RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Does anyone know if this colour drawing, showing a Tiger I of Tontenkopf, in grey with yellow and brown over spray is an accurate depiction?

http://www.rctank.de/popup_image.php?pID=1359&invis=1

It is from RCTank.de, can't say enough good things about their stencils, I REALLY like them; just wanted to check their research on the colours in the camo.

Have you read the story of Tiger 131 in the Bovington Tank Museum, they consider the camo colours on page 27 of their rebuild diary and the colours seem very similar to the ones in your link - http://www.tiger-tank.com/secure/journal27.htm

Thanks, that is interesting.

Hey Glen.......

I can only share my experience of their Authenticity by comparing the real picture of Tiger 131 of 1st Kompanie 101st PzAbt
with their illustration . This is their version of the Camo pattern




This is the real Tiger 131



And an early colourised version , some artistic licence perhaps as the real Turret numbers are not Red / White but Green / White
But I still think the basic interpretation is correct ( The rear Turret bin looks to be all Brown or green )




This is Tiger 122 ( Late production ) ,I cannot remember where this illustration came from, but comparing the camo pattern
from RC.Tank.De that comes with the decals , the real photo , and this one, I would say IMHO that this depiction is closer to
the photo with the broader more diffused pattern than the sharper thin defined lines of the decal illustration .




Having said that , the illustration from RCTANK.DE is not very far off when looking at the basic colour / pattern combo , I would
say its 90% there in my book , its just a matter of opinion I guess , I would still be happy to copy this failing any other reference material.

IMHO any camo scheme is a good scheme . Hope that helps .


.

Wildboar44

Thanks, that is quite informative.

Your post looks like it took quite a bit of time, thought and effort; it is much appreciated.

I agree with your conclusions

Given some time, I think I have answered my own Question.

Rivet counting not withstanding, it appears that as it comes out of the box the Taigen Tiger I, Early, is a March production due to the main visual features it has, please refer to the chart I have made up.

This puts it solidly in the "yellow" phase, as noted by the grey and yellow portions on the chart, yellow came in in Feb. 1943.

The numbers in the chart are when units in the east took deliveries of Tiger I's. There were March shipments and May shipments.

Now it depends on the delivery time, did they get to the unit in the month they were made, or was there some time involved?

If shipping was quick, we are looking at 2nd SS Das Reich and Abt 503

If shipping lagged, we would be looking at SS Leibstandarte, Totenkopf, Abt 502, Abt 503, Abt 505


In my copy of "Tiger I on the Eastern Front" many of the pictures show the tanks in the old B&W's as one colour, which I used to think was grey , in fact, given the timeline, it had to be yellow.

(At least my Taigen Tiger I, Late in Abt 506 markings is right there in the right time with the 45 delivered in Aug. 1943)


Yes, I do have a severe tank illness

WOW - Glen, that is a brilliant chart it will certainly help anyone place their tiger tank in the correct time zone or give guidance on what features should be present for a particular model.
I have already downloaded it for reference, thanks for sharing it.

I am glad it was useful.

The research was easy, the information came from this excellent site; http://www.alanhamby.com/tiger.html

I had to do something graphic, I am researching my next project, a Taigen Tiger I, Early Version, and could not comprehend what I was reading until I put it on a chart.

I focused on the early Tiger, but it could be expanded for the later version.

Relocated http://www.rctankwarfare.co.uk/forums/v ... 95&t=11011