Vince's Tiger 1 late variant 2017

[Christoffer Ahlfors]

EKP does not cater for overseas orders.

Continental UK only...
Shucks!

[Adrian Harris]

I'd be happy to order from within the UK and post on abroad if anyone needs something from EKP.

I'll cost more in postage but at least it'll make it out of the country that way

Adrian.

[Vince Cutajar]

Finished the bullet ring and segments primed. Also managed to find the M3 x 5mm hardware that I need for them.

Fitted the speaker tray and fixed with some Velcro. Also fitted the speakers with some Velcro to the tray. I put them facing upwards. Did some more tidying of the wiring.

The hull roof is bolted to the hull through the brackets on the sides. It is also bolted to the front bulkhead. Is there a particular reason that it is bolted to the front bulkhead? I was thinking of just letting it rest on the bulkhead instead. What do you think?

Vince

[Brian Ostlind]

Nice looking setup there Vince you are really on a roll. It’s hard to believe that the turret will be another big project. Have you done any test fitting with turret parts or are you sticking to the hull until it is complete?

I don’t know first hand about bolting the deck to the bulkhead but my guess would be it will keep it more stable over rough terrain and relieve the stress from the side brackets. That’s just my assumption though...

[Vince Cutajar]

Thanks Brian.

Have you done any test fitting with turret parts

The only part of the turret that I have test fitted up till now is the turret base and that was when I was fitting the turret turn mechanism. I think you are correct when you say that the turret could be a big project so most probably I will start taking out the major components of the turret from the boxes and start preliminary test fitting parts when I get stalled on the hull roof.

Another project I have on the drawing board which most probably will be running concurrently with the hull roof is a plastic control box which will have (hopefully) the following:

• Battery isolator

• Smoke module switch

• Dual voltmeter

• Switch for above

• XLR panel socket for charging

• Smoker fluid refill adaptor

it will keep it more stable over rough terrain and relieve the stress from the side brackets

You could be correct but still have not decided if I will be using the four bolts on top of the front bulkhead. I might just use the outboard ones only as I can't use the inboard ones with my homemade bullet ring.

Vince

[Tom OBrien]

Vince, I agree with Brian about securing the front part of the deck to the from aspect of the hull. I would guess it was designed to prevent any chance of the deck moving while in operation (the front deck must support a lot of turret weight), or warping under extreme temperature changes.

I re-tapped all of the deck mounts for 4mm x 8mm flat head recessed machine screws. Using the provided bolts to secure the front and rear decks made it too tedious, as I found I had to remove and replace the decks often, at least at first. Much more convenient this way.

Front deck support tapped for 4mm x 8mm machine screw (not bolt).

[Vince Cutajar]

A little more progress today.

It seems that from October 1943 onwards, the anchor points for the tow ropes were moved slightly backward and the back end of the tow rope overlapped the radiator fan grille. So I moved the anchor points 30mm backward.

Looking at the second photo reminded me that I need to do something about the cleaning rod and tow rope clamps.

Vince

[Brian Ostlind]

Once you get to the point where you are fitting the more prominent details it’s so much fun and less tedious.

[Vince Cutajar]

Was going to fit the starter handle to the hull roof but it seems I have run out of the appropriate size tool clamps. Ordered some more from Dave at Armorpax. So instead I placed all the bits and pieces on the hull roof to see how they look and if anything needs to be done.

Good thing I did it because it reminded me that I need to take some decisions. For sure I need to add the axe and pry bar. The hammer is not of the correct shape. Is it worth getting the correct shape? It is also not where it should be. The head of the hammer needs to be closer to the vent. Do I move it? To move it I have to angle the C shackle differently. Decisions, decisions.

Vince

[Vince Cutajar]

I have a question about the front ventilator.

This is a photo of the ventilator that I have.

I always was of the impression (I could be wrong also) that the front ventilator was never changed during the whole production of the Tiger 1 (http://tiger1.info/EN/Front-ventilator.html).

Does anybody have a photo of the front ventilator for a late Tiger 1?

Vince

[Adrian Harris]

These pics are from the Late Tiger at Vimoutier in Normandy:

Adrian.

[Vince Cutajar]

Many thanks Adrian. I will be making a new one.

Vince

[Vince Cutajar]

Looking at Adrian's first photo, is that a weld seam in the middle of the longitudinal axis of the hull roof?

Vince

[Adrian Harris]

None of my pictures seem to show it well enough, but it certainly looks like a weld in this one:

https://panzerplace.eu/vimoutiers-tiger ... rousel-325

Adrian.

[Tom OBrien]

Adrian, it looks as though that particular tank was pieced back together after a catastrophic event.

I would guess a HEAT round penetrated the hull and ignited its ammunition, blowing the turret off and into several pieces. You can see where the deck is still blown outward behind the driver's hatch indicating an internal blast. The weld you refer to was probably part of its pseudo-restoration.

I wish I was an expert on the Tiger but I'm just a hack hobbyist but find it fascinating to learn about the details of the tank. I'm learning a lot from you guys.

cheers... Tom