Hi all,

Been looking around to replace the barrel on my Italeri Tiger P VK4501(P) with a turned barrel.

This one seems to be the best bet: "RB Model 1/35 8.8cm KwK 36 L/56 Tiger I Early #35B01". There are quite a few Tiger choices out there that made this unclear to me.

Agree, or is there a more accurate choice?

Thanks.

@IrishGreek – John,

The RB item you selected would be the correct turned aluminum barrel for the VK45.01(P).

The difference between the early and late Tiger barrels was in the muzzle brake. The early muzzle brake had a larger outside diameter casting and was heavier in weight and the later model muzzle brake had a smaller outside diameter casting and lighter in weight. The same two muzzle brakes were also used on other vehicles sporting the short and long versions of the 88mm gun. Some long versions of the 88mm anti-tank guns also used the larger muzzle brake too.

John, I would be interested in seeing your VK45.01(P). Since there were variations among that series of vehicles which version would you be rendering? Oh, and any of the VK45.01(P)’s used the same barrel and muzzle brake combination.

Good luck on your project and hope this helps you out?
~ Eddy

Hi Eddy,

Thanks for the detailed response. It was very helpful.

I guess World of Tanks and all the various main guns they give you for the tanks was throwing me off! But when I was searching around the internet for pictures, the one I selected (early) did look more 'right' and I guess the muzzle brake was the item that did it.

As far as which vehicle. I was debating putting on the zim, for the one that did see action, but leaning towards an early pre-prod. I am using the Italeri kit as my base. So far only have the parts of the running gear together and set (no glue) on the hull.



As you can see early in the process yet.

Any recommendations for good detail photos of these tanks?

Regards,

John

@IrishGreek – John,

Thanks for posting a progress photograph of your vehicle. As far as going to the extent of creating the version of this vehicle that saw action it would be better to build Dragon’s PanzerKampfwagen VI(P) Sd.Kfz.181 premium edition as this would save you tons of headaches in upgrading the Italeri kit. For example you would need to acquire a new turret from one of the Dragon Tiger I’s and that turret would still need to be backdated. The Dragon kit is complete about the only thing you may want to add to that kit is a resin Zimmerit set or create your own, as the kit doesn’t come with any Zimmerit.

Panzer Tracks ‘Panzerkampfwagen VI P (Sd.Kfz.181) The History of the Porsche Typ 100 and also known as the Leopard and Tiger (P)’ covers all of the pre-production and the single version that saw action and is the best reference available to date. However, there are still a few flaws concerning the information on the vehicle that saw action but that is far beyond the scope of my posting. This copy includes scale line drawings, photographs and a detailed itemized modification history for these vehicles. The Italeri kit supplies you with tracks that were fitted to the Elefant so you’ll need to outsource an aftermarket set to render the tracks used on these early vehicles. However some of them used the same tracks, as the Ferdinand and that would depend on the vehicle you would be interested in rendering. With the exception of the tracks the Italeri kit depicts one of the pre-production vehicles right out of the box. I would need some time to do the research to find out which one and see if there are any photographs available, but there is a set of scale drawings for that vehicle in the book. Let me know if you are interested?

~ Eddy

Eddy,

Great info. Funny you mention the Dragon kit. I actually saw it yesterday (did not purchase though) at a LHS (not really local) that I get to about every 2 months (100 miles away). Might pick it up next time I am there if it still is!

As far as the Italeri kit goes, I think I will stick with the pre-prod. I will try to find that Panzer Tracks book too. But in the mean time, if not too much trouble would really appreciate the drawings. I will PM you with my email addy.

Thanks again for all your info.

John