Thanks for that Kirk; I am just prepping a passel o'Friuls ATM.

What is the weather like in California ATM? Can you show me a picture? I went to LA once upon a time.


Bill

Bill, I like the deck screens on this Tiger. I have a similar set from Aber but in my haste used another set from Lionroar I believe. These are more accurate I think as they have a bit of a wavy look to them which I think is more reflective of the actual screens on the early Tigers.

Hi Bill - I am headed out the door right now, I will post a couple of pics for you when I get back

Okay Bill - Here is what it was like today. Upper 60's and sunny, gorgeous day.



And to bring it back on topic (At LEAST back to modeling ) Here is my newest aquisition, just picked it up at my hobby shop this afternoon

Hi Bill. I have been watching this thread for a few weeks, but never really had the time to get involved. Im hoping to one day build version 100, so have found this thread very interesting, and have been admiring your work so far. Keep it up! I have 2 suitable images regarding the comments below ... both are verion 100 though. Images for discussion only.

And ........ 3 quick images of version 111 that might help some, if its not already too late.

There are many photos of this Tiger because it lasted about a year, being renumbered as '2', then '5', then '31'. But it had a new turret, indeed that's where the number '2' came from.

You can see the photos thumbnailed.

I don't see any evidence of a horseshoe on the tank. The front hull did have a distinguishing feature; a patch of steel welded over a hit by the driver's visor. Here's a precise diagram of the part you need to make (full size, in millimeters):



David

I never knew #2 and #111 were one in the same!

Hello Dave; I think I have some Lion Roar stuff to use on an upcoming Tiger 1 in the series (the David Parker Doppleganger). I can do a ‘live’ comparison then.

Hi Kirk! Nice picture – we are seeing a lot of rain ATM (no surprises there, then). Hrmph. That sky is beautiful; I guess it is nowhere near LA, then…he he. Thanks for taking the time to post that up.

Hello Frank & David! Gracias for the info, muchachos. I must say 111 is pretty much done now, but I might add that battle damage to the front plate later on. Regards the horseshoe; during this series you will see one on every build. It is not there for accuracy or as an imitation, just that I have liked popping a horseshoe on every build in the last year or so; see if you can spot any on:

http://panzersinscale.blogspot.com/

I have been very pleased to have all of your advice & those super pictures – they are really helpful. Any pictures/reference/advice on 501/DAK Tigers with the face-to-front tow cables would be most welcome! As would pictures of sPzAbt 503 ‘Tiger 123’ and sPzAbt 503 ‘Tiger 323’.


Bill

PS Frank; love the Avatar! (I remember when they geusted on 'The Young Ones' in the 1980's - what a larf!)

Thanks for doing this! It will be an outstanding reference!

I just checked around for a copy of The Modeller’s Guide to the Tiger Tank and found one -and only one- through an Amazon.com seller priced at $113 plus change. (and I didn't add an extra "1" in the price!)

Sheesh! I got my copy for £40 about 6 months ago - it was the last one the seller had & no discount despite a dog-ear.

It is an excellent book.

I will post up a list of my reference texts throughout the build; I am using about 8 books, I think.

Nice to have you post up Jim.


Bill

Hi
Doing a quick check on Google for the UK it shows several for sale at around £20 - £25 so I'm sure you'll be able to source one in the US at a more reasonable price than you saw on Amazon. I got the Osprey one a couple of years ago (complete with reversed image ) but this one looks the business.

Here

also here
and here

Never dealt with any of the above so can't vouch for them, or if their listings are live inventory style entries.

Alan

Hi Alan. I found a copy and bought it from eBay. Total cost including shipping was about $43. USD. The listing included some additional words in the title "Modelers Guide to the Tiger Tank Military Miniatures". I don't know why it didn't come up in my other searches since I didn't put it in quotation marks. On eBay the Modelers Guide to the Tiger Tank showed zero results but under the other searches it appeared under model guide which had lots of stuff about RV (caravan) toilets. I about closed the page when I glimpsed it. Regardless, I scored and it sure beat $113.35!

Give Webshots a look. Lots of free space. Easy to select image size and various ways to present and link to pictures. Webshots may well compare to Photobucket which I haven't used as a picture poster, so I can't speak to a site by site comparison. Maybe use the free bits of both!!

Hi Guys!

I didn't want to bore you with the early bits of Tiger 2, the DAK one, so I just built for a week or two before posting up.

Currently we have a nearly generic Initial Tiger 1 with one addition; the DAK-style turret bin, which still awaits some detailing. It fits well & will lend itself perfectly to this project.

The mantlet is Armorscale, as is the barrel, which is not identical to the RB Models version; some parts are more challenging, some less. One interesting feature is that Armorscale have the grub screws on the barrel collar positioned differently. Hmmm...I hope this is a variant of the norm, yet I am still to find pictures to prove it.

WIP;









This is where things are going to get interesting. The PE is the Voyager Model set dedicated to the Tamiya 'Afrika' Tiger, which is comprehensive enough to give this baby a kick.

You will note the Aber coaxial & radio op MG's and lack of tracks...so far. I have some Friuls for this baby & will deploy them ASAP.

Rear detail;



You will notice that I have found my stash of spare Voyager louver screws; on the exhaust stacks keeping the flappers open. Nice bit of detailing there.

Also; it was a whole passel easier adding the tow shackles before the PE went on; last time I damned near pulled it off...or summat, Guv.

As this was a September/early October 1942 build this'll be the last of the box-style Notek light, so lap it up whilst you can...the next Tiger will start to show some more changes on the way. Talking of which, the PE rings in all of the upcoming changes to this 'initial' DAK Tiger 1.

Other detailing matters to mention so far are that I have eradicated the hull side locking fillets; I can't see evidence of this on DAK initial Tigers, so have removed them with Tipp-Ex (either way, the bulk of this detail will be lost under the fenders, which BTW are different to the 'usual' Tiger 1 fenders, but I will explain that later).

I have used the Tiger 1 Initial sprocket wheels here - they are brilliant & a lot less emotionally draining than worrying about bolt alignment (like maybe I should have worried about the alignment of the spokes with the rib bolts...or something, Guv). I'm free! I'm free!...of (severe) detail-freakery. Not. Actually, I couldn't be bothered to research it, so lay on Dragon! In 6252 sprocket wheels I trust!

The Bosch light armoured wire hubs are, yet again, robbed from the Tamiya Tiger 1; this poor old Tamiya is being battered & bruised, but I promise will be a treat when I get to it. like in the Million Dollar Man;

"I have the technology to rebuild it! Mwah-ha-ha-ha!"

Catch y'all, like, latier man!

Comments greatly appreciated.

Abyssinia!



Bill

http://panzersinscale.blogspot.com/

PS how is the blogger fixed for showing pictures he has found on the web on the forum? For example if there is a reference picture on 'Tiger Im Focus' I would like to share; if I name-check it as a source - is that Ok?


Bill

I'm not aware of any variation in the positioning of the barrel sleeve screws. What have they done?

David

Hi Bill! Good to see you back onto the 'Kitty Boiler'! Only one Tiger I have been told of had the gun sleeves seal grub screws located in a differing location than the norm! And David told me of that one... And it is an blunder by the engineers that re-assembled the Aberdeen Tiger, when they fitted the sleeve upside down! Drain hole on the top...
Looking good, a bit more flesh on this Cat eh?

Cheers Phil.

Hi David

This is the positioning of the Armorscale grub screws;



There are three pairs of screws - I hope my editing has made it clear.


Bill

PS what about showing pictures from ANother website?

PPS Hi Phil! I love your music thingumy, but what about some Carpenters? Or Jackson Five? Or Terry Wogan's Floral Dance? (He ducks & runs for cover...)

Armorscale have literally screwed up.

David

Hi Guys!

Shame about the Armorscale booboo, but I can remedy it.









Moving on to the engine deck I have added some more detail in PE to the turret bin & grills; there are a few more cam loops to add to the rear of the engine bay and the kit-bashed/AM feifel system will take a bit of figuring out...

Please note that the cupola is complete with detailing (phew!) . The drum cupola front vision slit fine sighting wire will be added to later builds, but not this one, as there is a PE ranging/sighting vane to go onto the mantlet & I don't think such an early Tiger 1 has that detail.

I have had to modify the PE piece over the left-hand cleaning rods as there are only two on that side, but the resin retainer has a guide for the tow wire also, but the PE kit part is long enough to accommodate three rods. I'll show you later (I had to reduce the width of the resin piece, but that was straight forward).

I must be feeling brave; I have added the antenna (AND the horseshoe, not that you can see it in these shots) already!

Thanks for looking & see ya!


Bill

http://panzersinscale.blogspot.com/

I always get a charge out of seeing armor kits with the raw PE attached Looking really good, Bill!

Hi Kirk!

Cop this then;




Bosch lights on with the PE parts out of the Voyager Model Tiger 1 Initial set (even though the parts are the same pattern, the PE in the Initial Tiger 1 set is thicker).

The wiring is 30 guage copper wire, which has been annealed with a cigarette lighter.

I saw the recent Star Trek movie the other night;

"Are you out of your Vulcan mind?"

He he...I loved that bit.

This Feifel system is a miture of DML/Voyager (two sets; the circular discs are available from the Professional Upgrade set, not from the DAK PE upgrade)/Tamiya and was a real back-breaker.





The chains are TMD (brass coloured) and ANother blackened fine chain wot I got from Euromilitaire 2008.

I know, I know; the chains might be over scale & too long, but WHATEVER, I don't care; this lot nearly killed me.

"Panzer! Vor!"


Bill

Bill, I have a few questions, perhaps a group of groaners, but I'm going to ask anyway.

On the casting numbers, is there any method to the numbering on them? I would initially assume they relate to the foundry where they were made. Were the numbers specific to a particular part or set of parts such as all guards made by manufacturer X had the same casting number or were the numbers exclusive to the individual part or sets so each part or set had a different number? The few I have seen appear to be different across tanks of a specific model. Were they related to production runs, times such as from a given date to another date? Changes in the physical configuration?

And of course, did you know which to use by going over umpteen pictures of the vehicles you are replicating to find the exact ones?

Lastly, is there a reference guide or place this information is explained? I have a pretty good reference library but very little even mentions the subject. Thanks!