Ken's Tiger

[Robert E Morey]

Ken
Great job on the rear deck modifications. I really like your little jack - looks much better than the store bought versions. I would only suggest driving it up and down with a hand drill, wrenching it up and down will get annoying esp when its all the way under the tank. Very nice work, keep up the posts!
Best regards,
Bob

[Ken Molchanow]

It has been over a year since my last post, but I’m now able to start working on the T1 again. To get myself moving, I started by building all the kits that I purchased from Mike Stannard, this allowed me to finish all the detail parts that I needed to complete the rear plate and some of the parts that I needed for the top deck. On my next post, I want to review all the changes that I did to the rear of the top deck.

[simon_manning]

good looking tiger coming on there ken, keep the posts coming, regards simon manning,

[Tim Bowman]

Looks great Ken! Nice work.

Tim

[Ken Molchanow]

To me, the rear of the top deck was a rear challenge, enjoyable but a challenge. If you remember I’m modeling this tank as 314 of the Schwere SS-Panzer Abteilung 101. Using “ The Modeler’s Guide to the Tiger Tank” as my main reference, and what I can find 314 was one of the original 27 tiger tanks delivered in July of 43 (I Think) when the unit was formed, so that would make 314 an early Mid Tiger. The Mid Tigers from what I can see went through a lot of changes on the top deck from April to October in 1943. I found no photo of 314 top deck so I’m only guessing what it really looked like. The only photos that I have seen of 314 only show the left side and rear, very little of the top.

The photo below shows the rear deck almost complete, I’m waiting for a Tow Rope set from Mike Stannard to complete the detail. Most of the work that I have done is from information that I gotten from different builds being done on this forum and from information I received from its members. I have numbered the different areas and I will try to review each section. Hopefully, this will help someone on a build when the next batch of Tigers is produced.

1 Engine Hatch
a. Air Intake and latches are from Mike Stannard.
b. Air Filter Cover I modified to look like an early cover, made the hold down screw from a brass bolt I had.
c. Tarp tie downs I made from scarp brass.
d. Mounting hole for Air Intake was moved back.
e. Square Head Hatch Bolts were made from S.S. lag screws I found.
f. Handles were made from welding rod and welded to hatch.

2 Front, Rear and Center Covers
a. Modified the grate openings.
b. Made new caps.
c. Countersunk the holes for the Square Head Screws, shorten the height of the screw head.

3 Centre Cover
a. Countersunk the holes for the Square Head Screws, shorten the height of the screw head.
b. Replaced center plate with new.
c. Added hardware details and casting numbers.
d. Armored Hatch has large hole for access inside.

4. Screens were modified with brass wire cloth.

Started the details parts for the front of the deck, will post that after I have a little more done.

[Ken Molchanow]

Started the second half of the top deck, first by cutting a groove around the edge so the Milliput had something to hold onto. Kept the weld off the edge to protect the weld from future damage in the handling of the top deck.



In searching back through the T1 forum, unless I missed it, I was surprised to find little discussion about the Front Ventilator and how much difference there is between the real one and what you receive with the kit. I tried my hand at using the lathe again and whittled a piece of aluminum down using a drawing that I found on Tiger1.info.



Viewing different sites out on the web, there is an agreement that 314 did not have a headlight and from the photos that I have looked at I don’t see one either. In keeping with an Early Mid Tiger build, I have added the mounting plates and the armored bases for the Headlights on either side.



Question: The smaller detail parts like the shovels, hammers, the loose fitted items mounted on the tank. What have you been doing to keep these items intact once the tank is completely finished so you don’t lose them during operation? Gluing them, what???





Looking for some information on the Spare Antennae Tube that was mounted on the right rear top of the hull. I have not found a photo or a drawing that shows what the swivel cap looked like on the end or ends of the tube.

Till the next post.

[Malcolm Collins]

Hi Ken thanks for the update. You have probably seen this image but I thought I would pass it on in case you hadn,t.

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... &start=315
regards
Malc

[Tim Bowman]

Hi Ken

Looking really nice.

As to your question regarding securing the tools. It depends on what type of running you plan on for your model. if it's high speed bush-bashing, you may want to look at securing them beyond what you already have. If it's more gentle, scale running, your tools will be fine. All my models have Mike Stannard's excellent tools and tool brackets and I have never had one come off during running.

The spare antenna tube on the right rear side has a welded cap on the rear and a rotating flat cap on the front, secured by a bolt when closed. Steve Winstone offers a perfect, metal version in 1:6th scale.

best regards
Tim

[Mike Kasputis]

Looking good Ken. I have also used Mike's tools and brackets and have never had a problem with them coming loose. There is a picture on page 25 in the Modeler's Guide to the Tiger Tank that shows the tube.
Since you have done all those excellent mods here is one that you may want to do. (Scroll to mid page) it is a mod on the glacis plate. http://www.armortek.co.uk/Forum3b/viewt ... 9&start=30