RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Yes that certainly makes sense David - possibly a detail too far for me... but you never know!

Now time to tackle the dreaded...

Turret zimmerit
This view clearly shows the difference between the zimmerit patterns on the turret and hull of most Normandy Tigers. The turret has a cruder pattern than the rest. The turret sides - bent into a distinctive horse-shoe shape - were manufactured separately from the rest of the tank and had their zimmerit pre-applied in a local pattern before final assembly. Once the main armament was installed the gun mantlet had the same texture zimmerit as the rest of the Tiger and this even extended around the front of the turret sides. Interestingly, some Normandy Tigers had the finer pattern over the entire vehicle - presumably the turrets had been supplied without the paste being pre-applied.
Yes, it's our old friend Tiger 334...

As discussed already above, most (but not all) Tiger 1s in Normandy had a different pattern of zimmerit on their turrets compared to the rest of the tank. The turret style was rougher, with broader indentations and less obvious demarcation between each vertical application. Unfortunately I have chosen to model one of these vehicles. Even more unfortunately none of my fancy zimmerit stamps will replicate this pattern...

So it was with considerable irony that I was forced to return to my humble screwdriver...

Turret zimmerit continued...
Once I had ditched the old stick-on zimmerit I also got rid of the old metal side vision ports - the vision slit itself was just the wrong shape.

Luckily my Tamiya sprues came once again to the rescue. Because these were designed to fit into holes on the sides of the Tamiya turret I sanded down their reverse. However, care has to be taken to ensure they stay the right way up - the slit is actually cut a little below their mid point...
And then the fun commenced...

The pictures can do most of the talking...
The beer bottle was also an 'essential' accessory...

Looks great! and awesome photos of the real thing too

It's serious inspiring to see you do this build. It pushes me harder on my own and is super helpful and informative. Times where I say, "Good enough" on my model i now deny and strive for perfection. Great research and work, as always!

That machine gun looks amazing. The difference is profound, the little things really show!

I notice that the turret lifting trunnions seem to have a gap in them? You might want to fill that in.



David

Hang on David - I haven't finished yet! On my list I promise. ..

No, seriously, we are all grateful for the tips - so keep them coming. Just wait until I say I'm finished, see what I have missed - and then break it to me gently...

Sorry David that sounded too defensive... Please keep firing away and I'll take it like a man!

Fun with...the cupola AA mount
I few posts above I announced my impending joy at the prospect of attaching the anti-aircraft (AA) mount to my cupola.

As the Second World War ground on German tanks increasingly found themselves on the defensive and on the Western Front in particular the loss of Axis air superiority meant that one of the greatest threats to any panzer crew (apart from mechanical breakdown) came from the air - the dreaded 'Jabo'. The term apparently comes from the word 'Jagdbomber', which is German for Fighter-Bomber - although I imagine it came to be used as more of an expletive in the heat of battle.

The answer was to provide tanks with a removable station for an MG34 which could be clamped on a ring around the cupola. The mount was quite a simple design - a V-shaped metal bracket, hinged at its base and attached to the ring by means of a clamp. This meant that it could be placed anywhere on the cupola ring (although not revolved during firing). At the top end was a cradle (or pintle) which attached to the underneath of the gun barrel.

This apparatus allowed any gallant commander to demonstrate sharpshooting skills to his men by standing proud of the cupola and shooting down a fast-moving Allied fighter as it dived the strafe or bomb his tank. Oh yes, and a 'spider web sight' was often provided to help him on his way! One cannot help thinking that this was one of those developments which was designed to provide a moral boost and little more. Interestingly towards the very end of the war the Germans seemed to have recognized the futility, since the AA ring disappeared altogether from Tiger IIs for instance. However, before that happened these AA mounts turned up on later war Tigers, Panthers and Panzer IVs.

So where do we find it in 1/16? Anyone who has a Heng Long Panther will be familiar with the simple plastic version which comes with the tank. Not bad from a distance - but not much like the real thing either.

Ever since I had purchased some parts from the Hachette 'Build Your Own Tiger' I had assumed that their AA mounted MG was the 'bees knees'. Sadly I was wrong. Although the MG34 is nicely cast, it's the wrong type - as we have already established the MG should have the armoured panzermantel sleeve - because it would have come from inside the tank.

But that is not all. The mount itself is the wrong shape - it doesn't meet at the tip and has a strengthening cross bar which was not part of the real thing. Basically, like much of that Tiger kit, it's a figment of the maker's imagination.

So back to the internet...

The only answer at the time of writing is the Schumo option. Not too expensive and beautifully cast in white metal. But not easy to build...

There are other additions which I have already mentioned above, such as the Aber armoured barrel sleeve and resin cast Gurtsacks (canvas bags holding the ammunition) from David Parker at the AFV Modeller Magazine shop. The only problem will be putting them all together. I have made start...

Good Afternoon,
I have made good use of the Mato metal part in the past, going so far as to add the 'U' bracket to hold a metal gurt sack replica on the 'Palace' This was part of a progression from modifying the basic plastic part from HL and Taigen and using the incorrect but cool looking MG42 as anti-aircraft support. Since I have discovered via Sassgrunt, the beautiful Tamiya .50 cal MGs for American armor, it only makes sense to upgrade the German ( and Soviet ) MGs and mounts with better parts. Tanks, I will definitely follow your lead on using one of the amazing, Schumo mounts for German armor in the future. Have fun with the fiddlys!
regards,
Painless