Panzerbefehlswagen Tiger 1

[Red Devils]

Calling all Tiger Masters,

I'm wanting to make my HL Tiger 1 into Mid Prod Befehlswagen of the 507th commanded by Major Schmidt. Looking at some ref pics of the exhaust plate in the rear, it displays an Antenna storage metal tube. Some have it mounted either left or right of one of the exhaust stacks. The references I have do not display in clear detail:

A.) The type and/or shape of the bracket. Was it flat iron welded to the tube or curved?
and
B.) The type of cap / lid, was it hinged w/ a locking clip or possibly a sleeved cap that slid over the opening?

In regards to the antenna, the star portion, was it collaspable? I would suspect so.



Finally, on the starboard side of the hull, I seen mounting posts welded to the armor plating. Does anyone have some close-ups and an explaination on their purpose.

Thanks guys, I know its a tall order but any help would be appreciated.

Derek

[Dietrich]

Hi Red Devils,
I am guessing that the picture is actually of the tank that you want to model.....If so please can you supply the 'number' that is on the tank .....I must admit that this is a 'new' photograph of a Tiger that I have never seen before, do you have it in a larger size and also the site that you got it from ??......but maybe I have a photo from the other side that might be of help.I also like the 3 bundles of small branches that are attached to the hull side rather than the more usual 'single tree trunk' that is carried for 'un-ditching' purposes.
I have also noticed that in the photo..between the second and third bundles there is a 'gap' if you look at the gap there are 2 metal bars that go down over the mudguards and it looks like it may actually end in a cross-piece, almost like a 'step' to assist in getting up onto the hull....
Alb.

[Red Devils]

Hey Alb,

In ref to the pic, I believe I found it on TIIF. With the question of the numbers, I haven't seen any on it. I suspect it is ID'd the same way as other Command Tanks of the 507th were (Not saying that the tank in the original pic is from the 507th).

Here is the tank that I want to do.



Now I found this, this morning. It's Wittmans 007, Normandy in 1/35th scale. Is it accurate?



Thanks, Derek

[Dietrich]

Hi Derek,
I do not like the look of the 'counter sunk' aerial mount it does not look right at all. I will keep on looking but the aerial mount should just be flush with the deck.
I am also not convinced about the other parts that you have indicated either. The vertical brackets cannot serve any function that I am aware of. I think that the designer of this 1/35th scale model may have got a bit carried away.
The top middle arrow points to a securing type of block. It looks a lot like the side blocks that support the 'Track Cable' mounts, on the drivers side.....I am not sure about that one either...It is in the wrong angle to support a main towing cable and is too small.
Alb.

[Red Devils]

Thanks Alb,

Roger that, the antenna base should be flush with the armoured ring high enough to protect the ant base. In regards to those mounts on the starboard side, here is a drawing of a Mid Prod Befehlswagen showing the use of them. Now with this being a drawing, there may have been some artistic additions. That is why I am looking for an actual picture, to either confirm or deny. Here is the pic:


So looking at that 1/35th tank, I'm understanding the hull side brackets but with those fixtures to the right of the antenna on the upper hull, just before the cleaning rods. I'm thinking the closest one to the rods would be the plug-in adapter for the coax cable from the star antenna (is that the correct name?) and the fitting to the left of the adapter could be a bracket utilized to clamp the coax cable to the hull IOT (In order to) stop the cable from being pulled out in adverse weather, etc. Who knows, pulling this out of my ***, it just makes sense to this Infantryman.

Your thoughts oh Master Tiger Jedi.

[Dietrich]

Hi Derek,
I think that you are over rating my knowledge here on the Tiger, ..... . I do not seem to have many pictures of 'Command' Tigers so I will have to do a bit of digging. The drawing matches the photograph which is nice to see !
Alb.

[Red Devils]

Sorry buddy, didn't want to make you blush. While your on your quest for command tank knowledge and pics, as am I. Would you happen to have any pics of the barrel lock mech and mounts plus do you know of any companies out there that make one?
Finally one other question oh master, I got the Asiatam hull from the wife for my B-day, what are you thoughts on the etching primer/paint tasks of the support arms? Should remove them or prep and paint around them?

Thanks again Alb

[Dietrich]

Hi Derek,
OK , Cancel what I said about the 'counter-Sunk' aerial mount and the cable support block......They are correct it seems.....But I am still not sure about the vertical brackets, They ARE on Models but I cannot find one in a photo......This site seems to have everything that you need for the command version and it even has the photo of Heinz Guderian on top of a command Tiger with the turret MG port welded shut, so that saved me an upload... ...I think that it is an accurate piece by a very knowledgeable guy....BUT the first drawing shows a rod mounted in the outboard brackets but the overhead drawing of the ' Last Command Variant' does NOT show the aerial....so the vertical bracket is a bit of a mystery. If you are modelling a Mid Command variant then I would say that you can Definitely ignore the vertical bracket and just concentrate on the 3 other aerials. In the copied piece from a book it does say that the 'Tube' on the rear was used for 'Antenna extension rods and for Spare antennas' therefore, I think that it must have had a cap to protect the spares from getting lost.
So to go back to the first questions...
Q.1...Tube, welded on both sides top and bottom,with a tab onto the hull.
Q.2...Cap almost certainly, we all know how easily things drop off of even our tanks so crashing through rough terrain on a 56 ton Tiger at 20mph if it wasn't tied, bolted or welded on then it got lost
Alb.
.
http://worldwartwozone.com/forums/index ... formation/

[Dietrich]

Hello 'pupil' aka Grasshopper.... or should that be 'Glass-hopper' to get the vocal copying correct... ..
The External Travel Lock for the main gun was not added until November 1943, so I think that you do not need to bother with that part on a Mid-Command version.
As to the suspension arms, personally since the area of the hull beneath them is so well hidden by the arms AND the wheels ( once you put them back on then) I would just paint around them. I cannot imagine that, even from the factory ,the area behind the arms was very well covered in primer and you can guarantee that there was no way that the crew would remove all the road wheels on one side just to paint it....So definitely just paint around them. It is NOT going to be a 'shelf queen' with an Asiatam hull so you are also bound to pick up 'battle-damage' in the garden to the underside by going over stones etc.
.
This is a link to a German site and it will take you to the Specific section detailing the 507th. The second one down in the list goes straight to photos of the tank that you included at the beginning of this post....Unfortunately the photos are small but maybe if you are a member the images can be enlarged....I cannot read German ...but the internet provides loads of sites that can translate it for you.....
.
http://www.tiif.de/board.php?boardid=8& ... 3913032225
Alb.

[Red Devils]

Master, you haved impressed me once again, I bow to you oh wonderous one... But seriously buddy, Thanks alot, you have answered all my questions. So with that, I'm off to a LAV Gunnery conference in a city with an actual hobby store for a week and I can grab all my supplies. So while your on a roll, what are those two staffs/rods/poles that sit on the outside edges of the hull next to the engine deck? Answer this and you can have my first born. Later buddy and tahnks again.