Tiger cartridge sizes

[Adrian Harris]

Does anyone know the various dimensions of the 88mm shell casings ?

There seems to be a lot of info on the web about the shells themselves but not the cartridges, apart from the overall lengths.

I presume the end which crimps onto the shell will be around 88mm, then there's a chamfer up to the main body diameter, which looks cylindrical, up to the rim at the very end.

I'd like to see if I can make some of these on the CNC lathe. Getting the open end thin enough may be a challenge but I'm hopeful it should be possible to get it sub 1mm.

Adrian.

[Gerhard Michel]

Hello Adrian,

some time ago I employed a professional CNC manufacturer to produce cartridges and the four kinds of shells for the King Tiger gun (KwK 43 L/71). Therefore I can say that it is possible to get a sufficient thin end for mounting the shell. Unfortunately I don't know the dimensions of the Tiger gun cartridge (KwK 36 L/56). Perhaps you will find some data at the related FlaK?

I decided to choose the crimp end of the shell / cartridge so that it fits also the available commercial Tiger I metal cartridges offered in the web (13.60 + - 0.02 mm), so that my shells can also be used with these Tiger I cartridges.

[Gerhard Michel]

Hello Adrian,

perhaps I can help you by following my own advice: a friend has an original 8.8 FlaK cartridge which should have the same dimensions as the one from the Tiger I. Only the detonators are different.

If no one else here should have some Tiger ammunition in his home ( ) I could ask this friend to lend me that piece for taking measurements.

[John Heath]

Hi

Took a quick measurement. Top of the cartridge measures about 92mm and the main body is about 98mm. Top of the cartridge casing is a bit bigger than 88mm of course as the shell has to fit inside.

John

[Adrian Harris]

Many thanks Gerhard but it looks like John has one to hand

Many thanks for the measurements John.

Can you please confirm the distance from the top of the case to the start of the taper, and the length of the taper itself ?

The information I have is that the rim is 111mm in diameter. Is that correct ?

Adrian.

[dennypatterson]

Adrian, you going to shoot yourself!!!!!!!!!! Denny.HA HA.

[Adrian Harris]

That's what you're there for!!

Adrian.

[Walter Mackinnon]

shell and case

complete shell

case base

Hi All.
Here is some photies of a 88MM FLACK shell I bought as a kit many years ago,

[John Heath]

Hi

Few more pics that should help. Now that I've measured the top diameter properly it's closer to 91mm. Bottom rim diameter is indeed 111mm. Length of the taper is about 30mm.

John

[Adrian Harris]

Thanks for the pictures Walter When you say "bought as a kit", is that in 1/6th scale ?

Very many thanks John, that's perfect

As I seem to be removing most of the material, I'm going to see if buying brass tube would be a cheaper option.

The rim would then be machined as a separate piece and soldered into place.

This also means I can bore more of the depth out, as I'm currently limited by the size of 10mm drill in my lathe.

Adrian.

[John Heath]

Hi

You're welcome. Glad I could help.

John

[Walter Mackinnon]

Hi Adrian.
no its full size, cast from a shell, the company were going to make other kits of shells but must have went out of business as I never seen any more kits fore sale.

Regards Walter.

[Robert E Morey]

Adrian,
Those will be a great CNC lathe project! Will follow with interest! Best of luck!
Bob

[Gerhard Michel]

The original cartridges (steel) are sold e.g. by ZIB-Militaria in Germany. May be that's a good investment: 2 years ago a cartridge was priced at 10 €; now it costs nearly 40 €.........

[Per Sonnervik]

Hi all,

Interesting to find somebody that owns one of the plastic Tiger shells from the mid 70´s as I always wondered what the quality was like, it looks quite good judging by the photos. I really wanted one back then but can´t remember why I didn´t get one. Walter, do you still have the leaflet?

Here´s the ad from Military Modelling September 1975;





/Per