Tale of Three Tigers

Wow , it’s been quite a while since I up dated this project .  I must admit I got hung up on a paint scheme for my last Tiger , tried a few that didn’t really work so I had to strip off the paint and have a rethink . And as well , the poses of the Warlord plastic Fallschirmjager made it difficult to fit them together on the tank engine deck . So after some waffling about , I decided to swap a couple of legs , giving the figures a smaller foot print , as well one guy had his legs replaced by a seated pair from the plastic Seated German set . Having purchased the odd 2 or 3 ( or 10 ) extra s figure sprues during Warlord’s sales , I had lots of arms  in the parts box to pick through to create the right  pose .

Its a bit like a 3D puzzle getting the figures to fit together in a tight , natural looking group , very much trial and error , thank goodness the liquid glue I  use gives you lots of time to tweak the poses before it sets . And even then you might have to adjust a hand to look more natural resting on a surface .  But it worked out in the end giving me 6 FJ tank riders . Of course I’ve still got room for a couple more up front by the Driver / Bow gunner’s hatches , so I guess another FJ sprue will be on my next Warlord order . I’m still waiting for Rubicon’s German tank crew figures to be released  , so for now crew is minimal

As I mentioned earlier , I was able to build four turrets from this 3 Tiger Zug kit . I decided to build the 4th  as a knocked out turret , So I added a couple of shell strikes on the side of the turret , one a little deeper than the other , dislodging the spare track link . I painted this turret the same ambush scheme but  gave it a different vehicle number and changed the placement of the German national insignia . I intend to make the crew remove able so I can use this tank as a knocked scenery piece

All in all , the Tiger II was a great kit . It’s nice you get the option of the “Porche ” or production turret . As a modeller  I would have liked to have seen separate tow cables  , but as a game piece it understandable why they molded them on . Warlord / Italeri still have some work to do to get their supplied crew figures in scale with the vehicles but as there are now  other options in resin , metal & plastic this isn’t so much of a problem any more .

Just a heads up guys . Over on www.themodellingnews.com  , they have an awesome pictorial walk around  and vehicle history of the five Tiger variants at the Bovington Muesum .

Now to work on the 3 production ( Henschel ) turrets . Back in my June 30 post I showed the almost complete #1 turret . Since then I have added all the little bits and pieces and the spare track on the sides . Warlord gives you 8 sections of spare track , ( part #39) , but they screwed up . There are 2 different style of track pieces , Tiger tracks were handed , meaning a left track and a right track  but both  left and right are  numbered the same . So get out your favorite reference book and check out some Tiger II photos . So with that sorted , I needed to make some track hangers for the turret side as I used a couple of pieces as stowage on #13 .  I made the hook from Plastruct C  , cutting off on leg of the C . You could also make it from thin metal or brass strip , or even larger size office staples , but I like to work with plastic .

The hooks and lower mounts for the spare track are off set so make sure to check your references carefully

So one production turret down , on to #2 . With this one I wanted to portray a tank from the 505 Heavy Tank company , those Tigers with the neat looking knight on horseback markings on the turret sides . Warlord gives you 3 options of that decal , with the horse blanket in red , yellow , or green . It’s  supposed that the color of the blanket stands for the company , red – 1 , yellow 2 , etc . But color photos of the unit show a number the same  company tanks with different colors  ( interesting discussion on Missing Lynx )  , so again , I picked another unit  the experts still have questions about  .

While the 505 tanks had zimmerit , they removed a large patch on the turret side on which to paint their knight . So , I got out my collection of X Acto chisel blades and went to work . I cut a template of roughly the size of the decal , traced around it on the turret side and got cutting . I then lightly sanded the area and gave it a coat of Tamiya liquid glue to soften / smooth out some of the chisel marks . When dry I will add a thin layer of putty / liquid green stuff if needed

A couple of last minute details added to #13 . On the left side below the turret is a large pry bar (see picture in July 1st post ) ,which is absent in the kit . I made it from a strip of thin plastic, cutting it apart to add the tool brackets , which were made from a little larger strip . I didn’t even measure for scale , just cut it to a ize that looks good IMO .

On the right rear side , I added the antenna stowage tube , this time using round strip  . Pictures also  show it mounted forward behind  bow gunner’s position , so you have some varation in placement

That’s pretty much it except for crew and a diorama base ( maybe ) for #13 . Im going to build the other two hulls with exactly the same add ons  , but I’ll add the side skirting , and maybe damage or remove a section or two if I find a photo that looks interesting . And then on to the 3 production turrets ….

Since I’m not adding the side skirts , I need to add the strips that the skirts attach to , as seen on the lower edge of Bovinton’s Tiger II . I used .05 mm strip and just eye balled the size and placement by holding the skirt piece along the edge of the hull and marking it out with a pencil . I then cut many , many small strips and  glued a dozen of roughly the same size on either side of the hull .

I’m not going for scale effect in a 28mm kit , just a representation of the part . If I was building this in say 1/35 I’ld probably go all scale photo etch and tiny  resin bolts , but this is just a fun build . Looking through some Tiger II pictures , I noticed quite a few in Normandy  have the C hooks mounted on the U shackles for a quick cable hook up to either tow broken down vehicles or to be towed themselves , so I sanded the mounting brackets from one C hook and hung it on a U shackle . I made the empty C hook mount out of plastic strip . Not too happy with it yet , would rather make it out of wire but the mount is flat and wire is round , still working on that one .

So today I added most of the remaining parts such as  hatches and tools . I decided to leave off the side skirts and just add minimal fenders front and rear . I also added the pistol port plugs on the turret sides , although this unit had them welded closed and ground down , I think the ports look cool so I added them . The unit this tank ” belongs ” to { sPzAbt.301 (Fkl)}  only had 5 ( some publications say 6 ) Tiger IIs . Photographic evidence is sparse , even after 70 years only about 5 photos each  of tanks # 01 , 02 & 12 can be found in publications . There are 20 pictures of #11 , pretty much all from the same angle , 2 picture of # 10 , and one picture of #3 ( so that makes 6 right ? ) . Well the pictures of #10 are very small and are  from the rear showing # 10 on the turret rear , or could the negative be reversed and it’s really  #01 ? Its too small and grainy to make out any details to be sure  . Too many unanswered questions about this unit , all I know for sure is that they were part of a Demolition unit using Radio Controlled Bogward vehicles and those little Goliaths ., attached to Panzer Lehr in Normandy 1944 . So I gave this one a fictitious number – 13 . Next time I’ll pick a unit that has  info available .

Still mucking about  looking through the parts box for some decent crew figures . So I’m sort them out and came across this revelation

Bolt Action plastic tank crew figures : from left to  right . #1 , the  painted guy comes with the 234 Puma , the Stug and the Panzer III . #2  comes with the Panzer IV . #3 with a separate arm ( I think I’ve lost it ! ) comes with the Tiger I , and #4  of the group is your Tiger II commander . Bit a a variety in sizes there , I’m thinking that #1 & #3  compare quite well with Rubicon’s new  plastic crews , and #2  seems a little on the hefty side , might work as a winter war crew figure in a padded style parka . #4 is the worst of the bunch . he just fits in the hatches with no room to spare , he  really   looks wrong for 28mm – 1/56 scale tanks . Anybody want one , I got 3 I don’t want . I think  other 3 are  OK as Commanders with just their heads out of the hatch , not really dynamic enough IMO for a cool  looking diorama setting . The hunt continues

Today I’ve been working on the exhaust and schnorkel cover . Yes just like the Tiger I the Tiger II had a schnorkel for crossing rivers . It was under a bucket shaped cover on the engine deck on some of the first produced Tiger II models . It was deleted early in the production run of  the 50 Porsche turret vehicles . The kit part is lacking some details ( a hinge and some hooks / handholds ) I can see the shape of them  but have no idea  what it is , but its missing from the kit so I’m adding it . Early Tiger II also had the Tiger I style exhausts with the sheet metal covers , then they went to the Tiger II pattern exhaust , again with sheet metal covers . Since I’m lacking T I exhausts in the parts box but have a pair of covers , I’ll go that route . The covers didn’t last long either , getting deleted after 25 – 30 vehicles built .

Tiger I with schnorkel

Tiger I type exhaust with covers , Notice bucket shaped schnorkel cover on engine deck

Tiger II type exhausts with covers

It’s coming along slowly . I’m not gluing the hull together till I get myself crew figures that I like . Still undecided on weather or not to add the side skirts and fenders , will have to look through the pictures I’ve got saved . If no side skirts I will still have to add the set of mounting brackets that are spaced along the hull side edges . Plastruct strip will work nicely , I’m not going to worry about adding the bolt heads  (.005 mm in size nfw ! )  lol

As I said earlier ,I can build 3 hulls and 3 complete turrets from this box set . By using bits from the parts box I find I am able to finish off a 4th turret ( Commander’s hatch , AA MG rail and roof fan needed )  I’m going to build one ” Porsche ” and 3 Henschel turrets and I’ll explain why . Because of its design flaws the   Porsche turret had an armored  collar added to the hull to help keep rounds from deflecting off the curve on the bottom of the turret and into the hull roof . The front of the turret had the same problem , but there was no easy fix . If you look at the Maus they added an armored collar in front of the turret , but the driver hatch was much further forward than on the Tiger II

You can see the collar below the turret on the Bovington Porsche turret Tiger . The redesigned  production turret had no such shot traps . So one hull with collar for the Porsche turret and 2 hulls for 3 Henschel turrets ( probably one with a damaged gun and some large caliber shell holes )

Today I thought I would tackle the production turret ( Henschel ) , what a difference in the build compared to the ” Porsche ” .   It has cut outs on each side that almost snap together and rear plate has a nice lip to keep it in place and square  . I wonder if different guys designed each turret on the sprue  ? I placed the roof  on just to keep the sides square while the glue set .  While getting the gun barrel ready I noticed you only get one internal gun mount piece , but 2 internal mounts ( cheap sobs lol )  So I made my own .

Just a hobby tip for now . Many of us have those mini drill bits  to use when drilling out the sights and vision slits on our tanks

This is my Tiger II with the machine gun slot and sight holes drilled out . I’ve always found it to be a pain switching out those tiny bits if you have to make a variety of small holes . I found an easy solution , instead of a pin vise I use a craft knife handle that has a + shaped jaw . It holds those tiny drills perfectly . The brand name escapes me , but most hobby shops should have something similar and cheap ( about $3 ) , Mine have colored handles , so I keep the bits I use the most ( 1mm , 1.5mm , 2mm ) mounted and ready to go .

Putting aside the hull for now , I started on a “Porsche ” turret . And while some of the BA turrets are two or three piece affairs , the Tiger II turrets ( like the JS III & KV II ) are 6 pieces , And a real PIA to put together unless you have three hands

The problem is there are little or no pins or slot / lip to align the turret sides , rear  and roof . Very much add glue to all pieces and hold together gingerly till it sets . Once set ,it looks great , just make sure you have a free hour or so to get this done right .  The kit gives you the option of 2 turrets , but you only get one commader’s hatch , AA machine gun rail  and turret fan cover . I found the extra pieces I need in the parts box left over from a Rubicon Tiger , so I can end up with 3 hulls and 4 complete turrets from this Tiger Zug box .

The initial “Porche ” turrets had a pistol port on both sides of the turret as well as a ” communication ” hatch much like the early Panther D on the left side . These were welded closed fairly early in production and then deleted altogether . Also , spare track links were not mounted on production ” Porsche ” turrets , a refit in late “44 added them to the 3 or 4 remaining tanks of this type , so if you want an accurate model , do your research . P turreted tanks were seen with track on the turret roof of wedged between the exhaust pipes

So lots of little things to consider before I finish this turret . Weather or not to add the pistol ports , as well do I add the track links on the turret sides ( all Eastern front units ) or build a Normandy Tiger ( with ports ? ), And still need to find a decent crew …

I’m so used to buiding tank kits that I just do stuff , without even realizing it . I had to add some pieces of plastic to the inside of the rear hull plate to get a larger surface to glue to . Unlike the panther ( on left ) there isn’t much thickness to the side walls and no pins or slots to lock the parts together . Panther interior painted black because it has see through engine deck grills , the Tiger II does not

The red line is the pry bar , Also to be added ( maybe )  green lines –  engine screens , added to keep leaves and crap out of the engine / cooling fans . Blue line ( under the turret overhang ) – is an anti grenade screen , to keep grenades and mines which could unseat the turret  out from under the turret rear ( which was also full of 88mm ammo – boom ! ) Also needing to be added is a tube for caring a spare radio antenna  , on the right rear deck edge

Idea  for  hull crew with Panther turret added for effect . I’m hoping Rubicon release their plastic tank crew later this summer as I’m really not liking the BA / Italeri figures in my parts box

Let look at what needs to be added to the hull . The kit has nicely molded on tow cables , gun cleaning rods and a engine crank on the left hand side .  Separate tools are a shovel ( 2 provided in kit ) , Sledge hammer and axe , a pair of wire cutters are molded on engine deck ( note , handles are coated in a  bakelite type substance  so should be an orange / red brown color not steel ! ) Missing tools are a large pry bar on the driver;s side and the long thin track cable on the bow gunner’s side , The pry bar is an easy fix , bits box or plastruct rod , the track cable , I think mine might end up lost in combat .

Short Kit Review : it looks like a Tiger II   lol .  Not a bad kit really , your typical compromise  of game piece / scale model . The molded on details such as tools and tow cables are nicely done with a little more depth to them than the Panther giving them a better 3D look . On this kit the C hooks are separate pieces which is nice , again the ones on the Panther were terrible flat looking things . IMO it would have been better to have add on tow cables , more diorama potential , but as a game piece I understand the need to simplify . And having removed the molded on cables on the Panther I don’t relish the amount of work to fix the zimmerit with green stuff if I tackle the ones here . Nice that spare track for the turret sides are add ons , you can actually build to suit whichever photo you use as inspiration . The Tiger I had its spare track molded on , a real PIA to remove and you had to fix the zim , fun times  . It looks like they have finally perfected the 4 piece track system , nice tight fit with no join lines visible . Other kits , the Tiger / Panther / JS II , etc were a struggle at times to with some trimming and sanding involved to make it look good . BUT , they seem to have made the track a little flat with  low relief detail , not what Tiger II track looks like IMO , hopefully a wash will bring out the detail , if not there is always mud . Here’s a photo of the track , Tiger I on the left , Tiger II on the right . What do you think ?

1st thing I usually do is remove the hatch plugs / bottoms , those plastic pieces that stop you from using a full figure as a tank crewman . It also looks better to have some depth to your hatches if you depict the vehicle as abandoned .  I just use a small drill bit in a battery powered drill , making holes around the interior of the hatch , Then a sharp blade trims of the remainder , a quick buff with a small file and you have nice open hatches . Sometimes you have to remove some deeper internal plastic  bits , a sharp chisel blade and a steady hand does the trick

Having picked up a Tiger II Zug , which I really didn’t need but couldn’t resist , I had to decide what to do with 3 Tigers . Those of you who play Bolt Action will wonder at the folly of such a large point cost tank , three of them even . No problems , because I don’t play , I just just like to build 28mm  tanks .  So , with the option of curved front  “Porsche ” turret ( its not really  Porsche , both turrets built by Krupp )  and the production flat front  turret , I thought to flip through a few books for inspiration

The Panzer Lehr had 5 or 6 , the accounts differ , ” Porsche ” Tiger IIs attached to them from a remote control demolition tank unit .  Quite distinct with large two digit numbers on the turret sides .  Most pictures show them destroyed , but I’m going to make mine intact . The next Tiger will be like this one , loaded up with Fallschirmjager  . I’ve all ready got a extra sprue of BA FJ  and the plastic seated Germans for conversion purposes

3rd ,will be the knocked out big cat , lots of pictures of destroyed and abandoned Tigers . Just trying to figure out how to depict damaged track , and I might need to find an engine

I’m going to try and keep track of what changes and additions I make to each kit .Hopefully I also remember to take pictures as I go along .