Torro Heavy Metal King Tiger

[ALPHA]

Really top notch work Hotte....Didn't realize that turret imposed so much stress on that plastic hull...super job reinforcing everything ...she looks very solid now

ALPHA

[hotte8487]

Really top notch work Hotte....Didn't realize that turret imposed so much stress on that plastic hull...super job reinforcing everything ...she looks very solid now

ALPHA

Hello Alpha,

yes, it's right, now is the upper hull very stable. And at the moment I'm very happy with my Kingtiger; but to understand my feelings better I've to post still some reports more.

[ALPHA]

Hello Alpha,

yes, it's right, now is the upper hull very stable. And at the moment I'm very happy with my Kingtiger; but to understand my feelings better I've to post still some reports more.

More Reports the Merrier Hotte ...will be waiting and following along

ALPHA

[hotte8487]

A little addendum. In between I’ve worked at my antenna; she hast to be moveable as at my Tiger I because the endlessly 360° rotation of the turret. Technology was equal as at my Tiger; the only difference was the usage of an Aber antenna as base material.



Altogether isn't the antenna ready – she has to reworked from me a little bit more. But, at each case I was successful to build the antenna a little bit filigree at the same stability.





Enough from the antenna; now it goes on at the upper hull. I’ve decided me to glue over the side plates completely a polystyrene plate with 1 mm thickness. At the one hand a plus on stability and on the other hand has the side plates now scale strength – approximately 5 mm. It starts with cutting the side plates…



…followed the mounting; here already glued at the right side…



…and here at the left side.



Because the restricted ventilation under the large adhesion site I gave the glue a long time to dry. Meanwhile I dedicated myself to the next work step.
I decided me to build my own demountable side skirts for the Kingtiger; so can I drive with or without side skirts. But first I’d to build some holders for mounting at the vehicle. At the beginning I wanted to take brass stripes 2,5 x 1 mm, but as base material I could only get stripes of 3,0 x 1 mm. I’ve built me a template for cutting and drilling and then it started. Here the first both parts…



…and here all parts.



Thereafter I've thought again about the side skirt mounting. I am of the opinion that only to glue is not enough, so I've decided me, to drill all parts in the middle again and to screw the side skirts from the inside. So I've modified my template and drilled all parts - all holes have a diameter of 0,8 mm. The modified template…



…and here all parts are already threaded with M1.



My little neodymium-magnets haven’t met my expectation, that’s why I've swapped them against a stronger version.



With gluing the side boards I've lost my casted antenna tube, therefore I've built me a new one – again from brass.



In contrast to the original will my tube lid receive a short chain; here already soldered to the tube lid.



The other end of the antenna tube with holder…



To be continued.

[hotte8487]

Meanwhile another little change. My King Tiger was used first at the battlefield in august 1944, that's why must the manufacture date be previously; in June or July 1944. But King tigers received their splinter guard over the air intake at first time in September 1944; therefore I will modify this part also.



Started again with a drawing, then began the work; base material is again brass.



Hence, the blank was prepared…



…drilled and milled and finally cut off.



Then I've cut a little ring from copper sheet, drilled and customized.



From copper wire-netting I’ve cut off a piece and then from behind soldered against the copper ring.



A top view; thereafter was the rest of the wire-netting cut off.



The existing splinter guard was removed and the upraised plastic part was sanded down.



Then has been the new part mounted to the upper hull - photos...





Another minor adjustment followed also. My side plates have now with 5 mm a scale thickness, the rear ends of the side plates, however, not yet. Therefore I've cut out for both parts a small reinforcement plate and glued.



Here the thickness of the side plates...





…and here now also the rear ends of the side plates.



To be continued…

[ALPHA]

That's some serious work Hotte...wish I had that drive...Terrific stuff

ALPHA

[hotte8487]

Meanwhile I had received my ordered materials and so can it go on with the side fenders. These parts also available as photos etched parts, but at the one hand are these parts very thin and on the other hand are they designed for Tamiya’s Kingtiger. My base material is copper sheet with 0,3 mm thickness. Before I had measured my Kingtiger and had drawn all parts like side fenders, front fenders and the holders. It started with transferring the dimensions of the drawing on the sheet.



Each sheet receive at the end four holes with a diameter of 0,5 mm for fasten at the vehicle; these holes has been later reworked. For an evenly transfer I’ve build me again a template from a metal sheet from a stapler.



Then was the side fenders cut out in one piece.



Subsequently, the sheet-metal plates have been provisionally fixed to the side wall, aligned and transfer the holes of the brackets to the side walls.



So I'd received the exact position for the holders; now it was possible to mount them in the right position.



The whole looks than like this; here an overall view…



…and here two detail views, the mount bolts already shortened and sanded.





And here still two pictures from the other side; drilled…



…and with holders.



In each hole for the side fenders has been screwed bolts; now could start reworking the side fenders, at first the holes for the holders.



And from time to time fitting…



Each side fender has received on each mounting point two holes; the little hole with a diameter of 1,0 mm and the "big" with a diameter of 1,5 mm.



Both holes have now the diameter of the bolts; therefore was each hole with a Dremel carefully expanded.



At the left side are all holes ready reworked,…



…here a closeup…



…and still another view.



Until the next time…

[hotte8487]

After all holes in the side skirts were finished could I start with bending the side skirts. I started at the left side; here the first both plates…







Once you have the hang of it, walk the remaining parts of its own accord; here are a few photos from this side.









Here are still a few views more with and without side plates...















Until the next report…

[hotte8487]

After the left side was completed, it goes on at the right side. Pictures...















As far as once; really finished were the side skirts not yet. The second and fourth side plates were equipped with a small cover plate on both sides for the adjacent plates. This was the next work step. Base material are copper sheet stripes 3 mm x 0.3 mm.



Much to say is not for this work step. The stripes were bent according to the shape of the side plate and each soldered with 1.5 mm overhang at the sides on the side plate. Finally, the solder joints were reworked and finished. Again pictures...



















Here once the finished plates from the left side…





…and – it will go on, in the next part.

[hotte8487]

What is still missing after completion of side fenders - of course, the front fenders. Base material was also 0.3 mm copper sheet; these parts are somewhat tricky because the front fenders are in two parts and provided with hinges. I started with the two main parts. The larger side plate is connected to the main plate at the back corner - so it is easier at the bending and soldering. Both parts were cut out.



In the next step were the hinge parts rolled; thereafter the sheets were bent.







The large side sheet was then soldered in this position, for the other side was a narrower sheet cut and soldered. The hinge parts were in addition soldered.







From a remaining sheet were cut the counterparts of the hinges for attachment to the upper hull, bent and soldered also.



Beside the cut-out for the shackle received the front fenders also still another small soldered side plate.





I always bent around plastic chain pins of a HL Tiger; these are used later as hinge axis.



Then were the side parts cut off, bended, for fitting fixed and thereafter soldered.





The side plate has received three small metal stripes; these are for screwing to the main fender part.



The screw holes…



Enough for today…