Tiger question.

There are photos of at least 2 Tigers in Berlin. One is an Early, marked as '323'. The other one is a really Early model, from about January 1943, but the turret is upgraded with a new roof bearing the later cupola. Both Tigers were prominently marked with the swastika. Given their age, they were probably used in training schools for a couple of years.

 

David

 

That's what I was thinking from the start but then I started to worry about the members on this forum would think if I could not back it up with pictures.

I've had this dio in my head for 2 years now and have everything that I ordered for it here at home, all I need is to start building. I can take mistakes on building and painting but then when I can't back it up with pictures I don't want people to think wrong.

 Of the 6 books I have on the Battle of Berlin there are several different Tiger I's in them. There is one with a late production body with a mid  production turret.

Kentucky Colonel

The story I remember was Max Buch was making his way toward the Zoo Flak tower and saw a Tiger I inside a damaged store, the Tiger was baddly damanged and out of gas. The tankers were setting it up for a last stand and then Buch went on to where he was going and never did see what happened to it. That was what I was wanting to build but I never did find out what unit or ever the number on the tank if it had one. It would be a shame not to be able to build that in a dioama. At the time I just guessed it would be a late production but since than I've found out that there were several early and mid production Tiger I's in there and the area around Berlin. They just threw in what ever they had left.

I don't think you should get overly bogged down in worrying about the minute details. You could make your dio to represent one of those 'ad hoc' Tigers that Manny referred to. Unless you are really a stickler for complete historical accuracy, I don't know that unit or vehicle number is really all that vital. Throw a couple of balkenkruzs on that puppy and call it good!

Well, I've never seen a pic of a Tiger at the [Brandenburg] gate...be careful about anecdoctal information regarding such details and other accounts...other tank types were often called "Tigers," even by Germans...  

I read that too in the German Order of Battle last year while researching but I've also found several stories of Tiger I's in Berlin in different books and have seen a couple pictures. The most famous one being the Tiger at the Gate, which is not what I want to build, so I know a few were in there.

The story I remember was Max Buch was making his way toward the Zoo Flak tower and saw a Tiger I inside a damaged store, the Tiger was baddly damanged and out of gas. The tankers were setting it up for a last stand and then Buch went on to where he was going and never did see what happened to it. That was what I was wanting to build but I never did find out what unit or ever the number on the tank if it had one. It would be a shame not to be able to build that in a dioama. At the time I just guessed it would be a late production but since than I've found out that there were several early and mid production Tiger I's in there and the area around Berlin. They just threw in what ever they had left.

Kentucky Colonel

A picture has been hard to come by. I read the account in a book on the battle of Berlin and I've been looking for a picture ever since.

Like I said I already have a couple Dragon 3 in 1 Triger I's late production and I have the Voyager upgrade set for it as well as an Aber turret storage and a set of Friulmodel tracks.

If I can't use this model in Berlin where can I use it, what city on the Eastern front did the late productions fight in close to the end of the war?? I can always come back with a Tamiya model to use in Berlin if I have to.

Armored units were typically not placed in cities for defensive purposes as infantry was much more effective on the defense...another thing to remember is that Tiger I production ceased in Aug of '44, which meant that most front-line heavy tank units contained Tiger II's...of course there probably was the ad-hoc Tiger I somewhere in Berlin in the final days, but I doubt if you will find pictorial refs of it/them and/or unit designations...there were no Tiger units listed in any of the official German order-of-battle for Berlin... 

A picture has been hard to come by. I read the account in a book on the battle of Berlin and I've been looking for a picture ever since.

Like I said I already have a couple Dragon 3 in 1 Triger I's late production and I have the Voyager upgrade set for it as well as an Aber turret storage and a set of Friulmodel tracks.

If I can't use this model in Berlin where can I use it, what city on the Eastern front did the late productions fight in close to the end of the war?? I can always come back with a Tamiya model to use in Berlin if I have to.

I'm not sure, but I think the only dedicated Dragon kit is the Cyber Hobby release. Those go for an arm and a leg on sites. 

You can pick up the Tamiya kit fairly cheap on ebay or shows, but will need screens and such to upgrade it. Are you going to do your own zimmerit?

Doesn't Academy make one too?

Details on the Tiger I changed month to month.  It is best to post a picture of the tank you wish to build, then ask what kit would be best to replicate that particular tank.

I want the details. I will be using it for a diorama, Berlin 1945.

I found where there were a couple Tiger I Mid Productions that were in the battle and wanted to make a diorama out of it. I had thought of late production Tiger I and bought a couple Dragons late productions but now I don't know if I can use them.

Manstein's revenge

Dragon...

That's assuming you want to pony up close to $70 for one on eBay or the majority of the online shops. Don't forget about resin zimm for it. The other option is the Tamiya mid if you're not concerned about simplified details. I would look at it like this, if you wanted to make the Tam mid on par with the Dragon here is how the costs would break down.

Dragon mid Tiger ~$70+ Resin zimm ~$30= ~$100

Tamiya mid Tiger ~$35 + ~$15 PE set+  Resin zimm~$30= ~$80

You could even add aftermarket tracks to the Tamiya and it would probably be the same price or even more. Those are some things I would think about when shopping around for the best one.

Erik

Manstein's revenge

Dragon...

 

That's assuming you want to pony up close to $70 for one on eBay or the majority of the online shops. Don't forget about resin zimm for it. The other option is the Tamiya mid if you're not concerned about simplified details. I would look at it like this, if you wanted to make the Tam mid on par with the Dragon here is how the costs would break down.

Dragon mid Tiger ~$70+ Resin zimm ~$30= ~$100

Tamiya mid Tiger ~$35 + ~$15 PE set+  Resin zimm~$30= ~$80

You could even add aftermarket tracks to the Tamiya and it would probably be the same price or even more. Those are some things I would think about when shopping around for the best one.

 

 

Erik

'Best' is a tricky term.  What do you mean by 'best'?

Best value for the money?

Best in terms of ease of construction?

Best details?

Best set of 'extras' included?

The list goes on.

Still, Manny does make a good point - Dragon does put out a pretty nice Tiger Mid. It isn't an 'easy' build, though.

Dragon...