Tiger1 roadwheels arrangement

[Gazbo]

Sorry if this has already been asked, but I couldn't find anything...
What's the deal with the Tiger 1's road wheel order of fitting?
I've noticed some (Including the Bovingdon Tiger) have the "Outboard set at the front, and many others have the inboard ones at the front.
Is it just a case of it not mattering?
Mine (HL Tiger1)are all off the chassis at the minute, for paint and weathering. Original placement was with the inners to the front. I just wondered if it makes a difference to the running, once replaced, ie - will they fit with the outers to the front on the HL, or do they bind on the sprockets etc. and is there a way round whereby it is more likely to throw a track?
Bowing to your experiences...
Matter of choice?
Jus' sayin....

[silversurfer1947]

Looking at Walter Spirlberger's book on the Tiger, it would seem to be that outboard set should be at the front. Photos showing the inboard set at the front would probably be when the tank is fitted with transport tracks. They are narrower and as a consequence, the complete outer sets of wheels are removed.

[DRC]

I'm in the process of modelling a late production Tiger and the photos I've looked at show the order of the wheels reversed for the late steel wheel ones. I'd love to have a definative answer as getting an outside set to fit against the rear return sprocket is a real pain.

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[tomhugill]

Sometimes they removed the outer wheels on the front set to help prevent them getting clogged with mud and freezing.

[jarndice]

GAZ Hi,
If you refer to Wolfgang Schneiders "Tigers in Combat" Volume 1, After the editors notes are 5 double sided colour plates of Tiger 1s and 2s .
All the early Tiger 1s that are on rubber tyred wheels have the wheel arrangement of the front wheels (Immediately behind the front sprocket)on the OUTSIDE,
But, and this is where it gets confusing, Lates (Late steel wheels) the front steel wheels are on the inside (Immediately behind the Sprocket) This is a normal fit, whereas the early Tiger 1s did, as Richard remarks, have their outer front wheels removed when transport tracks were fitted when travelling by Railway flatcar.
Then the Tiger 2 (new turret and steel wheels) the wheels are as they are on the Tiger 1 Early, with the Wheels on the outside (immediately behind the Sprocket) although as Tom says the front outer wheels were often taken off in Russia to keep them moving through the Mud,
I am quite sure that if you were not confused before you are now. Sorry.
Shaun.

[silversurfer1947]

Tigers fitted with steel wheel did not have the outer row of wheels and thus resemble the older Tigers in transport mode. The full configuration of the rubber tyred Tigers had 24 wheels per side. Steel wheeled Tigers only had 16 wheels per side.
http://www.alanhamby.com/suspension.shtml

[jarndice]

Richard that I think is what I said ,
The only difference between my piece and yours is I specified Tiger 1 Late so as to avoid confusing the original questioner about the steel wheels fitted to the Tiger 2,
After all the question was about whether the leading wheels were inside or out not how many there were,
No need to confuse someone on a subject that is already confusing,
Wheels on Tigers are a bit like the Air cleaner system or the layout on the flank of a Tiger of the Track cable,
They seem to change with the passing of the days and yet there is a certain pattern that helps as a guide to identify which year the Tank first entered service.
Shaun.

[silversurfer1947]

Sorry if I seemed to duplicate - I was typing my post while you were posting yours. I just type slower!

[DRC]

Well. It's back to the drawing board for me! Cheers.

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[Tiggr]

Over the last few months I've seen wheel arrangements on early tigers with the front most outer road wheels removed. Have a good look through the photos on Worldwarphotos.info subsection Tiger 1 for different configurations.