deck on the H/L upper but when I decided to cut the engine deck to make the hatch open for access to the smoke unit and sound system volume knobs the way I did in my King Tiger there is no point in making the upper be separate pieces.

[edpanzer]

Your doing a great job so far jack I'm thinking of opening up my engine hatch's now.

[jackalope]

Ed, it's a royal pain in the butt however the effect is totally worth it! I used an exact knife and a pin vice with small drill bits and cut it out. I bent hinge pins from spare track pins I had lying about and used some bits of scape to make the hatch latch or whatever you call it. End result is its functional and looks good. Have to smooth the under side now that it can be seen.

Haven't done anything with it today just wasn't motivated to even start. Kinda bummed out, tomorrow is my birthday and it's the 1st one that my mom won't be around for. Sorry tanks are no place to sob on, I apologize.

[jarndice]

Jack there is nothing unmanly about crying when you are in pain, It is a bit like swearing when you hit your thumb with a hammer, It's natures way of dealing with the pain,
I have no words of consolation all I would offer is try to remember the good times. shaun