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Smart decision to adjust tracks at the end of the build. I would do the same thing now.

Been doing some things on the turret roof. Made the simulated flat headed bolts and a shallow groove for the weld seam.
For the bolt pattern, as no particular accuracy was required, I just drew the pattern in CAD and taped it to the turret roof.
Then using a pointed tool marked up the locations on the roof. Removed the paper and used a slot drill to make a very shallow flat-bottomed hole. Did the same for the gun travel lock. If there is an interest, I could upload the two drawings here in .pdf format.
Yesterday received the turret ventilator from East Coast Armory but I will be keeping it in reserve as I am attempting to scratch-build my own (fingers crossed) from the drawings I did earlier on.

Vince

Hi Vince

Loving your blog and work you’re doing is amazing

I would be very ingested in a copy of your drawing please.

Kind regards

Andy

Vince I too am loving your progress. Those first "drives" are awesome - when she first moves like a tank!

Great details!
Bob

Those first "drives" are awesome - when she first moves like a tank!

Yes Bob, I have to agree.

Andy

I tried to upload the two drawings but it seems the forum does not accept PDFs. So if you want, send me a PM with your email address and I will send them to you that way.

Vince

Still slowly carving up a piece of aluminium to make my turret ventilator. It's slow going and I managed to do a minor mistake but should not be visible. If I don't like it at the end I have enough material to do another one which should be quicker as I don't need to think about setups and machining steps.
Still a lot work to do but at least the hardest part has been done..

Vince

Aaaah, scratchbuilding! The noblest art of them all! This is going to be a very fine ventilator!

This is where the Rabbit hole takes you vince, one thing leads to another, hey presto out comes a lovely model, well done, regards simon manning.

Thanks Christoffer and Simon.

This is where the Rabbit hole takes you vince, one thing leads to another

So true, and this rabbit hole is like a bottomless pit (still going down).

Vince

Ventilator is basically finished. As I did not have any actual dimensions of the real thing I just eyeballed the dimensions from two close-up photos of the turret ventilator. Infact I did not follow all the dimensions I had from my drawings but some of them were changed on the fly. I guess I need to update my drawings.
A little cleanup required and blocking of unwanted holes in the top cover and then glueing both parts together.

Vince

The turret ventilator is finally finished. That took quite a while. It's true what they say that it takes 30% of the time to make the part and then 70% of the time to finish it.
I made it to be able to bolt it from below instead of glueing it. That's one off the list. Next on the list is the loader's hatch.
Vince

Vince,

Stunning work, the weld detail just finishes it off. Well done.

David

Thanks David.

I redrew the ventilator in 3D and if you want I can send them to you but I suspect that your Tiger 1 uses the earlier ventilator.

Vince

Hi Vince,

I have had a quick look at some of the turret details last night and I think the turret ventilator on the late tigers is different to the early tigers. However I will keep your offer in mind when I get closer to this part of the build.

Cheers

David

I have been measuring and scratching my head for a while now but finally started "actual" work on the loader's hatch. I will be using the Armorpax kit as in my mind it gives the best depiction of the hatch for a late Tiger 1.

The only thing I will be changing is the white metal hinge. I want to bolt the hinges from the bottom and I think tapped holes won't last too long so I am re-making them from brass offcuts I have lying around.
Still lots of work required on the new brass hinges but at least for now it looks to be working.

Vince