Just received my new HB Tiger I (1 Viewer)

[desk11desk12]

Ana and the Boys,

My compliment to Honour Bound’s modeling expertise! I received my Tiger I yesterday and I’m very pleased with the results. Frankly it has the detailing, painting and weathering usually only found in some of the best 1/35 models found but it’s 1/30 scale!

I was surprised and gratified to see the packaging of the tank has improved tremendously compared to past vehicles I’ve received from HB. I love the way the tank base/ plague slides into the box with the tank affixed to it via a screw and nut that is far more easier to remove compared to the past. That was a nice innovation.

However, the star of this release is the Tiger I and the special customization to tankers were awesome! Please trust me on this, this Tiger looks a heck of alot better in person then they do in these pictures.

Thank you and best fortune to HB in the future,

Carlos

 

[Wraith]

That's one very cool piece of machinery Carlos. Congratulations on your choice of paintwork, looks spectacular.

 

[nmrocks]

Carlos,
What's the unit and so forth...?
Ray

 

[Ana Donzino]

Thank you, Carlos. I'm so glad that you liked your Tiger. I'll pass your compliments to the boyz.

Our best wishes

Ana

 

[maddadicus]

Dear Carlos, if I am not being nosy, as detailed, with 3 figures and shown stowage, what did this piece cost you..You can PM me , if that makes you more comfortable about sharing...Thanks, Michael

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

You guys really need to stop posting pictures of these ! I'm one mouse click away from having to order one How long are these going to be produced ?

 

[Warrior]

Man alive, that tank is spectacular; it goes beyond a "toy soldier" vehicle, it is a work of art.

Carlos, you are one lucky guy in more ways than one (I'll let you connect the dots on that one)................

 

[steel wheels]

Beautiful tank Carlos. If I did not already have the Figarti tiger, I would strongly consider that bad boy. I will however, await the custom sherman series, because I think thay will be in a class by themselves.

 

[fmethorst]

Well done Carlos, sweet cat!

 

[jazzeum]

Carlos,

Very nice. Hope you're on the mend. I'm sure this brightened your day. Can you tell us which division, etc. you chose and how you did the research.

 

[nasirkasmani]

Well done Carlos.

That's a beautiful and unique Tiger you have there.

HB makes excellent tanks, and i'm barely being patient, waiting for their next german releases.

 

[OzDigger]

Nice camo choice Carlos, even the figure colors match

Brad and I are interested to know some more details such as the Panzer Division it belonged to?

 

[desk11desk12]

Thank you all for your comments. The real compliments belong to the HB Team. I just did the research and boy was the research difficult. I was looking for something different from the myriad Tigers that I and others already have. Some of the best examples of Tigers came from Normandy or the Eastern Front. I already have plenty of examples of tri-color camo versions from Normandy and a splendid Tunisian Tiger I from KC.

I wasn’t interested in the Eastern Front. Maybe it’s because I’m a “baby boomer” and grew up during the Cold War. So that left Sicily or Italy. That’s were my research odyssey began especially since my interest lie with Werhmacht and NOT SS (too much of SS has been produced) and I wanted some kind of camo pattern and NOT the tan colored Tiger I’s that were so plentiful in Sicily. After all I already have that great KC Tunisian Tiger already.

Finally, I found a great Tiger link that has already been posted on this forum that specified which Tiger Divisions were assigned to which theater of operation and when. Eventually it seemed a clear choice that the “s.Pz.Abt. 504" would be the best choice. I found camo patterns from the “Panzers in Italy” book from Armor at War Series and a 1/18 model picture from the web. Decals of this division I found on Archer website.

So I sent these pictures to Ana (HB) along with a request to paint the panzer commander and crew in “spliter” camo uniforms which they did expertly.

What Tiger is next? Probably a Battle of the Bulge" Tiger I. Now that will be challenging since I understand very few actually participated in this conflict. I can't wait to find out which Panzer division had them and whether it was white washed in white or camo colors. What about the division and the associated marking? Maybe I'll take a rest and casually do the research this time.

Carlos

 

[fmethorst]

Nicely done Carlos.

I find the research a big part of the fun.

A Battle of the Bulge Tiger I eh? You don't go for the easy material do you?

Hmm, two schwere Panzer Abteilung to choose from, s.SS.Pz.Abt.501 and s.H.Pz.Abt.506. The SS unit (501st) was attached 1.SS.Panzer-Division "LSSAH". To the best of my knowledge this unit only operated the Tiger II. The army unit (506th) had a 4th company added in preparation for the Ardennes offensive which operated Tiger Is so this would be your best bet.

It would be impressive if you could find any pictures. I would be even more surprised to see whitewash on any of the German AFVs.

Good Luck,

Frank

 

[desk11desk12]

Nicely done Carlos.

I find the research a big part of the fun.

A Battle of the Bulge Tiger I eh? You don't go for the easy material do you?

Hmm, two schwere Panzer Abteilung to choose from, s.SS.Pz.Abt.501 and s.H.Pz.Abt.506. The SS unit (501st) was attached 1.SS.Panzer-Division "LSSAH". To the best of my knowledge this unit only operated the Tiger II. The army unit (506th) had a 4th company added in preparation for the Ardennes offensive which operated Tiger Is so this would be your best bet.

It would be impressive if you could find any pictures. I would be even more surprised to see whitewash on any of the German AFVs.

Good Luck,

Frank

Awesome Frank!

I really appreciate it. Do you have any idea if their tanks were painted in white or camo colors? I know it's a long shot questions.

That division has some great tank markings. Thanks again,

Carlos

 

[fmethorst]

Awesome Frank!

I really appreciate it. Do you have any idea if their tanks were painted in white or camo colors? I know it's a long shot questions.

That division has some great tank markings. Thanks again,

Carlos

The unit you need to research s.H.Pz.Kp.Hummel (Heavy Panzer Company Hummel). This is the unit that was incorporated as the 4th company of the 506th.

I found some pictures here: http://forum.panzer-archiv.de/viewtopic.php?t=4311

Is that picture by the Arnhem bridge cool or what.

This unit was cobbled together out of training, test vehicles and the like and I've noticed some interesting things. The pictures show a mix of early/mid/late chassis and turrets as well as zimmerit and no zimmerit. If you are concerned with accuracy this may be a risky selection

Check out the turret of these pictures of Tiger 411 taken after the Ardennes offensive. It has the original commanders cupola. It looks like an early turret was mounted on a late chassis.

Lastly, Tiger 411 clearly does not have whitewash

 

[noli-poli]

Frank:

Losing sleep on my HB Tiger again...this time on the gun barrel and muzzle break. Comparing it to the HB Barkmann's Panther, the Tiger looks shorter and smaller muzzlebreak. Aren't they supposed to be both 88?

Also, looking at the KC Tunisian Tiger the gun barrel looks proportionate to the turret.

Are there several versions of the gun barrel and muzzlebreak?

Thanks
N-P

 

[nasirkasmani]

Frank:

Losing sleep on my HB Tiger again...this time on the gun barrel and muzzle break. Comparing it to the HB Barkmann's Panther, the Tiger looks shorter and smaller muzzlebreak. Aren't they supposed to be both 88?

Also, looking at the KC Tunisian Tiger the gun barrel looks proportionate to the turret.

Are there several versions of the gun barrel and muzzlebreak?

Thanks
N-P

Hi N-P

Regarding the difference in gun sizes -

The Panther uses a 75mm gun, while a Tiger I uses an 88mm gun.

The Panther's gun was one of the most powerful tank guns of WWII, due to the large propellant charge and the long barrel.

This gave it a very high muzzle velocity and excellent armor-piercing qualities.

Critics says that 75 mm gun actually had more penetrating power than the main gun of the Tiger I heavy tank, the 88mm.

Regarding the proportionate issue-

Being the particular collector that i am, i too had observed some disproportion on BOTH HB and KC Tiger I. But i take it that nobody gonna produce a perfectly accurate Tiger I, so that's that.

 

[fmethorst]

Frank:

Losing sleep on my HB Tiger again...this time on the gun barrel and muzzle break. Comparing it to the HB Barkmann's Panther, the Tiger looks shorter and smaller muzzlebreak. Aren't they supposed to be both 88?

Also, looking at the KC Tunisian Tiger the gun barrel looks proportionate to the turret.

Are there several versions of the gun barrel and muzzlebreak?

Thanks
N-P

Hi N-P

Starting April 1944 some Tigers were fitted with "leichte Muendungsbremse" (light muzzle brake).

The gun used by the Tiger I is the Kw.K.36 L/56 (88mm). The L/56 refers to the length of barrel in calibres. In other words the barrel on the Tiger I is 56 x 88 mm or 4928 mm without muzzle brake (16.17 ft). Keep in mind that part of the barrel is inside the turret. If you convert this to 1/30 it is 164.27 mm

The gun used by the Panther and JagdPanzer IV/70 is the Kw.K.42 L/70 (75mm) which works out to 70 x 75 mm or 5250 mm without muzzle brake (17.25 ft).

Keep in mind that how far back the gun is mounted in the mantlet affects how long it looks too. If the Tiger turret is larger the gun may be mounted further back.

The gun used by the Ferdinand/Elefant, Nashorn, JagdPanther and Tiger II is the Kw.K.43 L/71 (88mm) which works out to 71 x 88 mm or 6248 mm without muzzle brake (20.5 ft).

If you would like me to verify off the scale drawings I have let me know.

Nasir is right. The 75 mm gun in the Panther was more potent than the '88 in the Tiger I.

Here is some performance information on the various guns:

http://www.panzerworld.net/88l56.html

http://www.panzerworld.net/75l70.html

http://www.panzerworld.net/88l71

Here is a picture of the ammunition used. From top to bottom Kw.K.42 L/70, Kw.K.36 L/56 and Kw.K.43 L/71

 

[fmethorst]

N-P,

Here is a comparison of the two types of muzzle brake: