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Hi Guys

I received the final metal masters for the Feifel units today and set them up on a FOA Tiger 1, please note they are not 100% correctly fitted, main error is the canisters are set to low. There are still a few modifications to be done, but what you see is what you will get if you order the set. My thanks goes to Lucien Runge who has been working on getting these masters made for some time. I can take no credit for these superb masters which were made by a friend of Lucien. All I am adding to the set are the photo-etched parts, fittings, mold making and production.

These will take up to four months to produce, I will try to make it sooner. There are 57 white metal parts, some very large, in the set which will take three casting molds to produce, plus at least one cold pour mold to make some sub-masters. A full list and pictures of all parts follows.

The retail price will be $900.00 as a kit. Assembly is fairly simple and kit will come with full instructions. I am offering them at a pre-production price of $800.00 for those that would like to order now and pay a $200.00 deposit and the balance when completed.

The parts have been designed with as thin walls as possible to reduce weight, but will still be a fairly heavy unit when assembled.

Pictures of Feifels fitted to a FOA Tiger 1. The brass tubes used in this set up are not the final version. The hoses will be made of flexible rubber so they can be curved to conform to the correct look. I will be experimenting casting them with a hole through the center to fit a aluminum rod so the hoses can be shaped. The hoses will be longer than needed so they can be cut to fit any Tiger 1 model.



Note the round vent cover is to small, a new master will be made.








This picture show one of the master hoses fitted.


Pictures of main parts assembled.



The longer hose connector is designed to swivel in the center to allow adjustment, casting a solid piece would make it very difficult to aline.


Pictures of parts as they will be in the kit.
Canister parts


Duct, vent and hose connectors.


Angled connector parts.


Hose clamps, canister top brackets, air intake funnels, square stand offs and bottom canister brackets.


Hose latches.

Hose masters.

Close up of hose masters.


Not shown in pictures but included in kit will be chains and rings for the round access cleaning covers on the canisters, plus all nuts and bolts to assemble and fit the unit to the Tiger 1.

Please e-mail me if you would like to place a pre-production order.

For customers on my VIP program, you will pay the pro-production price or your discounted price of the full retail price which ever is the least. Deposits not required from those of you that are at the Corporal or higher level.

Regards
Mike

Mike

This is just art work on your part, makes me want to get an early Tiger.

But I have to wait until I get my King Tiger done befor I start growing my Big Cat collection, But I'm still planning on putting a lot of your goodies on my King Tiger.

Mark

Wow, everything in this set is beautiful and well thought out. But I think one of the most impressive pieces is the hose. I don't think I've ever seen a completely accurate hose in this scale before.

I will definitely be ordering this set.

- Alan

Outstanding parts Lucien and Mike! Like Alan said, the accurate hoses with their twisting chamfers are superb.

Keep up the unbelievably great work!

Tim

Superb work as usual Mike.
This is the one thing I've been waiting for, please add me to the list of definite orders.

Mike M

Outstanding parts Lucien and Mike!

Almost make me wish I had an Early Tiger I...
Never seen so good looking hose in 1:6th before - amazing.

Keep up the good work.
Kent

Hi Guys

Thanks for the compliments, but must give credit where it is due, Lucien did all the research and design on this and I only advised on how parts should be made so they could be cast in metal. All the machining of parts was done by a friend of Lucien, a person that has much better skills than I do. The hoses were made as a collage project as far as I know, again done by one of Luciens contacts.

Regards
Mike

Great work Mike and Lucien. Very cool details! Will be a fantastic kit. Sure to make early Tiger owners very happy.
Bob

To all;

It took a lot longer than I originally figured to get these done. But my hat is off to Allan Topham, the now retired MASTER tool and die maker who made the parts. Allan is a genius extraordinaire when it comes to making parts in metal. Scotland truly gave up a great native son when he immigrated to the United States oh so many years ago.

I had many discussions with Mike Stannard about the masters in regards to metal casting. So many phone calls, so many critiques, so many trips back to the mill and lathe. I hope you find the end product somewhat agreeable.

The feifel piping was a real issue for me. We machined a prototype out of aluminum but I found it less than realistic. So I went down to the Rapid Protoyping Laboratory at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo and had the director, Ed Tackett laser lith them for me. He use to run the largest WWII photo collection website on the net and really got into making the Tiger's pipes (made them in two days from scratch including the solidworks drawings). The ribs are slightly more pronounced so when you guys prime and paint them and the paint settles into the ribs, they will look more realistic. Without the laser lithography, the pipes would have been a real improbability. They are worth their weight in gold.

Thanks to those who helped with photos and Allan Topham of course. It couldn't have happen without you guys or Allan.

Best regards;
Lucien

Hi Lucien & Mike:
Count me in for a set. They are so outstanding looking I would have a set even if I didn't have a Tiger I!

Regards
Joe

Hi Mike, I agree with Joe. I would want a set even if I didn't have a Tiger. But since I do have the Tiger, I just have to have these Fiefels. Consider this my firm order. A big Thank You to Lucien who took the time and his money to create the masters. It's this kind of sharing that really makes this 1/6 hobby the best! In the meantime, I shall go out to the mailbox and wait for my Fiefels.

Hi Guys

To date I have 12 firm orders for the Fiefel Units so these will definitely go into production. I am extending the pre-production price cut off date until January 31 to give those on the fence about purchasing a set more time to think about it.

With the release of a second batch of mid production Tiger 1 in early 2010 gives the opportunity of building a early Tiger 1 as the early and mid productions are basically the same. All you will need to build the early Tiger 1 is a set of Fiefel's, the early drum cupola and the early turret air vent cover. TT35, TT20 and TT21. (My stock numbers).

Something you may not be aware of is the front intake duct to the engine compartment was used from Oct 43 to Dec 43 on the Mid production Tiger 1, the pre-filters and hoses were discontinued in Oct 43.

Once the complete Fiefel units are available I will also offer the front duct as a separate kit for those building a Mid production Tiger 1 from Oct 43 to Dec 43.

The current Fiefel Unit I am offering was used from Nov 42 to Mar 43. In Mar 43 the pre-filters were redesigned with simplified upper chamber, if there is a demand for this later version I can easily produce this upper chamber, all other parts are the same.

Please e-mail or post here if you are interested in the duct only for the Mid production or the redesign upper pre-filter chamber.

Regards
Mike

Hi Mike,

I have a May '43 Tiger, which calls for the single-chamber Feifel units. I'd be happy to order the other Feifel components and wait for your single chamber final component. Pls advise: dmpinkerton2002@yahoo.com

By the way: Fantastic work. I've been waiting for over 3 years for a usable Feifel replacement. Glad you've weathered the economic storm to continue producing your unmatched accessories.

Mike, Lucien,

Great job! I have one of the 2010 Tigers on order. I would be interested in one of the later Feifel units if they became available.

Thanks, Brian

This is a superb piece of work and hats off to you for sticking with a really challenging project - a credit to all involved and especially to Lucien for kicking it off.

I made a one off set of fiefels for my early Tiger some time ago now but I would be very interested in a set of hoses if you were to supply them as a seperate part, would you please let us know if this is possible. If so, and when you can price the items, the cost of the hoses would also be much appreciated.