With respect to the Bosch light wire armoured hubs; the initial style was rounded with a conical head vs the angular style seen on this kit. 6252 is incorrect here, but Tamiya’s early tiger 1 is also incorrect for an Early Tiger 1 (after 1942), HOWEVER is correct for an Initial (before 1943) so I have swopped the pieces over. You can also see the filling work, which was done with TETC and ABS rod (Voyager Model), which works a treat once the glue has cured overnight.

I have added the fantastic Aber brass MG34 barrels; one to the bow plate MG station and one to the gun mantlet, of course these are two different pieces with slightly different prices (the mantlet MG34’s come in a pack of 5 for about a tenner & the radio op’s MG34’s come in a pack of 2 for a similar price), but the effect is similar; stunning IMHO.

Further, I have moves the vertical turret chin weld seam forward by just under 2mm, to correct this kit anomaly.

Moving upwards today I have configured the upper turret splash guard (behing the mantlet and carved out some of the lateral aspects of the receiving part to create recesses). Further to that I have used some CMK PE bolt detailing to enhance the splash guard detail.





Things are really coming together now; I can feel the need to crack open the PE coming on!

Thanks for looking in!


Bill

http://panzersinscale.blogspot.com/

This AFV is actually starting to look like a tank now! The earlier work seems to be paying off, but I must say that I am somewhat unimpressed with Dragon Tiger’s built-in hull warpage. It took me ages to get the bow plate, side armour and rear plate to sit together correctly; you can see there was a minor amount of fillage required (I now realise why every time I have seen a Tiger hull assembled on the web there has been use of a clamp; note to self – break out the clamps next build!)

In the pictures you can see the resin numbers on the snorkel cover, the Aber MG34 at the radio operator’s station, the fantastic horseshoe on the right hand side of the bow plate, which is as big as a cart horse horseshoe judging by the ones I usually use (at the end of this run I will have a few spare as each set I have ATM seems to offer one or more along the way), the re-detailed radio wire hubs, which will be pre-drilled to receive the cabling from the Bosch lights.

I have drilled out the antenna mount with a 0.6mm drill bit ; this antenna base is probably the best cast item of its type that I have ever modelled with. The fact that it is pre-cast on the AFV is excellent news, especially as there is a slight guide for the bit. Drilling through was easy. I have found Aber antenna to need 0.6mm, yet Armorcale/RB Model antenna to require 0.75mm; so it is best to drill the smaller amount first, then move on in necessary as if you drill out too much you will later have to correct a wonky aerial!

I chose to apply the 2-rod version of cleaning apparatus on the AFV’s left upper hull. There is no system for tow cable stowage on this AFV & I do not intend to dream up one as I would like this 111 Doppleganger to be as starkly different as possible to the rest of the line, but I do look forward to deploying the tow cables in the ‘ready’ position (i.e. pre-attached to the U-hooks at the front & rear of the Tiger, draped over the hull).

Looking at the engine deck you can see the filling that I have done to eliminate the Feifel system port – I am particularly pleased with the outcome here. In this region you might notice that I have eliminated several nodes on the engine deck (fire extinguisher & latches) ready for the PE parts. This took a rather sharp scalpel blade and a little patience, but it worked out fine in the end. You will also note the angulation of the exhaust flappers; apparently there were more than one configuration of this at this time, but they were noted to be symmetrical. Those little flappers are, I am afraid to say, ‘cute’.

There is just a hint of rear plate detailing, but I will guide you through that when I get to the OVM tools & PE.

Currently the turret roof is merely dry-fitted. The excess white filler will be sanded back soon enough & then the Tiger will really start to look the part.

Either way; it looks like after a bit of fiddling with minor details I will be on to the PE by Monday at the latest!

I have decided to update the chronological order of the 10 builds, so as it stands (in my mind) here goes;

1. Tiger 1, Initial (sPzAbt 502, autumn 1942, date of manufacture August 1942)
2. Tiger 1, DAK (sPAbt 501, spring 1943, date of manufacture September 1942)
3. Tiger 1, Early 503-style (sPzAbt 503, summer 1943, date of manufacture December 1943)
4. Tiger 1, Early (sPz Abt 502, summer 1943, date of manufacture February 1943) – this will be a copy of David Palmer’s 1/16 Tiger build
5. Tiger 1, ‘Classic’ Early (date of manufacture May 1943), Kursk, unit TBA
6. Tiger 1, Mid (summer 1943, date of manufacture July 1943), unit TBA
7. Tiger 1, Late, date of manufacture February 1944, sPzAbt 505
8. Tiger 1, Final, date of manufacture June 1944, SS sPzAbt 102
9. Tiger 1, Early ‘Fehrmann-style’ date of manufacture May-July 1943
10. Sturmtiger, 1944 date of conversion from Tiger 1 TBA


Regarding the mantlet for build 3; 503-style, manufactured in December 1942, I reckon the mantlet is either style 13 or 14 in AJ Press Tiger vol 4 (page 105). These are the same styles, but 14 sports a visor; the reason I chose this is the lower aspect of the mantle block-style rib inferior reinforcement is horizontal, not oblique, which is the only style like this. What do you reckon? If this is so I need to scratch this item.

Thanks for looking in!


Bill

http://panzersinscale.blogspot.com/

I'm not sure that the headlight cable covers changed in a straightforward way from round to angular. I think it's more likely that they came from two different manufacturers.

Regarding the exhaust flappers, they would normally be open.

David

Another mega tiger build blog!!! This is good news.
So far everything is looking great to me. Can't wait to see them painted.

Hello David; thanks for that. Bearing in mind that is a speculative interpretation I am happy to leave it as it is re headlight hubs (I note your comments on Tiger1info & have read Pat Stansell's interpretation and will continue to look for evidence either way).

With respect to the flappers; I thought these would be like those things you see at the top of truck exhausts (i.e. the exhaust fumes pushed them open on acceleration & they closed with reduced air pressure when the engine stops revving. Either way they are glued down so I will leave them as they are.)

Paul! Welcome, mate. Jolly nice to have another Tigerphile in the ranks & especially reassuring to have another comment on the occasionally lonely road of blogging (especially on Armorama, hint, hint).


Abyssinia!

The flappers were for submersion, they could be locked open. Not that this is mandatory.

David

Greetings!
Enjoying your blog to say the least! I don't post much...mostly I just watch and read...but I just wanted to throw in my support. I've got a couple of tiger kits I need to finish and a couple I need to start. Sometimes the accuracy and detail issues seem a little overwhelming but blogs like yours are an encouragement.

Thanks!
Matt

Hello David; thanks for that. I will leave the flappers open for the upcoming DAK build. Any ideas on tac numbers for an Initial Tiger 1, DAK with the tow ropes the 'wrong' way round?

Hi Matt! It is most excellent to have you post up - I really appreciate your support. I must say that we will all get a lot more out of this blogging lark if we all contribute - look at David - he has helped me immensely & I am only half way through the first build of 10! Plus - we get to make friends with people from all over the world! Take it from me - conversation is better than nowt at all.

So fellas, take a leaf out of Matt's book - post up & let's have a laugh along the way (...you know you want to!)


Bill

http://panzersinscale.blogspot.com/

Hi Bill,
Not sure about a laugh, cry maybe. Using old fashioned plastic etc I "improved" the Italeri Tiger many moons ago and I can see why they invented P/E and other stuff. This is also why I decided to move to WW1 models - more obscure = less hassle.
Great stuff so far by the way .
Paul

Hello there Major Bill.
Nice to see you tackling the Tigers. You can never have enough Tiger blogs..
I've been following the initial pages and will continue to do so.. If I can find the reading time..
Great indepth blog full with facts for other Tigerphiles.. Keep it comin'

Grant.

Hello Paul! Welcome to the thread and a ma-hoosive thanks for posting up, "Ken fit a mean?" I would love to see your Tiger tank - you are welcome to show any pictures on the thread if you wish. I have always fancied doing one of those A7V jobbies myself.

Yo Van! Long time no speak. How are things? I saw a couple of your Tigers in '09 and they were truly inspiring. It is very reassuring to know you are watching over me...also jolly nice to be back in touch after such a long time. I hope you are well.

I have been working on the turret this weekend and will post up some piccies ASAP.

Catch y'all, like, latier, man!


Bill

Right; TECHNICAL QUESTION!

On the turret there are eight (?) screw holes on the roof; there is no internal detailing of these on the Dragon 6252; should there be a slotted screw head within, or is it a blind rivet/bolt head?

Further; the three screw holes that attach the crew hatches on the upper frontal hull; should these three (in a triangular format) have a recessed slotted screw head within as well? 6252 does not show any internal detail here either, however, if it should be detailed I can add an Aber screw head to each.

I would really like to know; if anybody has an close-up, detailed picture of either areas they would be prepared to post up I would be very grateful.

Cheers!


Bill

http://panzersinscale.blogspot.com/

Pretty impressive project undetaking you've got going here Bill, 10 builds is quite a bench load!

As for the discrepancy between view and comment counts, don't let that get you down. Armorama tends to have a very large "silent majority" that lurks and watches but doesn't comment much.

"On the turret there are eight (?) screw holes on the roof; there is no internal detailing of these on the Dragon 6252; should there be a slotted screw head within, or is it a blind rivet/bolt head?"


Smoothies:



I've no idea where I got this pic from..but credit to the snapper/owner.

In answer to both questions, they were all flat fishtail bolts with no detail.

The photo belongs to Alexander Diw.

David

Thanks for all the advice & support I have had so far – it has helped immensely, even at this early stage. I know that without your help & encouragement I would have put many a foot wrong (actually, I know I have dropped one or two clangers already, but in the grand scheme of things I am on track). So; MUCHOS GRACIAS!

Can anybody advise me about the limit of photographs in the Kitmaker gallery? My gallery says I don't have much space left, which is a little surprising after only 30 photos or so? Does everybody use Photobucket?

Hull & turret;

‘Tiger 111 Doppleganger’ had a bit of a quantum leap over the weekend and I thought that I had better post up some pictures to share with you before the progress gets lost in the mists of time.

One can see that the AFV is actually quite presentable now, what with the barrel and cupola affixed to the turret.

The RB Models barrel presented a minor problem; I found that the shank was slightly loose within the gun collar, so attached eight fine styrene strips around it with CA and then filed them down sequentially until they gave the gun a snug fit within the collar. Once dry fitted I glued it in place using Zap Extra Thin formula. I must say that the aluminium barrel looks a whole heap better with a brass muzzle & am thoroughly pleased with that choice.









more...

These four overhead walk-around photographs show you that so far the build has been mostly OOB and that only very little detailing has been added so far. You can see the Bosch light cabling in copper wire, which is threaded into pre-drilled holes in the hubs, any gap was later filled with the Tipp-Ex mixture and should be seamless when primed.

You can’t see it here, but the driver’s and radio operator’s periscopes have been altered to make the upper rear aspect slanted, as opposed to vertical in the kit piece. I will take detailed pictures of this in a later build.

The first overhead shot gives you a glimpse of both of the Aber MG34 pieces in brass as mentioned before. They are especially well detailed, even more than the kit parts, actually, the Dragon Tiger 1 coaxial MG piece is not that good; I am sure that you would agree that Aber comes to the rescue here nicely.

With the general overview shots you will notice areas of white filler; in some areas it is because of my inexperience with the Dragon Tiger 1 hull, others it is because of sink holes/necessary filling in order to flatten the upper hull (for example) before addition of PE tool clasps etc. Look at the turret extractor fan; there were two sink holes in the receiving piece (C7) that I was going to ignore, but I let the obsessive-compulsive in me take over there. On balance I am pleased to have done this, as it would have bugged me when painted up as those marks would be visible with the armoured cover taken off (as if in combat).

The turret right-hand rear pistol port has been inversed as I understand that Tiger 111 had the pistol ports asymmetrical, as with several other Initial Tigers. To do this I used the kit part ‘not for use’ as it was easier to modify, however I still used the armoured plug intended for the original part as it fitted especially well once the inverse piece had been modified. In order to get a correct fit I drew a template around the part for use when dry-fitted so that the inverse piece would sit in the same place (you can see some pencil markings here).

In the fourth overhead shot you can see a variation of the 111 scheme; I have added the early-style steel bar spare track hanger to the front plate of the Tiger. This is a thoroughly robust piece of styrene from the kit and fits the part perfectly. From pictures of early Tigers I have seen that this track hanging style comes with two horizontal crossbars; the lower being more solid, the latter being removable and in thinner metal, which would be perfect for the PE parts out of the Voyager Model set, however, I do not think that 111 had such apparatus. I am in two minds as to whether to continue detailing this with the finer piece (above the first bar) in PE, or whether to stick to the pure ‘Tiger 111 Doppleganger’ program and delete the spare track stowage. I would appreciate your ideas on this matter.

Cupola;

The Dragon Tiger 1 early cupola deserves only a little extra attention (with some more to come after this submission). First all of the cupola drain holes were filled with Tipp-Ex, then sanded down, as some of the indents are not perpendicular, but are oblique to the surface. Once a smooth finish was achieved I re-drilled the holes with a 0.4mm drill bit. The final effect is superior to the styrene casting. You can see this here and in fact can see some of the excess oblique hole in the styrene, outlined with white filler, sanded down to the surface.



For those of you who followed my recent Jagdpanzer IV 3-in-1 blog, or who have seen the pictures on Panzers In Scale you might recall me waxing lyrical about 34 gauge beaders’ wire. Once more I have used this zero-memory copper filament for the spring to the cupola lid latch; the detailing can be seen in this shot. I used a cut bridal pin for the shank between the two upright lugs in this instance. I feel I have to refine this technique as I think I may have used one too many twists of the wire, as the lugs are slightly splayed, but by the end of this run I hope to have it down to a tee.