Tiger 1321 rebuild

[simon_manning]

we are all still here,, enjoying this build, keep at it, makes me realise how little i've done on my tigers, regards simon.

[Phil Woollard]

No never board mate, I love it! I think people are just being conservative with their replies maybe Keep up that great work regards Phil.

[Paul Wills]

Hi All,

Well I think I have gone as far as I am going with the breach, I just have to paint it all and refit it back in the turret. I couldnt resist taking some photos tonight.

Paul.

[Phil Woollard]

Nice photography Paul, through the looking glass.....had to look twice ,now I want one ! Regards Phil.

[Paul Wills]

Thanks Phil, I got the idea from the last two photos, these were taken by Harvey Black of 131 last tiger day. The set of photos on his web page have been very helpful, and just a thought, If anyone was thinking about buying books to help them with an early tiger The two books I have found most valuable have been the Haynes Tiger tank manual and The Research Squad (Tiger) had the most detailed photos I have seen so far.

Paul.

[Sam Hough]

Thanks Paul, for the Research Squad book is the electronic version any good? In theory higher res photos?

I blotted a romantic city break with my wife by mainly reading the Tiger 1 Haynes manual.

[Paul Wills]

Hi Sam,

I only have the paperback copy, but it should be no different, and as you say, it will be easier to enlarge the pictures

I blotted a romantic city break with my wife by mainly reading the Tiger 1 Haynes manual.

I usual get into trouble for suggesting places of interest! after I do it is closely followed by, "does it have something to do with tanks, or one of the wars??"

Paul.

[Paul Wills]

Hi All,

Just a few photos of the breach after painting, and the eagle eyed among you will see I have started on the MG34 mount.

Dragon plastic MG34

Armourpax replacement armored barrel

Can anyone help with some information on the MG34 mount. How far should it project through the from of the mantlet, is this about right? I cannot find any info in my books!

Paul.

[Phil Woollard]

Lovely lovely work, the mg from what I have seen protrudes just a tad more basically level with the narrow part of the barrel cone, flush with the mantet. Then you have the binocular sight to sort on the other side of the breach, and the counter balance arm ! Can't wait to see it finished ....Phil.

[Stephen White]

Paul

Although this shows a later modified coax mount, I don't believe the relationship between the MG and the turret/mantlet changed compared with the earlier version. As you can see, the muzzle isn't flush with the mantlet, it protrudes to the depth of the flash eliminator. Isn't it Sod's Law that the majority of photos of the Tiger turret show the other side? As ever, the Museum examples have to be treated with care but these drawings by Jentz are based on the original documents. I haven't found a decent close up contemporary shot which would help but this should be enough to go on. I'm taking a close interest as my Cent comes to completion because I've a hybrid Tiger on the line after the Comet. Fear Naught. Stephen

[Phil Woollard]

What I said.

[Paul Wills]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for the reply, I thought is should project the other side of the mantlet but I just couldn't find a good drawing or photo. I am a step ahead of you with the binocular sight. it's a FOA early offering that I have modified. Loic now offers a new high quality version, its a shame I didn't know about it earlier or I would have bought it, but I had committed to this one when I bought the breach. You can find his new ones here, they also now do early to late versions FOA TIGER 1 GUN Sights

Hi Stephen,

Thanks for the drawings they are just what I was looking for. They give me a bit of a different view of the mounting bracket as well which is an added bonus. So its back to the drawing board with this MG bracket

I know you like to scratch build all your parts but as I said to Phil, I would look at the FOA sights, they may have something you can work with when you start your Tiger build. I will be watching out for you to start that.

Thanks again.

Paul.

[Kent Wiik]

Hi Paul,

Nice work well done!

Here is a period photo of an Early Tiger 1 just like your 1321 Kursk one.
As you can see the end of the MG muzzle is almost flush with the mantle, not as much as seen in the post war drawings above.
A lot of other nice items is visible in the photo as well.

Kind regards
Kent

[Paul Wills]

Morning Kent,

Thank you for the reply and kind words, the photo is a great source of information. looking at it, I will not have to make too much of an adjustment to the parts to make the MG fit.

Thanks again.

Paul.

[Stephen White]

Paul,

To follow Kent's mantra, "it's all in the details". The Jentz and Doyle drawings aren't infallible but I tend to trust them despite being post-war, if backed up by photo evidence. Kent has a point with his photo but I wondered why Hilary Doyle had chosen to show the coax protruding as far as the depth of the flash eliminator. I now believe his drawings were partly based on the well-known photos taken after Operation Ocshenkopf. See below. It clearly bears out the accuracy of his drawings, showing the flash eliminator protruding well clear of the mantlet.

The Tiger above is an early production, as is the one below, where the shadow clearly shows the protrusion.

I'm not sure if the mounting allowed for variation in the fore and aft position and clearly there are photos showing less protrusion. I'm sure you think this is an issue done to death but I thought for the sake of completeness, I'd see if I could find evidence to back the accuracy of the Doyle drawings.

Fear Naught.

Stephen