Tiger number/unit markings

[MarkofZollo]

Now I have finally finished my final year of uni I have time to maybe finish some models!!! So, after painting the tank when I got it (15 months ago) I just put on a number I liked from the decals sheet which was 188. I would like to make the Tiger more accurate perhaps so would like it numbered accordingly for the Normandy theatre in summer of '44, same with unit markings if possible. Im sure some have seen it, if not here http://www.rctankwarfare.co.uk/forums/v ... 203#p55203" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I like the paint scheme as is so wont change that, and it doesnt have to be perfect markings wise, just feasable, so any suggestions welcome . I have looked through all material I have available but not found the answer. Also were there any Tigers in Normandy that didnt have zimerit or was it completely standard issue? Otherwise I will have to do that before I finish off the painting and weathering after recent alterations.
Any help on this matter would be great, Dave

[Delboy]

have you looked at this http://www.alanhamby.com/tiger.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
regaurds Derek

[Saxondog]

Check this site out,Sax

http://www.members.shaw.ca/grossdeutschland/vehicle.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://members.shaw.ca/grossdeutschland/tigers.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.members.shaw.ca/grossdeutsch ... ehicle.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Note tthe tactical markers on the air cleaner, Generic heavy tanks tracked vehicle marker and the white helmet of G/D

[MarkofZollo]

Thanks for the links guys, I have checked the Tiger 1 information centre but not found what I was after. I have looked through loads of paint scheme examples (there were loads on here but they seem to have gone?) for similar painted early Tigers in France but to no avail. Even a suggestion of a made up number that would be feasable would be good, then I could link unit decals, but Im not greatly knowledgable in this area.
Cheers, Dave

[tanks_for_the_memory]

Hi Dave,

I can highly recommend Elite Armor decals - they come with superb pdfs showing different colour schemes and where the markings should be applied (even the colours of the patches behind them).

Here's an example from the mid-production Normandy set:

Elite Armor jpeg 1 compressed.jpg (27.99 KiB) Viewed 6017 times

As for zimmerit (or the lack of it): there were no Tiger 1s in Normandy without it. There were, however, a fair few mid-production Tigers with rubber road wheels, etc - some even had the remaining mounts for the Feifel air cleaners. I am in the process of re-building my Heng Long Tiger as one of these (from SS-Pz.Abt. 101) at the moment.

Tim

[Saxondog]

Hi Mark, the pictures in the reference section are being replaced but not as quickly as we would like. As for the Numbers and Unit that can be resolved, send me your E-Mail address and I will send you some PDF files that I think will give you the information your after.

Sax

[Von kraftwerk]

188 would have been an improbable at least extremely rare number on any German tank esp tigers,some panzer units broke numbering rules,but the first digit for Kompanie 2nd zug or platoon 3rd the vehicles number in its Zug,Tiger battalions had 3 komp and each komp had 3 zug each with 4 tanks,each kompanie had 2 command Tigers and the battalion had 3 command Tigers it seems that sSSPzAbt 101 had its command Tigers numbered 001 to 009,45 Tigers was the paper strength of all Tiger battalions from 43 to 45 the highest number on a non command Tiger would be 334,however there were Tigers marked 201-205 in this unit early in Normandy campaign,the change to the 00 system for command tanks coming probably in late July/Aug,also not all Tiger designated as command had the full radio set up star antenne etc,as they were not always available,

[MarkofZollo]

Thanks for the info Von kraftwerk, however I am aware of this sort of info now, thing is back when I painted I thought it was simply numbered in manufacture order with some differences here and there. Problem is everytime I find a Tiger with the right sort of paint scheme and an early model it was in Russia in 44, or maybe has late cupola or wheels instead. Thing is I like the early model and the paint, but I can live with a fictional tank as long as its plausable. Looking at books Sax sent me I have thought of maybe 133 from sSSPzAbt 101, at least an easy change from 188, from seeing pics of 131 and 132.
I was asking 'cos my level of knowledge in this area is lacking, but now growing....

[Saxondog]

The Thing is before Kursk some unit like Grossdeutschland were getting their first Tiger units,and these were Gray early model tanks,That is why I chose this division I had a early model Tiger and actually found a series of pictures of S13. My Tiger is the only tank I have a picture of,my Jagdpanther is 313 could of been,My Henschel King Tiger 013 could have been.

The thing about paintwork is this,your in a platoon,which is part of a company,your in a refit area,they present your group with paint,and thinner,and mops. The commander says use the paint,your company commander says use the paint,your tank commander says hide the Tiger use the paint,he walks off to go sleep under a tree,the 4 of you look around and say let's paint!

The rest is any bodies guess. This is how it happened,sometimes they were painted by support groups,being German in the early years they were very neat and orderly,crisp numbering and so forth,by Mid44 on THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO STAY ALIVE, and they painted their tanks based on the area, nothing more. Still comes down to 5 guys,1 Tiger and at best three base colors and some gasoline and some mops.

I am only speaking of my point of view,but the allies paintwork was very simple because they were not trying to hide, air-power was the over riding factor. The allies may of known they were their to win by numbers not stealth.The German knows he survives by stealth and we have hundreds of paint schemes. I say look at the unit,decide on the numbers you need want or like based on the letter two number early type or the later three number type. cheers Sax