Building a Mid-Production Normandy Tiger 1

[tanks_for_the_memory]

More MG options

In the absence of any hands on work while I am in France here are a few more results of my internet trawls regarding MG options - although also see recent discussion on Sov's Tiger build:

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=10204

For a non-flashing MG with panzermantel (armoured sleeve) the Aber barrel has already been discussed:

The inner barrel is not hollow, so there's no way a fibre optic can be inserted, but mated to a metal standard MG34 it should look the part for a cupola mounted gun.

However, I also came across this pretty nifty alternative:

Perfect Hobby 2 x MG 34 Tankversion barrel with bore for light guide 1 16 assembled.jpg (7.61 KiB) Viewed 5491 times

Perfect Hobby 2 x MG 34 Tankversion barrel with bore for light guide 1 16 component parts.jpg (11.02 KiB) Viewed 5491 times

As the rough translation from the German says, this one does have a hollow inner barrel to take a fibre optic cable from an LED. The Perfect Hobby website is:

http://perfect-hobby.de/

As so often it is not very easy for a non-German speaker to negotiate, but Chris Hucko is a nice, friendly guy and writes back in excellent English if you send him an email. I bought the double set for 23.50 euros including postage.

Anyone know where I can find a suitable size (and colour) flashing bulb' to fit?

[jarndice]

I don't know because I have not tried but how about reducing the barrel of the MG34 with LED as supplied by Steve at WDM and sliding that inside the metal sleeve, if it fits then you have a working MG34 without any effort, I know it's stupid but it's Friday evening and pouring with rain. shaun

[tanks_for_the_memory]

Shaun,

Not stupid at all. Actually it has been raining a lot here in the Pyrenees tonight...

I guess I'm looking for one of those links to a Chinese ebay site where they sell the right 'grain of wheat bulb' by the gross weight for under a fiver!

And seriously what should the colour be? Orange?

[HERMAN BIX]

Sorry Mr Tanks - but bunging on the sympathy thing for rain wont get me ........Pyrenees is it now !!!!!!!!!!
Not exactly a Rio slum now is it ??

[SovereignZuul]

TFTM,

I ordered a fiber optic line from Axel's shop. No review yet, as it's still in shipping but it's designed for machine guns!
http://www.axels-modellbau-shop.de/kata ... :3434.html

I'm going to see if I can't use my current Taigen machine gun bulb with the fiber optic line attached to it and fed into my new Aber brass machine gun when it arrives as well, same order.

I went with this machine gun, no room for the fiber optic, but I'll make room.
http://www.axels-modellbau-shop.de/kata ... :5488.html

Imo with a family really into firearms, I'd say an orange bulb better simulates muzzle flash. I've never seen a gun fire "l.e.d." red.

Enjoy your time in France!

[Augustus1967]

Yes Sir!

Excellent Work on your Son's Tiger...
Thank You for sharing your Progress, Process and Thoughts along the way.
I look forward to your next update.

Regards from Texas,

-gus

[tanks_for_the_memory]

More MG madness

OK, OK, so I'm back from France - and I promise not to gloat any more about it. Nice to get home and find lots of goodies in the post, though!

The original Tank Modelbau MG certainly doesn't look bad....jpg (32.35 KiB) Viewed 5432 times

... but the new one is even better!.jpg (33.12 KiB) Viewed 5432 times

The better detail on the armoured jacket is very nice indeed.jpg (33.79 KiB) Viewed 5432 times

Both Tank Modelbau MG34s - new one with panzer mantel in foreground.jpg (30.45 KiB) Viewed 5432 times

Both Tank Modelbau MG34s - new one with panzer mantel on left.jpg (32.89 KiB) Viewed 5432 times

Well these pics more or less speak for themselves. The new Tank Modelbau MG 'mit panzermantel' (armoured sleeve) is a lovely piece - but I have yet to wire it up... Not sure why it's so much longer though (possibly to fit a Jagdpanther as shown on their site?)

[Update - I have now wired up the new MG and I'm delighted to say that it flashes a very realistic orange.]

[Markocaster]

That is a nice looking gun

[tanks_for_the_memory]

Yes it is! But at over 20 euros including postage not exactly cheap...

Now:

Some original cupola photos

These are shots I took of the Tigers at Vimoutiers and Saumur this year and last (and another from the web of the second Russian Tiger at Senegy(?). Obviously all are later production variants than mine with the reinforced turret roof and so it is important to bear this in mind when looking at how low the cupola appears to sit in relation to the turret roof. On an earlier Tiger like mine the roof was lower - so the cupola should stick up more...

The Saumur Tiger still has six tabs on the underside of the cupola hatch - these are faithfully reproduced on the Hachette cupola.jpg (26.03 KiB) Viewed 5416 times

Slightly blurred, but this shows the difference between the reinforced turret roof and the original roof heights in relation to the cupola.jpg (27.07 KiB) Viewed 5416 times

This shot of the second Russian Tiger at Snegery shows more clearly the stepped armoured turret roof.jpg (91.75 KiB) Viewed 5416 times

A clear view of the welding around the cupola which often fails to show up in photographs.jpg (40.47 KiB) Viewed 5416 times

This is the hatch stop - note also the weld beads on the rear of the periscope guards and those holding the AA ring in place.jpg (43.2 KiB) Viewed 5416 times

The armoured fan cover with its distinctive tabs for the deep wading cover - still in place on a Tiger that would never have used such equipment.jpg (43.73 KiB) Viewed 5416 times

Obviously the hatch itself is missing - but note the additional tab to the pivot guard.jpg (44.59 KiB) Viewed 5416 times

Here are details galore - weld beads, hatch pivot guard and what appears to be the primer coat showing through in places.jpg (45.93 KiB) Viewed 5416 times

Here you can see the hatch handle, rain (or sun) cover support and the armoured sleeve around the hatch pivot (plus Arthur's hand for scale).jpg (46.51 KiB) Viewed 5416 times

This is the weld bead across the late Tiger reinforced roof - the jagged line was an attempt to break up the tank post-war.jpg (47.22 KiB) Viewed 5416 times

[DavidByrden]

The Saumur Tiger still has six tabs on the underside of the cupola hatch - these are faithfully reproduced on the Hachette cupola.jpg

These held a soft headpad. I have no photos of it.

David