History of Tiger 1 Tank 1 35th scale

[RichardT]

Hi All Modellers,

after 20 years of NON modelling I decided last year at the age of 46 to build 7 to 9 1 35th tiger tanks covering
most of the tiger 1 variants and their use by the heavy tank battalions mainly on the Eastern front, but also Italy and Africa.

So far I have used both Tamiya and Dragon kits.Each model has a full interior either by CMK or Verlinden and metal gun barrels,etc

The plan is to build

1/Initial 502nd -Dragon Kit - have kit looks A1 CMK engine and metal gun barrel with early brake.
2/DAK either 501 - Combo Tamiya and Dragon Kits and mixed parts.
3/Early Early -503rd Russia Early March 1943 - built.Boggy wet ground after snow completely melted.
4/Early Late -505th Kursk July 1943 - near completion Russian steppe dry conditions.
5/Mid -506th Ukraine July 1944 - built. Dry conditions new vehicle after dusty road march.
6/Late -507th Poland Late October 1944 - built.Melting snow on vehicle.
7/Final -504th Italy March 1945 - built .Vehicle during heavy rain.

8/Tiger Fehrmann - have Cyber hobby kit. Which by the way looks A1.
9/Tiger Porsche- maybe

I will send pics if anyone interested.

I am not an expert or indeed a figure guy.My passion is the vehicle.I am trying to create different climate conditions for each one.
For example 502nd will be heavy snow.

There are some inaccuracies as i used Tamiya track links with no holes on the guide horns for the Mid,Late and Final versions.
Hard to notice because of the weathering process,etc.

I gain a lot of tips/info from Adam Mann,Coen C,MIG and Barkas and Alan Hamby's fantastic site.

NOW PLEASE HELP

- I have a completed gun and mantlet - PORSCHE MANTLET with notch cut out bottom right corner - CAN I use this mantel on DAK tiger
and if not which of the heavy tank battalions had this mantlet ,where and when.HELP FROM THE EXPERTS WOULD BE GREAT.

PS The Dragon Kits are fantastic but they need to get away from the DS tracks and include individual links with the lightening holes.
My opinion as they do not hold their shape well and get crushed easily.

Kind Regards,
Richard T

[Coen]

The one with the notch is for the Tiger P so I wouldn't put it on a DAK tiger.
Here is a pic from the Tiger Bible of all the mantlets for Tiger Is.
It should be of some help.
Epic project that you're on bud. Well worth the effort. You should consider posting your work here on the forum.

[RichardT]

Thanks for the info Coen - very useful and much appreciated.

I 'll post some pictures of the ones I've done shortly.
I am an amateur but hopefully my modelling skills are improving.My painting skills need to improve a lot.

Each model is taking about 3 months depending on work commitments.

I am not modelling specific tanks but researching the unit in general.

It's fun for me after quitting modelling in my mid 20's.Twnty years later I am going to complete this project of
Tiger 1 tanks and then I am going to build the two Tiger B variants with interiors - I've got the kits for both and Verlinden interior
for the Henschel turret.

However - I HAVE NOT SEEN THE INTERIOR FOR THE PORSCHE TURRET - does anyone make an accurate interior ?
I hope so because the porsche turret a great shape - otherwise a lot of internet research.

Kind Regards,
Richard

[Coen]

I don't know of anyone that makes a specific interior for the Tiger P.
It would most likely be similar in layout to the initial turrets for composition.
I haven't studied it so I'm not sure.

[RichardT]

Hi Coen,

I need some help.

I have completed my 505th tiger 1 at Kursk.

I cannot find anyone who does the appropriate decals.The numbers should be the white number outline with no fill.
I believe this is correct.

I have similar types from tiger 1 dragon initial but the three looks different.Number 1 and 2 look ok,
but i believe 1st and 2nd tanks had barbed wire on the sides to deter the Russian tank killing teams and this will be more work for me
if cannot get the correct shaped decals.

Do you or your modelling buddy's know where I can get 1 35th 505th tiger 1 decals 3rd company at Kursk ?

Kind Regards,
Richardt

[digger303]

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-tank ... 505-a.html


https://www.thebarrelstore.com/Markings.htm




AR35136 sPzAbt 501, 502, 505, 507 and 510 Tiger Battalion Insignia
In Stock

8.64
AR35135 sPzAbt 503, 505, 509 Tiger Battalion Insignia

[RichardT]

Hi Digger,

thanks for the info.

Kind Regards,
Richardt

[Coen]

Haha... what he said

Specifically... Archer's drytransfer sets. 35136 and 35135

https://www.thebarrelstore.com/Markings.htm

https://www.thebarrelstore.com/Archer/G ... R35136.gif

https://www.thebarrelstore.com/Archer/G ... R35135.gif

[RichardT]

Hi Coen,

thanks for the info.Got the bison details correct for the 505th at Kursk.
going for number 321.

I will post pictures of the 5 tigers i have done once the misses lets me use her camera!!

ps - ordered the Rye Field Tiger after seeing the review from Adam Mann.

If this kit lives up to the review and they produce an kit with interior and other versions -
as long as the price is kept reasonable - Dragon will have series competition.

Regards,
Richardt

[DByrden]

- I have a completed gun and mantlet - PORSCHE MANTLET with notch cut out bottom right corner - CAN I use this mantel on DAK tiger
and if not which of the heavy tank battalions had this mantlet ,where and when.

This mantlet was not used on the Tigers of the 501 battalion in Tunisia, as far as I can tell. And it was not used on the first 9 "initial" Tigers of s.Pz.Abt.502 - the ones without side skirts.

It was used by just about every other Tiger unit for the remainder of 1943. Only a small proportion of Tigers had it, but you can find them everywhere. I cannot find it on any 1944 Tigers, i.e. the "late" Tigers.

David

[DByrden]

I HAVE NOT SEEN THE INTERIOR FOR THE PORSCHE TURRET - does anyone make an accurate interior ?

I had a look around for original data about the "Porsche" turret interior, and I got the impression that it doesn't exist. The documents are simply not there. Even the turret in Bovington wasn't fitted out when it was captured in the factory.

David

[MarkVerploeg]

This is a great idea
Because i am slowly working on the same thing though
It is very intresting putting a bunch of Tigers next to eachother
You can see the changes the engineers made to the design througout the production time
Most of them are small things but once they are lined up you get to see them
I think that in the end i will end up with 9 to 11 different ones
Ranging from the Henschel and Porsche prototypes up to 131 wich i want to build as it looks now
Maybe i should pay Bovington a visit for that one
Good luck with this massive project

[timtamtung]

Would love to see those pics of the cmk interiors! I have bought an interior set for a panther and engine set for tiger. Haven't started but it looks difficult. Would love to see your results mate...

A lovely collection of tigers you are having. I too would love to start a collection. Only built 1 tiger (dragon's wittmann) beautiful kit, wish they had magic Trax instead of the ds ones.

[Totalize]

Rich,

Looking forward to your take on these beasts.

For reference Bill Hazard did a similar thing a few years back. He built 9 or so Tigers based on their various production types. I haven't seen all of them painted and completed but he did a great job of putting them all together.

Here's a link his build thread:
http://www.militarymodelling.com/forums ... =38892&p=1


David.

[RichardT]

Dear All,

thanks for the interest in my project.

Will be posting the pics shortly of the first 6 completed Tiger 1's - once the misses lends me the camera I bought her for Christmas!!!

I only have a few photos of the interiors on my phone as I have glued the turrets in place once set on the small base - I have 2 cats!
However I bought a display cabinet - so now they are safe - I HOPE - not the cats !!!

The Tiger Fehrmann is going to be knocked out so I am going to have everything open and there will a lot of interior detail shown.
I will use CMK for that interior.The rest I will use Verlinden in order to keep the cost down which is fine for my purposes.

The first 6 I have been experimenting with different weather settings snow,rain,dust,boggy wet grass,steppe.

Thought the project would take 2 years - this is most probably optimistic. Might have failing sight by the end of it!

Kind Regards and enjoy your modelling,
Richardt

PS FULL RESPECT TO COEN C - modelling is about having fun and supporting your fellow modellers.Thats what I think anyway and I
dont do politics.

[RichardT]

David Hi,

thanks for the info.

Kind Regards,
Richard

[mannloon]

- I have a completed gun and mantlet - PORSCHE MANTLET with notch cut out bottom right corner - CAN I use this mantel on DAK tiger
and if not which of the heavy tank battalions had this mantlet ,where and when.

This mantlet was not used on the Tigers of the 501 battalion in Tunisia, as far as I can tell. And it was not used on the first 9 "initial" Tigers of s.Pz.Abt.502 - the ones without side skirts.

It was used by just about every other Tiger unit for the remainder of 1943. Only a small proportion of Tigers had it, but you can find them everywhere. I cannot find it on any 1944 Tigers, i.e. the "late" Tigers.

David

Yeah there's even the one with Zimmerit on 217. I've never been able to figure out why they ended up on certain tanks. Seems like they just got put on whatever turret needed a mantlet and they happened to be a spare lying around.

[RichardT]

Hi All,

I need some advice.

Did any post initial tigers e.g like 131 fight at Kursk?

Were they SS Tigers or 503rd/505th ?

I want to build a post initial with distinctive handle on left front of hull ,track links lower hull front with foot support ,early feifels and non reinforced mantlet.

If such a tank fought at Kursk - standard unreinforced mantlet or Tiger P mantlet ?

Any thoughts as I don't want to build 131 as I will be building a 501 African Tiger ?

Also initial tiger no 2 - was this ever whitewashed in the hard edge pattern distinctive to 502 ? Was no 4 initial or early production
series with escape hatch ? What style turret bin did no 2 have ?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Richardt

[mannloon]

Hi All,

I need some advice.

Did any post initial tigers e.g like 131 fight at Kursk?

Were they SS Tigers or 503rd/505th ?

I want to build a post initial with distinctive handle on left front of hull ,track links lower hull front with foot support ,early feifels and non reinforced mantlet.

If such a tank fought at Kursk - standard unreinforced mantlet or Tiger P mantlet ?

Any thoughts as I don't want to build 131 as I will be building a 501 African Tiger ?

Also initial tiger no 2 - was this ever whitewashed in the hard edge pattern distinctive to 502 ? Was no 4 initial or early production
series with escape hatch ? What style turret bin did no 2 have ?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Richardt

Yes Tiger's with early feifels were in Russia. I think David has said previously that it was at Kursk but I could be wrong. I think they would look much the same whether they were at Kursk or just in Russia in 43.

[RichardT]

Adam thanks for the info,

I hope you keep doing your reviews - they are superb - In my youth I only modelled Tamiya - your Dragon comparison review - was priceless to me.

After a 25 year lapse I had no idea about the Dragon kits and their history and cost.

I have also used your review of tracks - too late for my first three Tamiya tigers as I used their individual tracks links - no lightening holes.I know this is a major inaccuracy but I am building 10 tigers so putting this oversight down to experience and a progression in my modelling skills - and not a major c*** up.

Since then I have used the workable Modelkasten tracks - fantastic - take a week to build - and my eyes get sore for a while after glueing all the guide teeth !

Also have a set of spade ace initial metal tracks - these will be a nightmare but if you can deal with the Modelkasten tracks you can deal with anything.

I hope you do a review of the latest Rye Field Tiger - your last one of the DAK convinced me to buy the kit.

Kind Regards,
Richardt

[DByrden]

Did any post initial tigers e.g like 131 fight at Kursk?
Were they SS Tigers or 503rd/505th ?

Plenty of them. And they had a range of build dates. They belonged to all the units that you mentioned.

I want to build a post initial with distinctive handle on left front of hull ,track links lower hull front with foot support ,early feifels and non reinforced mantlet.
If such a tank fought at Kursk - standard unreinforced mantlet or Tiger P mantlet ?

The handle and the step were not factory fittings. They were added to only a few Tigers of the 504 battalion in Tunisia.

A Tiger fighting at Kursk, with a "flat" mantlet, would have a Tiger P mantlet (corner notch).

Any thoughts as I don't want to build 131 as I will be building a 501 African Tiger ?

I'm not sure what you mean. Dragon's "131" is a 504 Tunisian Tiger.

Also initial tiger no 2 - was this ever whitewashed in the hard edge pattern distinctive to 502 ? Was no 4 initial or early production
series with escape hatch ? What style turret bin did no 2 have ?

By "initial Tiger no 2" I guess you mean the Leningrad Tiger of the 502 battalion?
That Tiger was originally numbered "111" and it had the hard-edge pattern. However we have only 1 photo of that time. Here's a thumbnail to indicate which photo I mean:



At that time it had a Pz.3 turret bin. Later it got a new turret bearing the number "2" and the wide bin (with side supports and 4 latches). This turret had a side hatch.

Tiger "4" was an Early with straight side fenders and S-mine gear, but still it had the same turret bin as "2".

David

[RichardT]

David,

many thanks - the wide bin - would that be as wide as the DAK tigers touching the pistol ports or what become known as the standard turret bin on the earlies ?

The step and handle on 504th Tunisian tiger 131- would that have been a field modification and not done in the factory ? Have you ever seen this on another early tiger ?

and the battle at Hunt's Gap - were any of the Tigers penetrated frontally ? - were they mainly knocked out due to 25 pounder artillery hits and 6 pounder tank fire ?


Many thanks,
Richard

[RichardT]

David,

sorry you answered the step and handle question.

Regards,
Richard