ARMOR - Tamiya 1/16 Tiger 1 Group Build

should take me a week to finish the wheel cast, I'm not sure if i have your address but email it to me so i can send them as soon as i finish. I have loads of pics of ongoing work but my computer at home is down atm and cannot do my build page. All the pics need sorting out too - a lot of work all around but well worth it - I hope.

I would realy like to see them.
If you can send them to me, i will let you know how i like them.Do you have pictures of the ongoing work?

Which one do you want to see? suspension or the wheels? If you like, once i've finished the molding/casting process i can send you a set of wheels to evaluate. I'm thinking of selling them but i need somebody's opinion first. Let me know and I'll send them free of charge.

Wow Skrull,
Do you have any pictures. I would like to see how they work out.
Good luck on your build and let us now how its going

is eric still posting though? anybody know?

I started my build as well, just finished the hull inside assembly and those suspension assembly was a pain to get right. As for the wheels I'm still molding them and the test fit seems to be fine.

Hi there Tiger maniacs
I’m just back from Le Mans. I was there for the 24 hour race. It was great.
I have an incredible hangover. Way too much fun over there.
Started building my Tiger again today.
Almost done building the lower hull. Its going nicely.
I hope Eric will be posting my progress on his site.
So I can show you the pictures I send him.
How are you people doing?
And you Erush are you building again?

Well I've nearly finish my steel wheels conversion, already have the masters i just need to cast them and i should have my own steel wheels =) As for the 600mm idler wheel, i think i'm just gonna leave them till later on as i'm getting very impatient and can't wait to start the build.

Wow, i have to read back 61 pages... Just saw this group build. I received my tank on monday. It's almost finished, just some last details to glue. I'll paint it next week at work. Very cool kit, i'll never forget when i switched it on for the first time . Fantastic sound.

Pierre

Skrull:

Sorry mate, wish I knew. Know too many who are waiting for these. Me, I want those Sherman hatches. Now I just gotta begin working on my crew... and begin making an hull for my snowcat to become something armored. And my 1/25 panther chassis too... got 3 of 'em...

Now I gotta go looking locally for a place to buy sheet styrene in bulk... anyone got ideas? Even if its scrapped off packing, or off the side-panels of equipment, I don't mind, long as its flat and cheap.

Any estimations on how much the T1 steel wheels will be?

Good news on the Jag conversion, i may need to purchase another kitty just for that =)

News from BYA:

They are soon to carry Kenny Kong's new Tiger 1 parts: a cast rear mud-flap with hinge clip (instead of the fragile Tamiya or Aber ones) and a replacement piece for the front final drive cover (similar to the KT ones seen on eBay)

And the T1 steel wheel solution is on the way... Keep your eyes peeled on the BYA site!

Also soon released are not just one but TWO conversion sets for the Tiger 1 (a Jadg & a Sturm?) to be released in July, as well as one for the KT in August, and another for the Sherman in the fall (which will include resin hull hatches, YAY!) I'm suspect it'll be an M36B1, which used the M4A3 hull. It would re-use the already-made aft deck from the E8 kit.

They will also be carrying the Tamiya figs, and the Dragon ones too! (Dragon Ace Tanker - Wittman fig here, please!)

Start saving up now guys... I am.

Skrull:

You know where all the optional stuff is for the 1/15 & 1/16 is, like the tracks, barrels, and the new suspension and idler bits? Read that list ~carefully~, and you'll see they intend to make roadwheels like they have for the Bandai Hummel, StuG & Pz.4.

And talked to Aber again, about the instruction sheet flaw and other things. They said the Kubel SuperSet should be out about September, and earliest for the KT set is Dec. BYA also has plans to duplicate the Schumo-kit screens, but 'better', or so they said.

Looks like we finally have some aftermarket interest going for these tracked monsters... about time too!

nice one, where did you hear that? I can't seem to find any mention of it on their website?!

Hey Guys,

I saw where Skrull is planning to do some scratchbuilding of the small idler, steel wheels, etc.. I've heard that Backyard Armor will be offering these items for use with a 'Late' Tiger package that will be available next month!

Thanks!

Thanks Ren... problem fixed.

Whoa white wolf...recheck your 2nd paragraph there. Family site remember.....
I'm sure its an oversite but please be aware.

Mike

Skrull:

You can get the instructions free in PDF format (Adobe Reader) at Aber's site: http://www.aber.net.pl/ Just click on the English Icon, and then the Instructions tab on the left, then ~right~ click on the pages you want to d/l so you 'Save Target As'. Its that simple.

NOTE: In looking at the Aber PDF's, I caught that they fouled up at #35 (its a reprint of 34 without the tank side in place) so all numbers after that are elevated one artificially. Sheets 41 & 42 need to be downloaded from 42 & 43. I've got a note headed off to Aber now to 'correct' that point.

The advantage to Adobe Reader is you can zoom in and not loose resolution. A few pages appear oddly (they have an additional blank one below them) but thats Abers Abobe setup problem, the pages ~are~ correct.

Hope that helps. They say the next SuperSet is for the Tamiya 1/16 Kubelwagen. Wish they'd get going and make ones for the KT, Sherman and Pershing. Shouldn't be too hard, mostly scaleups of their 1/35 frets.

thanks a lot for those cable measurements and you're right, modellers seems to be going crazy with the Karaya stuff at the moment hence i considered purchasing some but didn't know the diameters i needed. At least i can get some for the track cables now. I purchased some brass/picture wires already but I think I'm gonna give Karaya a test first.

Also, i don't have any ABER instructions (apart for the track hangers) as i cannot justify spending £120 on something i won't really be using (only want tool clamps & track hangers) Will it be possible for you to scan the ABER instructions and email them to me, so that i can have a look?

Skrull: re: the cables...

I have done a lot of data-collecting, and this is what I've found out:

The Tiger 1 mounted two types of cable: a track cable & two tow cables. The track cable was 14mm in diameter and 15 meters long, while the tow cables were 32mm in diameter and 8.2 meters long. German cables had a ~left~ twist, where Allied cables had a ~right~ twist... odd.

In 1/16th scale you want 0.9mm (1/32") diameter wire rope with a length of 93.75cm (36 5/8") long for the track cable, and for the tow cables, 2mm (5/64") diameter with a length of 51.25 cm (20") Note: none of the references said if this was measured from the center of the loop or the very ends (not that it'll be much different in our case) but you're going to want ~more~ than those lengths, as its looped back on itself (see the Aber instructions)

The biggest problem is the best cabling, aircraft wire, is stiff as hell, and has to be annealed. You can't do this in a household oven (at least not well) I have a whole whack of the heavier shit, and will send it on for a minor fee if anyone wants to make their own. I ~may~ have enough to spare of the lighter stuff too, I haven't checked.

Now all the 1/35 scalers are raving about the Karaya stuff. They make 0.9mm cable in meter lengths, but only go up to 1.5mm diameter (but as I said, I've got loads of the heavy stuff)

The other problem is that funky insert in the heavier cables, seen on Aber Page 4 (Bag with Castings for Cable) You could craft 'em by yourself... They were some of the 'bonus' parts in a SuperSet, along with the track hangers, all the wire/rod/tube, bolts & the jack block.

Dirk makes some cables (tow only) but he casts the ends on, and German cables dinna have cast ends, the Allied ones did. Check the Aber manual pages 24, 41 & 42 to see how to assemble the Aber ones.

Dirk's also changed his shackles yet again, making an even better fastening bolt after someone picked on his slotted bolts (see eBay)

The Tiger I'm building fortunately uses the early cupola config so it really is a mixture of early and late style variations('Tamiya How to BUild Steel wheeled Tigers by Angus Creighton' Tiger F01). Perhaps someday, if i can get a hold of the late cupola cheaply I can modify them and start casting loads.

For now though, I'm scratchbuilding a 600mm idler wheel, late starter plate(which Dirk does for $10 i think?! excluding shipping) and the steel wheels. My plan is to utilise the same screws and metal bits that comes with the tiger kit to make modifications simpler =) I want to make my own tow cables as well but i haven't found a site that shows you how to do it yet?!

Regarding pics - i made the mold from a KT wheel and casted from it. Now i need to modify it and recast it again. I'm doing it as i go along so mistakes are being made and i'm not going to show them to you ;) I'll show pics once i've made a successful final cast =)

As for Dirk, he is good on email and replies within 2 days and he has got some very nice mods but the price keeps rising each time he auctions something. He can only accept cash or bidpay so he does make it difficult for people to pay him. So far, even though i've emailed him a couple of times already I still haven't purchased anything.

Dirk's Parts for sale:

two: Tiger 1 loader's hatch assemblies
- includes locking arms w/ separate crank-wheel
- $15 each

one: set of 6 Sherman oil reservoirs
- to replace the plastic ones that have a tendancy to snap off
- $20

one: MG42 (new casting)
- includes new style support arm & turret ring bracket (no ring)
- $40 (recently went on eBay for over $75)

one: Commander's hatch assembly for KT (or late T1)
- this is the hatch, arm w/ handle, post & spring set
- does not include cupola casting
- $50 (recently went for over $80 on eBay)


Final Note:

Due to lack of support from Dirk, DP: Thema is CLOSED (I've made it ~temporary~ for now). You want his parts, deal with eBay. I've done all I could, and he no longer cares. I will maintain the group site for three months, and if he's not contacted me by then, I'll purge the site.

Sorry guys.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Skrull i'm yet to start my tiger - atm i'm scrathbuilding my own set of steel wheels based on the KT wheels. I haven't had much success with molding techniques yet but i'm improving ;) I'm being very ambitious with this one i know but for the price i paid for it, i want to get it right. Once i get the mold right, i might experiment with casting in metal - ought to be something =)

Wow Skrull,
That really is an ambitious project. But he it is the best way to realise a late Kitty.
Are you going to make the late commanders cupola as well?
You can kitbash the Tiger II kit. This does make a really expensive cupola.
If the casting is a success you can make lots of extra's an make some money. I can imagine lots of 1/16 Kitty modellers would like to make the steel wheel version.
Lots of success with the casting and when can we expect some pictures?

i'm yet to start my tiger - atm i'm scrathbuilding my own set of steel wheels based on the KT wheels. I haven't had much success with molding techniques yet but i'm improving ;) I'm being very ambitious with this one i know but for the price i paid for it, i want to get it right. Once i get the mold right, i might experiment with casting in metal - ought to be something =)

Thanks b.pijfers,
I found a good price for the full kit, $170, but I just didn't want the skirts and fenders and I can live without the barrel and cables. It was still very tempting though...
looking forwars to seeing your pics.

I have send the pictures to Eroc68. Hopefully they will be appearing on the site soon..Than i can link them to this forum.

QUOTE: Originally posted by ausf Alright I'm in, what'd I miss? I finally landed this kitty.... I went with the Aber basic and grills. All I'm really looking for is the smoke discharger details, cable holders and some tool clamps. Will they be part of those kits, 16002 and 16003? I went through the Aber website and by comparing the full kit with the three frets in the basic, it looks like that's what I want. Any thoughts?

Ik looks like you have all you need with the 16002 and 16003 kits, I checked my set and these frets give all the clamps 16003 gives you the grills.
Some of the stuff on the back of the Tiger is in set16008 (the jack and toolbox details).
I bought the full set and i'm having a lot of fun soldering it together.
Good luck with your Tiger

Alright I'm in, what'd I miss?

I finally landed this kitty....
I went with the Aber basic and grills. All I'm really looking for is the smoke discharger details, cable holders and some tool clamps. Will they be part of those kits, 16002 and 16003? I went through the Aber website and by comparing the full kit with the three frets in the basic, it looks like that's what I want.
Any thoughts?

Hi Eric,
Nice to hear from you. The soldering still going steady. I made some pictures. I will be posting them sometime tomorrow evening (Dutch time).
The front fenders are more difficult than i expected. But they are all most done.
Even the clamps for the shovel are working.

When i'm done i will need to find a really small German to operate the tank.

Speak to you later

QUOTE: Originally posted by b.pijfers Hi there, I have been reading this group build from the start and finaly miyTiger is in.

Bert!! Glad you decided to join us and quit skulking about!! (btw, didi I mention we like to have fun and cut up a bit on this here forum?? )

I'm looking forward to seeing your progress, and welcome to the forum and 1/16 Tiger build!

Eric

You guys might wanna see this...

Bovington's Tiger 1 on the move at Tankfest this past weekend:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/chris.biddle/tiger1.wmv

(sounds like its got some tuning problems, or dislikes running at low revs)

Build status:

Still slowly working on my Kitty. Track hangers almost ready to mount, and rear mud-flaps almost done. I've given up on my bellyplate-maker, gonna scout local shops this weekend. That or hit the local college for some patronage... Front flaps and the turret smokers are next.

Looking to trade a couple of Verlinden MG42's for MG34's. I have some data that says the tank-mounted ones weren't quite the same (different barrel shroud)