Hi there,

does anyone have some reference on the early tiger 1 especially in grey colorscheme?
Also some battalion e.a. numbers would be welcome.

Did you try a google image search? Italeri makes a Tiger 1 early, is that the kit that your doing?

~Chip :-)

Yes, i tried the google search but it's so frustating because in most pictures i can't see from which period the are. So i hoped someone knows a site about it.
As for the model, i'm building the tiger 1 early form academy (the one with the full interior) and i use eduard detail sets and friulmodel tracks. Hopes it will look great.

APbullet,
First of all, welcome to the happiest modelling site on the web. Hope you like it here!
What do you think about:
http://www.panzer-vi.fsnet.co.uk/
http://www.tiger-tank.com/
http://www.fprado.com/armorsite/tigers.htm
http://www.achtungpanzer.com/tiger.htm
http://www.tigertank-h-e-181.com/
And yes, the fruil tracks ARE great
enjoy

thanx, i think that will help.

Pic up the TAMIYA CD rom on the Tiger 1

(:-)

HMM....Asking quite alot there AP....Alot of units used the Early tigers...the 501 was sent to Africa with the initial version...as were the 504th with earlies...502nd was sent to the Leningrad area with very early initials painted grey ...The Grossdeutschland received some tigers also painted grey...numbering system seems to have been very small numbers with a slightly larger S infront at first ...Then the numbers got bigger but the the numbering system changed as the received more tigers going to the letters A,B, and C infront of two numbers. Also just off the top of my head the three SS divisions got some of the first early grey tigers....LSSH received 10 in December 42 the numbers were at first black out line starting with the # 4....Das Riech received 10 in Dec.42 numbers started with the # 8 and as for the Totenkopt received 9 and at the beginning their nubering system started with the #4 seems to be black with white outline for both dasRiech and Totenkopt....Now this is really just at the beginning as all the systems changed quite soon after.... By the time of Kursk all tanks were repainted and numbering systems had all changed ...ie 1ss was now using the number 13 ....DasRiech was using an S and 3rd ss was using the #9. So as you see your question needs to be a bit more defind to narrow things down ,but I hope this helps.

Rick

Thanks you all,

I think i go for the 502 abt. I'll keep you posted.

He forgot Tiger1.info.

Rob

My humble appollogies, but the were more sites than there is space on a sinlge posting

Thanks again, that's a very great site full of detailed foto's. Who can tell me which markings a early Tiger from 502 had, or what the look like.

Hi AP. The early Tigers of sPz Abt.502 were painted dunkelgrau from when the division was issued it's tanks in Aug. 1942 up until the order for color change came about in Feb.1943.
The 502's insignia, a "Mammoth " was painted as a large outline on the rear of the turret,
because there were no " turret stowage boxes " used in the beginning.
..... However after the turret stowage boxes were delivered and put into place, a small outlined Mammoth insignia was painted on the right hull front ( vertical armored plate ). Just the white angles of the Balkenkreuz were painted just a bit off center on the hull sides towards the rear and the turret number was painted in "white outline " in center of the turret..

- ralph

If you do the early 502 tigers you have to scratch two stowage boxes for the turret sides...Also you will have to remove all signs of the side skirts and alot of other small details too...don,t forget these were inital tigers without the escape hatch on the turret side...Later they did receive.earlies but I don't think they were grey...

Rick

found a picture of the 502 tigers


hope this works
Rick

That is a lot to think about, but Rick or someone else can you tell me what the stowage bin on the side of the turret looked like? And the initial tiger had an assymatrical turret, i'snt it. So i have to feature that too. Thanks again for all this information, my idea is much clearer by now.

Wouter

I also found a picture from 502 in color and this is a tiger early.


the image doesn't work but go to www.panzer-vi.fsnet.co.uk/east30.html and you will see it.

Wouter

As for the turret ..If you are using the tamiya kit it is already pretty good and asmetrical....for the bins on the sides I'm looking for more pictures but hmmm...can,t seem to find much . you can see on the picture where the supports were (and still are at the far end) and also the 2 that were under the bin from the weld beeds on the turret side . Now were they angled aroundthe side of the tiger or were they straight ?? I'll keep looking ...I do know that the tigers numbers 111 and 112 did go into battle without these side bins so you could do one of them and get away without them..(there are some strange tool attachement places on these tanks ) no heat shields wire cutters on the rear plate set at an angle...seems to be some kind of bulge on the rear plate near where the jack would be ...no jack to be seen...but more tools in that general area.(shovel and sledge hammer I think).. Ain't building tigers fun???lol #:-)

Rick

I also have a tiger 1 early verison.
waiteing to be built, its the acdemey kit.
thank god i did not sale this kit.
i am going to build it when i think i have my skill back for amor

Thanks to another site ...I found this adress should help alot ....

http://www.panzernet.com/articulos/descripciones/tiger1ini/tigerIini.htm

Rick

Thanks for the site Rick, some useful information. Shame thou that it's spanish but the pictures speak for themself. Unfortunatly i'm building the academy kit which doesn't feature an assymetrical turret.

Oh ...Well the academy kit is nice anyway ...nothing seemed to fit too well with mine so I put it aside for now...If you are using the Academy kit ,you can't do the initial version like the picture I showed you as you have the large escape hatch on the turret side ,but you can do an earrly grey tiger with the 502 with the hatch,but I think you'll have to add a snow camo...(cool camo with large white stripes and the grey used as a second color...not completly covered up)and by spring they were repainted... Oh yeah if the assymetrical turret really bugs you you can get a new one from Tiger Model Designs who are bringing out a whole line of corrected turrets...How cool is that!!

Rick

Rick

Hi Rick, Actually as for the SIDE turret box, if there were any they would have been a rarity, as they were put on by the crews themselves at the front. The only Tiger I can find with one on the left side was the company commanders Tiger "100" in Lenningrad 1942.
All other pic's in my books have no boxes on the turret sides. Also, sPz Abt.502 was the first unit to receive the Tiger I and it was ONLY their 1.kompanie that was equipped with 9 Tigers between Sept & Oct.. 1942 ( respectively 4 Tigers on Aug 19 & 20 - 2 Tigers on Sept.16, 1942 - 1 Tiger on Sept.18, 1942 - 2 Tigers on Oct.15, 1942 - 4 of these operational Tigers saw their first action on Sept.9, 1942 near Tortolowo) and the turrets of these first 9 Tgers did not have the escape hatch on the right. They had left & right MP Klappe ( machine pistol port ). It would not be until December 1942 that the MP Klappe on the right was replaced with the "escape hatch " at the factory.
The abteilung of 502 did not equip it's 2.kompanie with 9 more Tigers until that same month of Dec.1942. and this 2.kompanie was immediately attached over to, and became the 3.kompanie of sPz Abt.503.

So any way you look at it, the first 9 intial Tiger I's of 1.Kompanie / sPz Abt.502 ( Chassis #250002 - 250010 ) could not have the ecape hatches. At least not until they received 7new replacement Tigers at the front in Feb.1943 for 1.kompanie.
It actually was April 1, 1943 when sPz Abt.502 formed their new 2. & 3.kompanies.

The point here is AP can build an intitial Tiger I from sPz Abt.502 up until Jan.1943, ( to play it safe I can see the turret numbers of Tigers #111 & # 112 ) WITHOUT the escape hatch and with no side boxes ..................... and paint it dunkelgrau as he wishes to.

I don't have a scanner, so I regret I can't post any pics, but Rick, if you should find any other's pic's beside Tiger "100 " with the side boxes, please let me know. I do have a feeling that if any more are around they will probably be on kompanie commnand tanks only.

- ralph

wow, you guys know a lot about this subject.

So just to be sure i can build an intial tiger from 502 with the next features:
-assymetrical turret
-two pistol ports
-optional home made turret box
-tank number 100, 111 or 112
-no exhaust covers
-no air filters
-and some other minor details

Correct?

do you find the time difference between countries annoying? I do, because i can't communicate with you guys in USA and Canada on ( for me) a normal time.

Wouter

Thanks Ralph ...I have be scrounging around my books too...and I had come to the same conclusion as you ...think it was a one time deal those stowage boxes...just 100 had them ...and thanks for the time line didn't know when they got more tigers..(didn't read enough...lol)...just know there winter camo looks like fun to try one of these days...

Rick
Now look what you've done !! I've started a Sturmtiger because of you !! (looking thru all those books got me hooked) #:-)

Rick and AP, I apologize, but I screwed up on the battle & delivery dates. I was trying to recall them by memory ( LOL - what a mistake that was ). When I went to my book Tigers In Combat Vol.1, it was then I found that i really goofed. I have gone back and edited my post with the correct dates ....... sorry guy's

Hey Rick ....That Sturmtiger should be a fun build .................. GO FOR IT !

- ralph