Early Tigers without Feifel air cleaners

[43rdRecceReg]

I don't know what the consensus is, but I find the Feifel air cleaner arrangement on the Early type Tiger 1 to be a real pain. On my Taigen Tiger I build a couple of years ago, I included them, but found they got in the way when I wanted quick access to the battery and smoker. Like many here, I expect, I then opted for a solution: fit magnets to the air cleaner tubes to permit speedy parts separation. That seemed to work at first, but when knocked, or disturbed I found that one of the pipes ended up doing a Hitler salute (Die "Hitler Grüsse").
So...I wanted a precedent that would allow me to modify my early tiger so that it could be Feifel-less, without raising eyebrows. The eyebrows are 'figurative', since I live on my own with a Westie (Terrier), who's not a natural rivet counter.Visitors also tend to have little interest in model tanks...deeming the building of them at best amusingly eccentric and, at worst, worthy of cancelling all future visits
I could go for a mid-production conversion, but that would also mean removing the pistol port, and it's a metal turret). So...I was looking for an early model that was morphing into a mid version. This is what I found:

Tiger without Feifels

Tiger in 1943 minus Feifels

Feifel-free Tiger 1

Tiger 1 without Feifel.jpeg (96.53 KiB) Viewed 5467 times

Tiger No 323 without Feifels

Tiger 323 minus Feifels.jpg (55.44 KiB) Viewed 5467 times

Tiger 323 is having work done on the engine, and maybe this explains the absence of Feifels; but it looks like they've not been present for a while..
I think it's possible to have an early Tiger with the old style cupola, early wheels, pistol etc.. but with no Feifels.

[tomhugill]

I think they were got rid of pretty early. Tigers in focus has a time line of the modifications I'll try and find it

[jarndice]

I love the detail that the air cleaners offer although I agree they can be a pain,
If it helps the "Feifal Air Cleaner system" was introduced on to the Tiger 1 in March 1943 and was deleted in October 1943 so you only have a 7 month window when they were fitted.
More than enough leeway to build a Tiger 1 early without them.
My regret is how difficult it is obtaining Tiger 1 early modifications,
I have had to make my own early model front and rear fenders which bear no resemblance to the later hinged ones and hand making the exhaust muffler shrouds plus lots of other detail such as the twin pot air cleaners which I tracked down to "Axels" thanks to "Tom Hugill"
Shaun.

[tomhugill]

Shaun's best me, but David Bryan's site is a mine of info

http://tiger1.info/EN/Feifel-air-precleaners.html

[43rdRecceReg]

Well, thanks Tom and Shaun. Yes, David Byrden's head must be bursting with details and Tiger facts. I can just imagine what a night in the pub with him and Alan Hamby would be like Panzer eggheads! Certainly not a night for the ladies
I'm thinking that precedents can be found for divesting a pre-Jan 1943 of many of the components we generally associate with the Early Tiger (as represented by HL, Taigen and co.,): the Fenders, Feifels, Zimmerit, escape hatch, side cables, smoke candle dischargers, and many more. Hamby's site documents a baffling and rapid set of upgrades and downgrades.
I think Estniche posted a pic sometime ago of one of the first Tigers, and it was minus Feifels, side-skirts (Fenders)..minus most things.. It was the equivalent of a Tiger 'streaking'! (I think you have to be over 50 to know what that means.. )

[capt midnight]

Well, thanks Tom and Shaun. Yes, David Byrden's head must be bursting with details and Tiger facts. I can just imagine what a night in the pub with him and Alan Hamby would be like Panzer eggheads! Certainly not a night for the ladies
I'm thinking that precedents can be found for divesting a pre-Jan 1943 of many of the components we generally associate with the Early Tiger (as represented by HL, Taigen and co.,): the Fenders, Feifels, Zimmerit, escape hatch, side cables, smoke candle dischargers, and many more. Hamby's site documents a baffling and rapid set of upgrades and downgrades.
I think Estniche posted a pic sometime ago of one of the first Tigers, and it was minus Feifels, side-skirts (Fenders)..minus most things.. It was the equivalent of a Tiger 'streaking'! (I think you have to be over 50 to know what that means.. )

Was that the photo of the Tiger that looked like it was only have assembled at the factory?

It did look quite odd after seeing so many photos of the fully dressed vehicles.

Bill

[43rdRecceReg]

Well, thanks Tom and Shaun. Yes, David Byrden's head must be bursting with details and Tiger facts. I can just imagine what a night in the pub with him and Alan Hamby would be like Panzer eggheads! Certainly not a night for the ladies
I'm thinking that precedents can be found for divesting a pre-Jan 1943 of many of the components we generally associate with the Early Tiger (as represented by HL, Taigen and co.,): the Fenders, Feifels, Zimmerit, escape hatch, side cables, smoke candle dischargers, and many more. Hamby's site documents a baffling and rapid set of upgrades and downgrades.
I think Estniche posted a pic sometime ago of one of the first Tigers, and it was minus Feifels, side-skirts (Fenders)..minus most things.. It was the equivalent of a Tiger 'streaking'! (I think you have to be over 50 to know what that means.. )

Was that the photo of the Tiger that looked like it was only have assembled at the factory?

It did look quite odd after seeing so many photos of the fully dressed vehicles.

Bill

The one leaving a factory (going right to left) in unattractive travel tracks; looking nervous, modest, and uncomfortable naked? Yes, I recall that one; but I think it was another. Three Tiger tanks in a French field, all looking embarrassingly bare and shy..
I must track it down. Low self-esteem Tigers needed to roast a few Shermans before beginning to look the part

[43rdRecceReg]

Ah... I found it. In fact, I was thinking of pic No 4 here on the first page of Estniche's celebrated Tiger 1 build, and confusing it with the threee white tigers above it. Check the thread out, anyway, it's still one of the most entertaining
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=20233&hilit=estniche

[Tiggr]

I'm not a rivet counter (honest) but the very first picture is a late production Tiger, so not fitted with Feifels anyway.

[43rdRecceReg]

I'm not a rivet counter (honest) but the very first picture is a late production Tiger, so not fitted with Feifels anyway.

Yes, you're quite right, Tiggr, they're fairly blurry..but she's definitely sporting late production wheels. I liked the pic anyway Mind you, when you look hard enough, you can always find an exception particularly when early and mid-production
models were retro-fitted with parts after being damaged and recovered.
I like this website. Vol 3 alone (linked has over 220 Tiger photos, and almost another 400 in previous sections...)
http://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/ ... iger-tank/