RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Hi guys,

after I created the Tiger I hull for Christian Ludwig, I was looking for a new project.

One day, when I was looking to ebay, I found a very interesting and, in my opinion, stupid version of a Tiger I tractor.

That one was a HL-lower hull with somewhat of a drivers cabin, an engine compartment in front and a cargo area in the back.

First I tried to ignore this one. But an idea grew in my grey cells.

Just thinking about creating a full tracked tractor on basis of a Tiger I tank to pull "something" really heavy. Instead of using several big half trucks.

How this tractor would may look like.

Here are the results.

Because I already created the new Tiger chassis, I wanted to use it. I just needed to modify it a little.





I know, there are several versions of different tanks using the engine mounted in front on top of the gear. But I thought, this would be difficult with the Tiger. So I came up with the following idea.

First I was thinking of a simple built and useful (not pretty) driver’s cabin.





To make it easy, I moved the whole engine compartment to the front, directly behind the gear. That makes it easy to transmit the power directly to the gear.





As you can see, I changed the exhaust system from the exhausts at the back to two exhaust exits at the side plates.

The rest of the chassis can be used as a cargo area for anything you need to go with the tractor.





These were my basic thoughts.

Than I started to create the details. It came out looking like this:













All missing elements can be taken from an HL-Tiger or from different suppliers.

This week, after I got the parts from Christian, I started to build the tractor. Here are the first pictures.





Report continues

Greetings

Birger

During the last weekend and this week I assembled the chassis. Because it is almost the same chassis as the "Ludwig-Tigers", I spare the details on that one.

That is what it looks like after assembling. Only difference is that extra front mudguard and the different rear part.











Than I started assembling the drivers cabin. Before I get to the details on that one, I need to assemble the engine compartment and the cargo area to check, if they fit together.







Now the engine compartment and the cargo area are temporary assembled.















The engine compartment is glued to the chassis.
Drivers cabin and cargo area are removable.
The cargo area is removable to reach the track tensioner
and, maybe, to put something different to this position.
The drivers compartment needs to be removable to reach the gears for repair or maintenance.

Next is to make the tank moving.
Then we take care of the details.

After I made this baby working / driving I finished the drivers cabin.

Here are the results.

All hatches closed:







The handles on both sides are made of 1,5mm wire. The locking of the four side hatches are made of tacker clamps cutting in half.
These hatches are not to be opened.

The mirrors on both doors are taken from the MLRS project.

The hinch axis are made out of florist wire.





The bracket for the antenna is also taken from the MLRS project.



Now a picture with all hatches opened.



The bracket for the lifting jack is taken from the Tiger project and fits very good at this position.





And now, last but not least, an arrangement with the two crew members to check the size of the vehicle.







Well, that’s it for the day. Now I will continue with the engine compartment.

Report continues.

Greetings
Birger

Well, the next part is finished.

Engine-compartment.

Here you can see how much space there is:



I used the metal kit from Christian Ludwig as engine hatch. To do so, I had to create a frame to glue the different parts to.

You also can use a prepared cover from an ordinary HL-Tiger.

Here is the result:





The wooden block got its new place.



So did the fire extinguisher.



The vehicle also got its lights. They are not connected yet.

The cargo area is finished.



Of course, the doors can be opened.



To provide these doors from opening on their own, I created a hook as a kind of a working lock.



Because the whole set (tractor and trailer) is planned to be used off road, the tow coupling must be movable in all directions, also in 360°.









Next the tools need to be placed.







Just thinking about tools must be reached by the crew, I had to position them not to high.



Also the tow cables got a position where they can be dismounted to be really used.



At last a few possibilities to stow accessories.



Those are the positions the boxes will be placed on the cargo area.



What is still missing?

Well, the cable for mounting the tracks and a few other accessories.

The tractor has been completed.

What was missing?

First the rope for mounting the tracks incl. the brackets.

After I was thinking of where to put it, I finally choose this place:



As planned it can be dismounted and used for mounting the tracks.

Then I was thinking of how to use this tractor in reality. It should help recovering tanks together with my recovery tiger.

Therefore it needs some tools.

Because I have plenty of playmobil tools left, I prepared two complete tool sets:



I organized some nice tool boxes.

So, one box for each tool set.

The rest goes with the other boxes.

For working I added two small tool boxes.



To mount the boxes on the cargo area, I used magnets and small parts of metal sheet.

The shovels, the brooms and the pikes got separate brackets.








Well, that’s it.

What´s next?

Color.

After it is colored, I will post the pictures.

Till then,

Greetings

Birger

Good Morning,
This is truly a wild Build! Incredible detail and use of existing tool sets. Cannot wait to see what colors you will give it.
regards,
Painless Wolf

Now this might be a bit of a "Submarine" thread, but what a great idea and a shame its not posted as finished that I can find.
Read back far enough and you can find just about anything I reckon

Hi great build not seen one like this before, if you are looking for another project how about this one http://www.sklep.tankmodels.pl/en/model ... 72445.html

regards pete

Very unusual build, like it a lot, can't wait to see it painted.

John

That is superb, a great build and something totally unusual but very realistic and plausible.

Thank.

It is also painted right now and it works really good.

Greetings
Birger

great to hear Birger, looking fw to you will show us the final result