Tiger Tank No.131,sPzAbt 101,Normandy,July.1944 (1 Viewer)

[Phantom Warrior]

Got the Figarti Tiger today before they disappear. It is a fantastic piece with opening hatches and grills allowing views of the interior and provides a number of display configurations. Of course the turret and deck each are removeable to provide wide open interior views.

Despite the cost, I am happy and feel it is worth it. I had to repair/reglue several unglued pieces in the turrett and gently straightened the turret roof and tank deck so they would lie flat and fit properly. The only really difficult one was the chair at the rear of the turret behind the gunners position. It had been assembled too close to the gun not allowing the breech down low enough to fit the loader in properly - his head was left too high for the turret roof to fit. I tried to bend the chair out of the way. It of course broke off and I ended up gluing it slightly over to fix the problem with the gun.

I put the Figarti Tiger side by side with the K&C Whittman's last Tiger and they virtually identical in size. They will be paired in a late Normandy scenario.

 

[kilted vampire]

Would love to see the results PW.

 

[Captain]

Congrats on the nice piece Phantom. I have the very same tank but was lucky not to have any problems with it. I certainly enjoy mine and hope you will too.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Congrats on the nice piece Phantom. I have the very same tank but was lucky not to have any problems with it. I certainly enjoy mine and hope you will too.

Do you have any photos of the interior of the turret, especially from the front and loaders side. I am still not sure I have positioned the gunner assembly correctly. Does the gunners feet touch the floor and where is the white pipe extending horizontally from the gunners chair positioned.

Does the turret rotate smoothly. Mine catches a bit in a few places.

Terry

 

[Captain]

Here is a quick pic I have for now and will answer your questions in more detail this afternoon. I have to get to work right now.

 

[Vezzolf]

Congratulations on your Figarti Tiger......A very unique tank with the interior detail.....However very fragile despite its weight.....definitely a 1:32 scale item.....IMO does not go real well with K/C as both are very different in style.....a great item but I set mine up with britains 1:32 scale figures or I think scale would work better with frontline 1:32......

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Congratulations on your Figarti Tiger......A very unique tank with the interior detail.....However very fragile despite its weight.....definitely a 1:32 scale item.....IMO does not go real well with K/C as both are very different in style.....a great item but I set mine up with britains 1:32 scale figures or I think scale would work better with frontline 1:32......

Yes, the colouring is very different but the scale of the Figarti and K&C Whittman's last Tiger are virtually identical. I do not have any Britains or Frontline and have never seen any in person so I am unsure of their detail and quality. All of my pieces are bought by mail order or from e-bay for older pieces, all sight unseen. There are no nearby hobby stores in the Toronto area that I know of selling K&C, Britains or Frontline.

This difference between 1/32 and 1/30 scales and between older, smaller K&C pieces and newer 1/30 K&C pieces will always be a problem. But for me, scale is more important than colouring if I have to choose one or the other. I am willing to make the compromise and put the Figarti & K&C Tigers together despite the colour difference. I bought the Figarti for the interior views as it is unique knowing the size would work from comments from several members of this forum.

I will have a better look for Britains or Frontline pieces close to home, but in the meantime If anyone would like to send me some Britains or Frontline armour, I promise to take very good care of them as part of my collection.

Terry

 

[Captain]

Do you have any photos of the interior of the turret, especially from the front and loaders side. I am still not sure I have positioned the gunner assembly correctly. Does the gunners feet touch the floor and where is the white pipe extending horizontally from the gunners chair positioned.

Does the turret rotate smoothly. Mine catches a bit in a few places.

Terry

Terry, my pictures didnt turn out to good I was trying to get to close I guess but here they are;

Both the gunner and loaders feet dangle. neither one on mine actually contact the floor. My turret turns smoothly but tends to catch the tow cables on the outside of the turret. check to see if that is the problem. let me know if you need better pictures I can do better I promise.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Terry, my pictures didnt turn out to good I was trying to get to close I guess but here they are;

Both the gunner and loaders feet dangle. neither one on mine actually contact the floor. My turret turns smoothly but tends to catch the tow cables on the outside of the turret. check to see if that is the problem. let me know if you need better pictures I can do better I promise.

Thanks for the photos - They help.

I checked my turret traverse and the bottom edge of the turret catches slightly on deck objects (cables, boxes, hatch covers). I was worried it was catching on something inside the turret, but fortunately it is not.

The photos are clear enough to see what I wanted to see.

Your seat behind the gunner is attached to the rear wall of the turret with a slightly curved mount which keeps it just out of the way of the shell casing basket of the main gun. The rear seat on mine did not have that curved mount and came under the shell casing basket keeping the rear of the gun so high that the loader was raised off of the floor and his head would not allow the turret top to fit back on. I removed (actually broke off trying to bend the rear sear out of the way ) the rear seat and now the rear of the gun depresses enough so that the loader's feet are on the floor and his head is low. I still have to glue the seat back on.

The Gunner came broken off his chair and the gunner's seat assembly was lying on the floor of the tank. I have glued the gunner back onto the gunners seat assembly and replace the seat assembly without gluing. The gunners feet now touch the floor and his face is down over his gunsight. Sorry to say, but your tank is missing the gunsite. I will take some photos and show you.

The gunners seat assebly has a wheel and gear to raise and lower the gun on your tank but no gear on mine nor does it appear to have broken off.

Photos to follow, hopefully in an hour.

Terry

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Terry, my pictures didnt turn out to good I was trying to get to close I guess but here they are;

Both the gunner and loaders feet dangle. neither one on mine actually contact the floor. My turret turns smoothly but tends to catch the tow cables on the outside of the turret. check to see if that is the problem. let me know if you need better pictures I can do better I promise.

Here are some photos of the top of the turret interior. Note the missing commanders seat still to be reglued. Note how your commanders seat curves to miss the spent cartridge basket of the main gun. Also note the gunsight the gunner is looking into

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Terry, my pictures didnt turn out to good I was trying to get to close I guess but here they are;

Both the gunner and loaders feet dangle. neither one on mine actually contact the floor. My turret turns smoothly but tends to catch the tow cables on the outside of the turret. check to see if that is the problem. let me know if you need better pictures I can do better I promise.

Here are shots of the lower part of the turrett. note the gunners and loaders feet on the floor. Note the gear to raise and lower the gun. I think the turning screw shoulbe against the gear but we will not get it any closer. Note the extra piiece on your tuning gear.

 

[Njja]

I must say Figarti has outstanding detail on there items. All the details can

add to problems as everything is delicate but everyine seems to be handy

and willing to do a little constructive repair.

I just received one of their LRDG Chevy's and had to reattach the brake

lever. The details, including real rubber tires make this piece one you should

not miss.

Here are a couple of shots, from my hobby table. I love the crazed driver

 

[Njja]

Your Tiger Tank photos are terrific! I hope everything works out on the

repairs! Can you imagine what it must have been like in there when that 88

went off?

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Your Tiger Tank photos are terrific! I hope everything works out on the

repairs! Can you imagine what it must have been like in there when that 88

went off?

Much quieter than when it went off at the target end.

The detail on your desert car is outstanding.

Terry

 

[Njja]

Thank you Terry as is your Tiger! I have several of Figarti's items the River

Patrol Craft, Seal Support Craft and Seal team, and two of their LRDG Chevys

the detail is spectacular. I know quite a few Forum members have the "E"

Boat, and Anzio Annie. Maybe with a little encouragement we can get them to

post photos of how they display these great pieces.

I think the wife would have a fit if a box that big showed up at the front

door.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Your Tiger Tank photos are terrific! I hope everything works out on the

repairs! Can you imagine what it must have been like in there when that 88

went off?

Much quieter than when it went off at the target end.

The detail on your desert car is outstanding. I already have the K&C version without camo. I would love to get your Figarti model but there are so many models and so little money.

Terry

 

[sammy719]

Monkey depot has some for 199.99 a great deal in price...Sammy

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Monkey depot has some for 199.99 a great deal in price...Sammy

Rats. I just bought mine for $299. They must have just gone on sale as I checked prices 2 weeks ago.

Terry

 

[sammy719]

Rats. I just bought mine for $299. They must have just gone on sale as I checked prices 2 weeks ago.

Terry

they are in Monkey depots bargain section in case you need another...Sammy

 

[Phantom Warrior]

they are in Monkey depots bargain section in case you need another...Sammy

Thanks Sammy. I already looked. It was painful.

Terry