Thinking about doing something different with the DML Tiger, I am toying with the idea of doing one of the 7 Company, 7 Pzr Reg, 10th Pz Division Vehicles...

What are the substantive differences?

Does anyone do a decal set for these vehicles?

Thanks, Jim

The Tigers used in the desert had different air filters. I think that was the only main difference-but I'm sure some of the true tread heads can help you more. Good luck, sounds like a good idea.

The initial Tigers sent to Africa were prepared for the desert fighting by adding the feilfel air cleaners ..side skirts were fabricated as well as squared off exhaust covers ...these seem to have been made in the work shop of the 501st Abteilung..other additions were tow cables...at first they were the smaller type seen on Pzr IV type vehicles and they were placed opposite to the way they were stowed on later tigers..(the ends at the back of the tank instead of at the front ...The track changing wire was also added by the workshop and does resemble the early tiger stowage system but there are a few differences in type of attachement used in places...Of course the lights have to be brought down to the front if the tank you are modelling was from the first battalion of the 501st ..if it was from the second battalion the lights stay where they are but they added spare tracks to the fron of the tank ..Don,t forget to add the spare track supports on the rear of the vehicle too. The Tamiya kit does have decals for 731 and this is also made by Archer...Good luck with you build but I really think that if you wait a little bit Dragon will produce the kit exactly like you want it ..hey they already did the front lights for you ..the rest can't be far behind...Now I should finish my Tamyia one before it is too late..lol

Rick

Richard, yes, thinking about it, the most sensible course would be to wait until DML produce the Tiger with the Feifel air system... Probably not that long to wait..Jim

I will admit to having similar thoughts to Jim about converting the DML 3 in 1 tiger to a DAK version,(I have 3 already, another won't hurt) and I also think it would be a sound Idea to wait and see if DML do one.

Pete

In case this discussion turns into one of those 'rarefied' threads where he casual visitor gets totally confused, this is what we're taking about...Jim (the recent Tiger 'Convert')

good am,
picked up a bit of news- 3w.modelmecca.com has a (n)listing for a future release from dragon-
dr6269 Sd.Kfz.181 Tiger 1 early production-sounds like a afrika version-
am waiting to see what it is and if need be convert one of my initial production or even the latest afv tiger into a afrika version.
see what tomorrow will bring...
cheers
c6o
carpe diem

Hey Jim watch out !! your top picture is of an early and not an Initial...look at the front fenders.. ..More confusion! :-)

all the best
Rick

So was the initial used anywhere? I just don't want to do my 3n1 like the box art, and have it doing test manuevers...

Oh yeah they were used by the 501st in Africa it was just the top picture that was an early and not an initial .. You'll have to modifie the kit as I mentioned and other stowage too but it can be done ...don't forget the stowage box on the back of the turret is different too ..forgot that in my first corrections.

Rick

Rick:

You seem to have the best references, how about posting a DAK Tiger for us. A good series showing front, rear and sideways. I had been thinking along a similar line. Would the Academy early version be correct for a DAK. I might just repaint mine if so.

Hi Steve ...You can build the Academy kit as an early tiger in Africa but not those of the 501st but those of the 504th ..If you look at the Bovington Tiger it is an early type like the Academy kit ..it was catured from the 504th Abteilung.

Rick
p.s. Most of my info on the tiger is not on line but in books such as Tigers in Combat and Tigers on the Western front along with many more books ...If you need any info I can try to scan and send them to you personally ..With all the fuss about copyrights these days.

The tamiya series of Tigers is very nice, and they have a separate kit for each version. I'm about to finish up on the Initial production version as used in Tunisia, and it went together Very well.

I just remembered.......Another difference is that the rear fenders of the initial production were curved at the lower outside corner as in the larger photo above. And I believe the initial's didn't have the large (loader's escape ?) hatch visible on the small photo, at the right rear or the turret.

From the references I have, seems as though the initial does appear in some later operations on the Eastern front around late summer of 43. One photo even shows that cool toolbox on the turret that they used from the Pzkfw III.
The book I'm refering to is "Tiger 1 on the Eastern Front " by Jean Restayn. If you can't buy Tigers in Combat 1, then this series by Restayn ( Tiger 1 on the Eastern Front /Tiger 1 on the Western Front - lots of DAK photos in there) is the next best thing, highly recommended.
Hope this helps and doesn't confuse too much.
Joker

The other thing I have noticed is a discrepancy on the covers on the rear (vertical) exhausts. I have seen two types, one type is curved, the other is square...Jim

right Jim ..these were made in the 501st work shop and so there are a few different patterns seen on these tigers.
As for seein initials in Russia in 43 well they are the surviors from the 502nd from the end of 42..

Rick

I'm actually in the process of doing the exact same thing. I got the aber side fenders, first of all, mainly because the DML kit doesnt provide it AND dont forget the grille, DML didnt actually provide that and that is a must. Also, you really need to get like an other kit, if you dont have an older tiger set laying around. Mainly for the sake of the air filters and the stowage bin. From what I have been able to determine, those are the four things that are a total must to have. I also think that you can get an archer dry transfer set for that. I know that since it was the sPzAbt 201, you will need to get the numbering, which isnt hard...i cant remember (because Im at school), but I believe that the DML kit as some wet slides that you could actually use. the one thing that I have been trying to figure out is if it would be necessary to add the little 501 symbol (their tiger)...i hope this helps. tell me how it goes. i might get done with mine in the next two weeks, as Im actually building it because I want to, and I can use school as an excuse since I have a real WW2 project due in two weeks , so I'll try to post.
RC

The type doesn't matter at all. Just be careful as far as the ID numbers go, if you're concerned with accuracy, which I'm sure you would be. The only thing I can tell you is that if you use the squared exhaust cover, it can have slits near the top. The rounded ones didn't...at least that if what my understanding is because I actually asked the same thing (about the exhaust) not to long ago on Track-link.net

Trax (I think) do a decal set called "Tigers in Tunisia". you get enough decals for at least 6 tigers some in just the plain white outline and some in red with a white outline.


Pete