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Question re: Tiger I Turret Track Mounting
Ringleheim
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Florida, United States
Joined: September 04, 2009
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Posted: Tuesday, May 08, 2018 - 09:24 AM UTC
I've seen photos like this of Tigers with extra spare tracks mounted on the sides of the turret, beyond the normal amount which have the "hinge" mounting points on the turret.

How did they mount the extra tracks extending toward the front of the turret? Were they simply pinned together and attached to the first mounted track?

If so, what stopped them from flopping around on the pin like a hinge?

This photos shows what I mean. Note the extra tracks beyond the usual 5 links:



d111298pw
#456
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Posted: Tuesday, May 08, 2018 - 10:41 AM UTC
Based on my reference material, these were modifications done in the field repair shops. Additional mounting brackets were welded to the turrets.
Byrden
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Posted: Tuesday, May 08, 2018 - 12:11 PM UTC
I have never, ever seen evidence of additional mounting brackets welded to the turret. If you have photos of that, Mark, please post them or refer me to them?

Extra tracks were pinned together and attached to the last mounted link in every case that I have seen. The other end of the run was attached by wire to something.

The painted illustration in this thread is simply wrong.

David
Ringleheim
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Posted: Wednesday, May 09, 2018 - 12:03 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I have never, ever seen evidence of additional mounting brackets welded to the turret. If you have photos of that, Mark, please post them or refer me to them?

Extra tracks were pinned together and attached to the last mounted link in every case that I have seen. The other end of the run was attached by wire to something.

The painted illustration in this thread is simply wrong.

David


Thanks, David.

Yes, the photos I have seen show the extra links pinned to the front-most, bracketed link, which makes all the sense in the world because it's quick and easy.

I was just wondering how that "chain" of extra link was stopped from flapping around like a hinge. You have answered that by indicating it was secured with wire or whatever.

It's an interesting appearance and I think I am going to implement it into a Tiger I mid-production build I am planning.


TopSmith
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Posted: Thursday, May 10, 2018 - 08:24 AM UTC
As a tanker myself I would just run a rope or cable from the first track across the turret to the first track on the other side. The track pins keep the track from moving up an down and the rope would be strong enough to stop the flopping left to right.
d111298pw
#456
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Posted: Thursday, May 10, 2018 - 05:36 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I have never, ever seen evidence of additional mounting brackets welded to the turret. If you have photos of that, Mark, please post them or refer me to them?

Extra tracks were pinned together and attached to the last mounted link in every case that I have seen. The other end of the run was attached by wire to something.

The painted illustration in this thread is simply wrong.

David


Your right David. I was confusing the Panther with the Tiger I
brekinapez
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Posted: Thursday, May 10, 2018 - 08:51 PM UTC
I've built a Tiger with the extra turret tracks. Wiring the end track to the lifting pins on either side of the mantle is what was suggested, although I believe some crews spot-welded them.
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