I screwed up earlier I should have installed the engine deck screens before I added the hold open latches . I had to break them off add the screens then re install the latches.

Just a little update.
Donald

Working on the exhausts , didn't have any problem with the Dragon parts.
The RFM muffler parts have a couple of edges that are supposed to help the parts line up. They don't fit.

I trimmed off the edges.

They fit ok now.

The body of the RFM Muffler is about 1mm. taller than the Dragon one.

The small pins on the armored guard on the RFM Kit are easier to install.

That's all for now.
Donald

The exhaust mufflers in a 35th scale model should be 24.28mm long. That is, the outer shell of the main tube, ignoring the valve and other parts on top. How do the models measure up?

David

Hi David
Measuring just the outside casing the Dragon one measures 24.25 to 24.28 mm. my eyes aren't that great.
The RFM one measures about 25.5 mm.
It looks like Dragon has it spot on.
Donald

Wow, pretty amazing reading this thread. Can only imagine the logistical nightmare of German wartime production with all the "This Tiger has this, that Tiger has that." Surprising Albert Speer kept it all together .in such a condensed time frame

The Tiger was relatively easy to handle, since it was assembled in only one factory.

Anyway, measures were taken against the problem that you describe. When a change was made to the tank's design, to a large extent it was kept backwards compatible.
For example, the number of bolts holding the Tiger's turret to the hull was doubled in 1943. But it still remained possible to swap turrets between the two groups of Tigers.

David

This is how I assembled and installed the large tow cables .

After gluing the wire into the end of one end part I fastened it to the engine deck as shown below .


Then i positioned and glued the cable into the holding blocks as shown below .


Then I positioned the final cable end and cut the cable to fit .


Then installed the cable end and glued every thing in place.


This shown was for the RFM Kit , I did the same for the Dragon Kit ,Just on the Dragon Kit the cable ends need to be drilled out with a #56 drill to allow the wire supplied to fit.
The Dragon wire was fairly stiff , the RFM wire was nice and flexible.
Donald

A question fore you David . Did the Lenongrad Tigers have the small cable on their left sides like the later Tigers ?
Donald

No, they had absolutely nothing on their left side.

David

Thank You.
Another Question , Tiger Model Detail has out a large turret storage box , and it's really nice.
It has 2 clasps for holding it closed on each hatch lid and a piece of chain on the outside rear. Would this box be appropriate for the RFM kit. I have just seen that they are releasing a smaller box with only one closure clasp.
Which would be right? I'm hoping that the larger one is correct as I just ordered two of them.
Donald

I put all of these details on my site, some time ago;

501 Tigers

That bin is suitable for Tiger "141" only.
Or, if you want to carve the resin and modify it a little, you can use it on various interesting Eastern Front Tigers.

David

David, TMD also have a shallow bin with two clasps, which I suppose could be put to good use here, and may even be the one Donald refers to.

http://www.newtmd.com/Tiger-I-Large-Turret-Box-shallow-with-2-clasps

Arild

TMD's advertising text needs a change, quick! I'll get talking to him.

David

This will be on hold for a short while (Hopefully )
I have the new correction set ordered from TMD
Donald

Well back to work , I'll be working on the turrets while waiting for the Tiger Model Parts.

Part Y2 isn't mentioned in Dragons instructions.


There is a small line up pin on the bottom front of the RFM turret that will need to be removed otherwise it will not line up.


RFM gives you two Loaders Hatches, both hav push pin marks inside.
I'll be leaving this hatch closed.

I hope I have the right one installed if not it's there anyway.

The molding of the handle was off so I replaced it with thin solder.

That's all for now.
Donald

This is really slow going the arthritis in my hands is really acting up lately.
I found some smoke launchers in my Tiger parts box.
The ones in the RFM kit are too short , the bottom of the bracket should be level with the side view slot.


The latches on the commanders hatch are wrong and very chunky.

Here is a comparison view.


I'm going to close all the hatches on the RFM kit.
There's nothing inside to view , no Main Gun Breach , no Bow Machine gun no nothing
More later when my hands quit hurting.
Donald

Just a quick note.
Here is why I didn't use the smoke launch tubes from RFM .

The sides look a little heavy and I had some spares from the parts box.
The RFM instructions would have you use the S mine tubes I could be wrong, but I don't think that they were used in that position ?
Donald

You're correct, the S-mine launchers were not compatible and were not used on the turret.

David

A quick look at the main drive housings
.

The RFM Kit has a nicely detailed hub if you are doing a dio with the sprocket removed. Unfortunately some of the bolt detail is missing.

Now for a look at some storage boxes.
First here is a box with four hasps for the RFM #141 Tiger.

Here some of the support brackets, they give you 3 of these with the storage box.


There is also a Super set from TMD .

It is Tiger I RFM #5001 DAK Tiger Super Set for $25.00 U.S. plus shipping. available from www.newtmd.com


Here is whats in it.

This set has the storage box with 2 hasps total to do Tiger 141 you will need the first box shown above with 4 hasps.

A comparison of the TMD side mud guards with the ones from RFM.

The TMD ones have the correct size guard panels with the mounts in the right place , the RFM NO.

There is a pair of Exhaust caps with their valves, I checked and they are the same as the ones in the Dragon kit. Still if you don't have them in the spare parts box they'll be useful .

The box for #141

This is the box you get with the super set.

I don't think it's usable for #141 but for some of the other Tigers.

A size comparison the TMD 2 hasp and the RFM 2 hasp


I thought the TMD 2 hasp was supposed to be the shallow box.

It's virtually the same size as their 4 hasp box. Just different hinges more hasps and a piece oh chain on the 4 hasp box.

Here are all 4 boxes the 2 tan ones come in the RFM kit the other are from TMD.



That's it for now.
Donald

I appreciate your efforts and I'm enjoying the blog,but I'm glad I've stuck with Dragon Tigers.

Yes,the 2 hasp should be slightly less tall than the 4 hasp...could you photograph it from the side, in place on the kit's turret?

David

Was there not a difference in the dept of the stowage boxes also ?