RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

So I picked up a few tigers this past month during my KV build. All were missing quite a bit, but the price was right, about 35 each with radios and batteries. So I decided to take the best of the bunch and use it as a foundation for a mid production Tiger. I have been collecting photos and references that will give me some direction, but this will not represent a particular tank specifically. More of capturing an era. This tank will be quite beat up, just because I feel dirty. I think the condition I received them should be reflective of the type of build represented here. I would personally like to thank everyone who took the time to post all the great links and their own efforts with the HL Tiger. It has made the journey and education much faster and enjoyable.

So here is what I started with. Missing all of the parts that come with the factory box. Nothing was ever assembled. The BB loader worked but the elevator was shot.


Having multiple turrets to work with, it was easy to split the worst of the two and re assemble the turret with the bottom section in two pieces. The part visible from the side was permanently attached to the turret. I will be applying zimmerit for the first time and felt like this particular operation was needed to pull it off. While I was digging around in the turret, I also opened up the hatch in the rear and gave it some life. I am awaiting a few pieces I ordered for the other top turrets and periscopes.




My biggest fear when starting this one was the conversion from BB to IR. I had seen a lot of different ways to attack the project. I decided I wanted to use as much of the original assembly as possible to make the recoil work. The pictures kind of explain what is going on here. I have the original BB barrel in the assembly with a brass sleeve in the mantle. All just there to get some of the preliminary work done awaiting the arrival of my full length metal barrel. Whew.... It went smoother than I had anticipated, so far anyway.






I also cleaned up all of the top of the hull and modified the machinegun for LED. I spent a little time making a headlight bracket and a few other brackets and such. I took off the front fenders to really help with that.. "dirty look"





So this has been the past week of the journey with the Tiger. Once I get a few supplies in, I should be able to make a bit more headway.

So with the first one out of the way, I am going to use the other two remaining busted up tanks to create a field service tank. Kind of like what is illustrated here.


I have not been able to find any photos of this. I have seen many of the Bergetiger, which is kind of cool, but I am leaning more in the direction of this particular design. Has this particular vehicle ever been built, or is it just the creation of a persone with good drawing skills?

I am also considering a Sturmtiger conversion if I can get my hands on one.

So there ya have it, my efforts to use up 3 Tigers. I have quite a bit a head of me, but it will be a great way to spend the colder evenings.

PP

Hi
is the mg moving?
Could you show how you done it.
I'm working with my now and I'm thinking what can I use.
Thanks

I will get a photo for you later. But it is able to move manually, not controlled by the radio.

Thats ok.
Thanks.

palepainter,

Curious to know how you mount the styrene strips for mounting the servo. Did you just super glue it to the recoil frame ? I usually end up just super gluing the servo directly on the recoil frame but what I find is that it is sometimes too close and not enough travel. I know you didn't do it here but if needed you could have move the servo out further with longer strips.

Good build so far and looking great.

MichaelC

Good Evening,
Am amazing build, Pale. I like the clean way that you have assembled disparate parts and mounted the servo for barrel recoil in the turret. There are some incredible Tiger builds in the HL and Tamiya section if you are looking for detailing ideas. I'm following this one closely.
regards,
Painless

MichaelC wrote:palepainter,

Curious to know how you mount the styrene strips for mounting the servo. Did you just super glue it to the recoil frame ? I usually end up just super gluing the servo directly on the recoil frame but what I find is that it is sometimes too close and not enough travel. I know you didn't do it here but if needed you could have move the servo out further with longer strips.

Good build so far and looking great.

MichaelC

Thanks Michael.
I just used box styrene tubing an glued it directly to the assembly. The longer section in the rear is only glued to the one side due to wanting to be able to split the assembly to work on it and be able to tear it down if needed. The placement, right now, is at my best guess. I have a bunch of different servo arms to mess with when I get closer to knowing what is going on. Right now it is a guessing game.

PP

PainlessWolf wrote:Good Evening,
Am amazing build, Pale. I like the clean way that you have assembled disparate parts and mounted the servo for barrel recoil in the turret. There are some incredible Tiger builds in the HL and Tamiya section if you are looking for detailing ideas. I'm following this one closely.
regards,
Painless

Thanks Painless. There certainly are a bunch of Tiger builds here that have inspired me. I think I have read through them all in the past week.

Most of the tanks I am interested in have no IR and recoil, just 6mm BB guns. So I figured this would be a good way to get associated with what I have to work with in order to convert them. I am going to see if it will all work the way I think it will this week. Barrel and other Asiatam parts get here tomorrow.

PP

hi old chap wot wot
adapt, improvise, overcome....a bit daunting for me old chap ?