Great update Phil!
I'll have to give Magazine a look see.
Dan

Hi Phil !
nice to see the Tiger uber blog is still rolling. Sorry cany long have about 10 pages of backtracking to do !!

Mark

Phil, as usual outstanding work.

This is a real clinic for me. You really set the gold standard for build logs on late Tigers. Exceptional.

Thanks for sharing.

David.

Phew back at last!

Hi Dan! How are you and Howard DeVoto getting along? 'Shot by both sides' is a classic!

Hello Mark! Good to see you back giving that Tiger a good Normandy dusting off... Pity it has the same Turret Numerals as one of mine, it would look great on the Villers high street! Off any where good soon?

Well hello there David! Great to see you getting your web pages up and running, now I will have somewhere to gawp at your awesome builds. Thanks for the extremely kind comments David...

Right well, the first ET Model PE set for the Late Dragon Tigers, has arrived... And on first inspection, it does look a great addition, with some nifty little touches, like Drivers and Bow MG/Radio Operators Hatch hinges. (I will knock them up over the weekend, for a proper butchers!) If you look closely at the frets you will notice alot of the parts have been etched on both sides, enabling the etched folding creases to be hidden on a lot of brackets etc... Anther very nice part that caught my eye is the gasket/flange for the Bosch Light when it's cover is removed (though curiously not listed in the instructions!) it has a very fine rim on the internal aperture. And all at a good low price, here is looking forwards to more from ET Models!















Tasty eh?

Now moving onto the little bit of work done on '211' in order to get it closer to the painting stage. I have been trying to decipher the interior roof stowage in a 'typical' late Tiger! The CMK set supplies a few of the necessary parts , including the 88 mm Kwk 36 L/56 guns internal travel lock, and the locking bracket for the Gunners Sights. A few of the 'festoon' lights are missing for the Commander and Gunner's positions, along with the formed stock rod ceiling mounted hand holds... I wonder if David has a drawing of this?





Right then let's see if the 'Gods of Modelling' are kind to us over the next few days!

Cheers Phil...

Phil,
Looks good. Do the instructions show one exactly where to place all those turret roof gizmos? Travel lock for the main gun is simuliar as the M1 series.
Dan

Hi Phil,
All's looking good. I especially like the layered paint idea a few posts back. Should make for a good effect come the final paint work.
Great work on the interior, also considering reference is hard to find.
Apologies for the late comment but I have been following..

I've also got the ETmodel set, looks good considering it's price.
Just wish the fender set, EA35-019, would appear in stock somewhere..
It was supposed to be an August release?

The Tam 'mid' is progressing slowly, got the AFVclub tracks on; 95 links rightside and 94 left.
Don't know how this tallies with the Dragon kit count?
I also used those miniscule Verlinden etch turret bin latches, very fiddley but worth it, the scale size looks spot on..

Looking forward to seeing more of your progress on this one.
Best, Grant.

Hi Dan! Yup the CMK instructions give a very precise drawing with measurements for the placing of the roof items... A pity they are mainly typically for an Early Tiger! I have some drawings from the British Technical Survey of Tiger '131' of the s.Pz.Abt.501. captured in Tunisia that show some of the fittings, but I am not so sure of some of the other later features and fittings, that can only be glimpsed in the background on some contemporary museum images.
Interesting that the M1 has a similar arrangement for the Gun Travel Lock! Take care...Phil

Hello Grant! Got safely through customs then with the Barm Cakes then? I know what you mean about the availability of the Fender/Mudguard set EA35-019, I think that Cove Models have some... Unless Bill's bought them all! Only kidding Bill...
I will have to recount the run for the AFV Tracks on a DML Late, just when I thought I had got over the OCD with counting Links...
Right it is bunktime... Goede nacht mijn vriend! Phil

Hello Tiger 'Tamer's'!
Yo! Grant... Cove Models UK.do have the 'ET Model WWII TIGER Late Production Fender & Side Skirts in stock (EA35-019)... Mine arrived today! I am still waiting for acknowledgement for another set to come into stock in the Far East!!!
One first inspection they do not appear to be unlike Voyager Models offerings, though once again full use of both side etching is used, and two cast PU resin sprues of the welded lugs for the sponson sides are included! The brass does feel to be a little thinner, so a gentle hand will be required when 'knocking them up'!
...Bill! The mount posts for the front mudguards are included also... But alas are not thick enough, rather akin to Aber's. Though some 0.4mm styrene stock, some sandpaper, and a tiddly drill will supply you with a good alternative! I can hear the roar of the Maybachs again 'down south' Bill! Ready for the off again... See you at Telford!
Well here is the AM set in question!






I will have to put a few together to get a good feel for them, and of course have a look at them next to the other companies creations!
Another AM pack I received is MIG Productions excellent MP 35-299 ‘Burnt Out’ German Jerry Cans. I was thinking about adding a few to the base work and possibly a couple to the fighting compartment… Though I recently noted in one of David’s threads someplace, that it is possible the rack for the stowage of Jerry Cans had perhaps been deleted from the floor of the turret basket by this stage in the Tiger 1’s production… Is it possible to elucidate David?


I have also had a crack at the ET Models Drivers and Bow MG/Radio Operators hatch hinge and locking mechanism… Whilst it is an exceptionally well thought out piece of PE engineering… I feel that the hinge arm is a little thin, and lacks the cast stop lug on the end parts, which is included in the DML kits, and with a little drill work and care, a working hinge can be constructed… If I remember correctly ‘211’D’ has such a modification!


Right I’d best look busy… Catch you all later.

Cheers Phil.

Phil,
ET Models looks like they want to get in the PE busines big time-let us know how they set works out.
Dan

Yo Phil!

Those ET Model PE sets look very similar to the Voyager Model PE designs. That said, if they win on price, who's to complain?

Go on Phil - if you can let me know of an sSSPzAbt 101 September 1943 Tiger 1, I will slip it into the time-frame (he says hoping you'll do some of the spadework for him).

Keep up the good work Phil...


Bill

Wotcha all!

Hi Dan, hello Bill!

ET Model certainly look like they mean business... They are very nice sets, with a good low price. Making it easier to pick and choose the PE part you prefer from one set to another!

Bill! Sorry for not getting back to you sooner... But I have been digging! Hopefully those slots in your list will soon be filled?

What have been up to of late? I hear you ask... Well not much modelling unfortunately, but I have been shopping.
As you can see I am a glutton for punishment... Verlinden Tiger 1 interior set #2300!

This is a 'full blown' interior, and includes a lot more turret interior parts, lower fighting compartment, ammunition stowage, and the HL230 P45 engine fuel tanks and cooling system. The detail is crisp, but already the same errors are present that were incorporated into the 'Through the hatch' set! Turret basket supports, the bridge, the drivers seat etc... And the 'grouped' 88mm rounds within the one piece sponson stowage bins is not very refined.
One saving grace is the firewall and fan ducting, this can easily be furnished to a good level of detail, with a bit of nouse... But it is still missing the later inspection/control hatch on the fighting compartments left hand side! Another good inclusion is the support for the drive shaft behind gearbox/transmission housing (which you are supplied two versions of, one with the sheet metal covers in place, and one with them removed.
Anyway see what you think!?





I suppose for the price, it is better value than the CMK kits but it does need a lot of TLC!

Catch you later with some other goodies!

Cheers Phil.

Phil,
Happy Thanksgiving!
The VP set is cast up very well-one can say that about it!
Put some TLC on it and let us see how it turns out!
Dan

Hi everyone! Hello Dan!
...TLC, is big on the cards at the moment! But not on this little kitty Dan. 'Strits' not too good at the mo'... So still no modelling!

I have been playing around with some more of the AM though! My favorite purchase from Telford, was the excellent Lion Roar 'Full Metal Haulage Cable' #LE35092. Thanks to Lou Stenner, for digging these out for me, these lovelies have been on my hit list for a while!

The thing that I really like about them is that they replicate the actual method of fastening the towing cable into the shank trapping the eyelet! Neat eh?

Another thing Lou dug out of his Aladdin's cave of Panzer goodies were these Cupola's from 'Panzer Works'



There is some rather neat detail cast into these cupola's, and with a bit off brass etc, will really stand out.



Finally I also had an impulse buy and purchased Eduards PE Interior set for the Academy Tiger 1... And I was pleasantly surprised, as there are quite a few parts (especially the surrounding fighting compartment floor stowage bin tops!) It is a very low priced set these days, and shows it's age here and there, but with a little thought and additions it will really aid anybody wanting to super detail an interior for a Tiger 1. See what you think?



As you can see, the detail upon some of the set's sheet items is outstanding, and cannot be effectively reproduced in resin.

Right I'm off to see if any modelling can be resumed!

Take care y'all! ....Cheers Phil.

Phil,
Looks like a worthty addation to the Tiger AM pile! PE would be easy to bend up if you are making a interior that is tore up.
Good buy!
Dan

Hi Phill

long time since I checked upon this thread...man, that's a lot of AM stuff *drool* *drool*...Some time ago I was hesitating of buying some of these extra thingy's...but they seem to be very very nice

I'll keep on watching closely

Don't keep us waiting too long ey

cheers mate!

Hi Dan! Hello Wouter! Hiya yall!
Thanks for the nod on the AM! I shall endeavour to find more... You betcha! I'm sure though that between Grant, Bill and I, we have probably cornered the entire market on Tiger parts!
Just when you thought it was safe! I found another image of a Late Tiger 1 (being rail transported1) with that darling '44' accoutrement... A large wooden block, to rest the KwK36/L56 upon! You have really started something here Paul(Weirdy)!

Image from E-bay via TIF.
This now must be an inclusion in the 'next' DML late, (or even late, Mid) offering eh?

Tatty bye! Phil...

Cyber Hobby's Mid Tiger has the metal fabricated travel lock:



This remained in use to the end of the Mid period. Therefore we don't ever expect a Mid with the wooden block.

I will endeavour to include it in the next Late kit.

David

David,
Do you know why they got rid of the travel lock?
Dan

I believe that the late versions had a lock on the interior turret ring, though I may be wrong.

All Tigers had an internal turret lock as well as an elevation lock.
For Earlies, the turret lock was a plunger in the hull with 3 positions for the turret.
For Mids and Lates it was a wheel in the turret that allowed locking at any position.

David

You guys are talking about two different things-a turret lock keeps the turret from moving-the travel lock keeps the gun from moving.
So why did they get rid of the travel lock?
Dan

Hi Dan,hello Scott, Hello David!
They are mind boggling theses turret and travel locks eh? Especially when the turret travel lock was changed to a locking handwheel at the loaders 2:30'Oclock position.

And the KwK 36 L56 was this nifty affair that was hooked into the guns cradle and locked with a hand wheel once again...


I'll bet a fair few tankcrew went on to develop tendinitis in their wrists? I once worked on Windmoller & Holscher Gravure printing presses (the fitters reckoned they were made by Krupp and Henshcel) and everything beyond the electronic systems was operated by a multitude of hand wheels!... And the printing cylinders... We called them 'shells'!
...David, thanks for the inclusion of that Hi Res assembled image of the Rear Hull Gun Travel Lock, I cannot wait to get my hands on this kit, when the 'litter arrives!
And thank you for the nod on the 'block'! All we need now is for you to convince Dragon, that we really need a SSym 6 axle rail flat bed included with every kit, now all the outer roadwheels can be removed! ...Oh and a set of transportation tracks. You are the 'Schwere Santa'? ...Are you not?

Well take care everybody... Phil

Dan:

They got rid of the travel lock to save money. It was cheaper to tie a shaped wooden block on the rear deck.

Phil:

The outer wheels can't all be removed now, only half of them. Dragon didn't see the need for a transport mode option since it would require the extra set of tracks.

That big trestle, ahead of the travel lock inside your turret, is actually included in the new kit. But it doesn't have the gearbox or crossbeam at the bottom; they're just using it as a place to hang the loader's seat.

What is more interesting about the new kit, is the turret ring. At the inside base of the turret, there was a quite thick ring that housed the ball bearings. A typical Tiger kit will have a very different profile here, something that locks the turret into the hull. The new kit has the accurate ring profile and it doesn't lock into the hull.

When Dragon were tooling the new turret, they suggested that they could add a limited amount of new internal detail, but they weren't interested in going head-to-head with resin sets like you're using. So I thought hard about what would be the most important thing to add. The turret ring was the logical choice; no resin maker provides it now, as far as I know, and they would have a very hard time doing so since it's large and needs to be precise. Plastic is a much better medium for it. Plus, the modeller would still have to carve the incorrect ring off the turret.

The seating ring on the hull top is also provided.

David

Hello David!
With every small embellishment upon the new inclusions and tooling's upon this much awaited Tiger, the long winter nights just get longer, with the anticipation of their arrival!
Seriously the added details and updates to the turret and hull, have really got me thinking about future projects... And Tiger releases of course!
The turret ring detail sounds very exciting, as I have been trying to find the old Elefant PE Turret Ring for some time! Just need the toothed rings now!
It is a pity that Dragon don't fancy an interior adventure yet with the Tiger 1, as I am sure that a few more main pieces of the fighting compartments would on the whole be greatly appreciated... Say A firewall, ammo bins and structural brace etc. Though I expect with the myriad of production modifications along the manufacturing timeline, this would be quite a headache and feat? All we have to do now is find the whereabouts of DML's Zimmerit 'Elf' and kidnap him/her until the next 'Mid' is on general release!

Cheers David... Phil!

Phil,
I've always wondered why Dragon hasn't done interiors for their varous tanks-a reason to buy another kit from them!
Dan