Difference early and mid tiger 1

[Spartan tracks]

Guys is there any difference I've looked at pics but can see any obvious differences please help thanks Andy

[wibblywobbly]

It would be easier to advise you on what should be on the version that you are building, and even then, your best bet is to find a set of photo's of a specific tank and build that. Google Images is where I always start with anything like that. The problem with Early, Mid, Late is that yes, there were factory fresh examples, but as the war went on early tanks went back to the factory for repairs, got late parts fitted, lost parts in battle, and had different kit fitted depending on when they were built, and where they were fighting. It's well nigh impossible to build a perfect factory fresh Tiger, one could even argue that it would have to be red oxide in colour as they were sent out and often painted in the field with a rag on the end of a stick. If you want the safe route, find some pics that are taken from all angles of a specific tank and then copy everything that you can see on it, that way if anyone says 'oi, thats wrong!!, you simply pull out the pics and shut them up.

[tomhugill]

Guys is there any difference I've looked at pics but can see any obvious differences please help thanks Andy

There will be more than this but the main ones, relocated single headlight, tools layout is changed, later cupola with multiple vision blocks, no air filters, no shovel on the glacis, think the loaders hatch is slightly altered, mount for mg-34 on cupola, no smoke launchers, altered engine hatch. Think the area around the tow shackles is altered but I can't remember how. There's a hatch for the wading equipment on the front left side, I think this is gone, no s mine launchers.

However a Google search for mid tiger will give more details.

[Tankbear]

I asked the question a few years back and the list of changes I got was that long I thought nah not worth that much work.

[43rdRecceReg]

Guys is there any difference I've looked at pics but can see any obvious differences please help thanks Andy

Most obvious difference is he commander's cupola and hatch. The early model had the hatch that opened vertically, where the mid and late versions had the horizontally closing hatch. There was also a gradual switch from dual (early) to single(mid/late) headlights. Early models were Zimmerit free, though there may be retrofitted examples, where mid models had Zimmerit from July '43 on.
I used Hamby's early/mid/late photo sections to assist my Tiger project.
Early: http://www.alanhamby.com/early.shtml
Mid: http://www.alanhamby.com/mid.shtml
Hope these prove useful, and a good distraction from the medical woes ...(Had a few frustrating, and unbelievably brief, encounters with Orthopaedic Consultants myself since New Year..so I sympathise with you. Still trying to learn to walk again, after a double ankle fracture..)

[971wright]

Hi Here are the main changes from early to mid, Lower hull no change of note, upper hull headlight moves to middle of the tank and down from top deck (could have zimeret) with or without air filters (same as early) turret cupola changed to late type most had track links around the turret,pistol port removed from left rear side ,vents on top of turret moved. probably some more but these are the main changes.

regards pete

[tomhugill]

Hi Here are the main changes from early to mid, Lower hull no change of note, upper hull headlight moves to middle of the tank and down from top deck (could have zimeret) with or without air filters (same as early) turret cupola changed to late type most had track links around the turret,pistol port removed from left rear side ,vents on top of turret moved. probably some more but these are the main changes.

regards pete

Mid tigers never had air filters

[jarndice]

The comparison between the Early (Tunisian) Tiger the Early (Kharkov ) Tiger and the "MID" is if you are into detail quite large but if you just glance at them they appear similar,
If you want a full list I can give you one but it means especially with the Early "Tunisian" Tiger scratch building a few parts and searching and waiting for other bits, as TANKBEAR says a lot of people reckon it is not worth it.
I absolutely agree that a good starting point is Alan Hamby's site. I printed off the list of changes and modifications to the Tiger 1 that is on his site and it has proven to be very useful in my builds.
Shaun.

[Spartan tracks]

Well as a novice and no where near ready to scratch build ,I'll go with IAN (TANKBEAR) and stick with what I've got , maybe in a year or to I'll have another think but thanks for all the feedback guys

[tomhugill]

No need to scratch build, the wsn/hobby boss tiger is pretty accurate and fits nicely on the Taigen metal chassis.