Preparing for Tiger 1 late variant build

[Vince Cutajar]

Hi all

Whilst waiting for my new Armortek Tiger 1 kit to be sent, I am doing some research on the late variant and thought I would tap in the forum members knowledge and wisdom.

I already have the Haynes and The Research Squad books but they are not for late variants. Could somebody please recommend a good book (which is still available) which covers the late variant? An internet resource is also good. I am mainly interested in photos of the exterior details which I can add to my Tiger.

Also, was zimmerit applied to ALL late variants?

Many thanks to any information provided.

Regards

Vince

[Stephen White]

Vince, you've got a real treat coming with the Armortek Tiger. The world is awash in Tiger books but the trick is to know which suit our purpose.

Firstly, the definitive online resource is David Byrden's site:

http://tiger1.info/

There is also a lot of discussion here:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/47207

My personal choice of definitive book is the Jentz and Doyle volume Germany's Tiger Tanks, DW to Tiger 1 here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Germanys-Tiger ... 0764310380

Good photos here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tiger-Sturmtig ... 1930571348

An excellent guide here but now difficult to find (does the complete development history with very clear diagrammes. You could try Abe Books:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Modelers-Guide ... 1932033785

Re Zimmerit, you're stuck with it. It was introduced in Aug 1943, around Fgst 250410. The Kubinka Tiger is one of the first modified. All subsequent Tiger production included Zimmerit.

You might also like to refer to the discussion on Dunkelgelb and German colours in general on this Forum, as it was the base coat for late Tigers.

http://www.armortek.co.uk/Forum3b/viewt ... f=2&t=6692

Hope this is of use.

Stephen

[Vince Cutajar]

Thank you very much Stephen for the reply and information. It is very useful.

I will most probably order those books you recommended from Amazon. Regarding the third book. You are right, it's not available. I tried to search for it new or secondhand but no luck.

I have seen David Byrden's site before but at least from my side, I find there are a lot of broken links.

Regarding zimmerit, I had hoped I could avoid it but it seems that I can't. I see in my future a lot of zimmerit practice sessions and a search for the application tools that I see mentioned in several build logs.

I am curious now when you said "you've got a real treat coming with the Armortek Tiger". I can't imagine what the surprise is.

Again, many thanks

Vince

[Vince Cutajar]

I have received two of the books that Stephen suggested. The third one (the Modeler's Guide), I was not prepared to pay the silly prices that are being asked for a secondhand book.

I only had a quick glance at the books that I received and already found some of the minor details that I was looking for, so they were worth getting. I wonder what else I am going to find when I actually sit down and properly go through them?

I also wonder if these details would be incorporated in the Armortek kit. I will have to wait till next month, when I should be getting my Tiger 1 kit, to see if some of the details are there.

In the meantime, Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year to all.

Vince

[Steve Stuart]

Hi Vince I have the Modelers Guide and it is really useful. Now it maybe you have a rich relative who is looking for ideas for presents or you think that if you buy it at silly money you will be able to sell it for silly money, so it is an investment that will help your Tiger to be the best you can.
Best wishes Steve

[Vince Cutajar]

Recently I found on the Tiger1.info website a CAD drawing of a bump stop. No dimensions were shown so I assumed it was full scale. I redrew it in what I think is 1/6 scale just in case I need to fabricate them myself if commercial aftermarket parts are not available.

One of the images has got some dimensions in mm. Could somebody tell me if I am close to 1/6 scale?

Many thanks

Vince

[Vince Cutajar]

This week, Armortek might be sending out the Tiger kit. Really excited about it. Have been working on finishing off my current project and today managed to finish it and clear the workshop table for the Tiger.

I have not managed to find a supplier for a metal bump stop for the Tiger so I started work on Plan B. I am trying to fabricate one myself to see if it is viable. I managed to do a prototype in aluminium. Lots of fiddly operations but it is doable. If I decide to do all four of them I will do them in brass instead. Still need to figure out how to do the lower rubber part but I guess that's part of the fun. Still not sure if I have the correct scale but I guess I will know when I compare it with the kit bump stop.

Vince

[Vince Cutajar]

Finished the rubber part of the bump stop. Cut it from 12mm thick rubber sheet. I would have preferred 15mm thickness but could not find it locally.

I am comparing it to the Armortek bump stop. I think I have the scale correct.

Vince

[Glen Clark]

Hi Vince,what did you make the bumpstop bracket out of?is it a functional part or just for the looks?You have made a really nice job of them dont suppose you fancy making me some?

Ive got a friend with a milling machine who owes me a favour so I could possibly bully him into making me some.

Regards Glen

[Glen Clark]

Sorry Vince i just reread your post and it says what you made them out of.

Glen.

[Vince Cutajar]

Glen, the main body of the bump stop is made of aluminium but when I will be redoing them I will make them from brass. Brass is a little stronger than aluminium and also easier to join pieces together with soft solder or silver solder.

I could make a step by step build log of the bumpstop but this is not a machining forum so it would be out of place.

Vince

[Glen Clark]

Thanks for the reply Vince,the soft soldering is a good idea,my friend looked at your measurements and said he could possibly machine it out of one piece then sand blast it to look like a cast piece.

Im thinking that as i am a bit of a ludite i might do my build thread on facebook and just put a link on here.Presumably that would be acceptable to Admin??.Rather than making upgraded parts it will be just a straightforward bolt together thread with the best intention of retro modding parts at a later date.



Glen

[Vince Cutajar]

Glen

In my humble opinion, carving it out of one piece is possible but difficult, unless your friend has got CNC capability, then it's another story. If your friend has CAD I can send you a .dxf file.

Vince

[Glen Clark]

Thanks for the offer Vince,I realise ill need to learn some new techniques and change my mindset for detailing tanks,the Brass soldering has given me some ideas i can think about.Im not an engineer in any shape or form but i can fabricate brackets to fit exhausts to a chopper and jobs like that so ill just need to scale down and think differently.



Glen