Hi Guys.
Im not of a modelling standard to splash out on the top of the range kits.Having a fair few older kits in my stash i like to try and make them a bit better without etch if i can as it fights and bites me all the way.Well i have the golden oldie Italeri Tiger 1 H model in 1.35th.With the Tamiya Fruhe Tiger 1 kit could i combine the Best bits of the Italeri kit to make a decent Tiger in Africa?,I know some had different rear mudguards etc.Im no rivet counter so with a following wind,Brute force and higerance it can be done?.
Thanks guys.
Richard
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Which hull were you going to use? I am not a Tiger expert but have mashed a few kits together. Are you going for the combination of parts that “fit” best or most accurate with what you have?
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Hi.Im going to use the Tamiya hull and use the parts from the Italeri one for the Afrika version.So the unique exhaust shrouds etc.The Tamiya Afrika version is hard to find now or crazy prices on E.bay.The RFM kits are bit too much for my skills.
Thanks for replying.
Richard
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Let’s clarify, just in case people don’t know this: TWO batches of Tigers were sent to Africa at different times.
The 501 battalion got twenty of them, and they were a unique version, seen nowhere else, which we now call “Africa”. It was always in demand by the model building community.
The second batch, eleven Tigers, went to the 504 battalion, and they were standard “Early” Tigers. You could find the same type all along the Eastern Front and elsewhere. The famous Tiger “131” in the UK is one of these.
So, I assume the intent here is to make the unique version?
Well, if I was keen on accuracy, I wouldn’t start with the Italeri kit, or even the Tamiya. They have many errors in them. The Tamiya “Africa” does correct some of the flaws in the Italeri kit, but you’re considering only Tamiya’s “Early” which does not contain the improved parts.
So, if you want a depressing list of problems, just ask me.
David
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Hi David.
Lovely to hear from you Mr Tiger.In your opinion i should have bitten the bullet and bought maybe a Dragon Tunisian one or maybe a RFM version?,I saw Dragon do an Operation Oschenkopfe version.Im guessing i have to make up my mind if i want to make a Tunisian or the unique version.Think the kits i have might end up for practicing with.Am i right in saying the Fruhe from Tamiya shouldnt have Panzer grey scheme?.
Appreciate your help.
Richard
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Yes, Tamiya tell us to paint their Early Tiger in a grey colour, when using the “332” decals.
And photographs do not agree. Tiger 331 had a 2 colour scheme, and neither of them are dark enough to be “Dunkelgrau”.
The Tigers of the 501 had some differences between them, even within a group of 20, because the tank was evolving so fast. Dragon have two kits for that reason. And they don’t even cover all of the group; there’s scope for another kit that would build “712”.
I recommend Dragon or RFM kits for this subject. I would avoid Dragon’s DS tracks, because modellers often complain about them. RFM, on the other hand, have a few accuracy errors, especially in their original release 5001 which was an “African” Tiger.
David
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were those “accuracy errors” in the 5001 RFM release detailed in this thread or elsewhere? I have not been following this thread that long.
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Many thanks David.Think Dragon kit could be the answer.I shall get one with the Magic tracks rather then the DS.I had a set on a Sherman which broke into pieces and were greasy.
All the best.
Richard
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RFM 5001 has been discussed at length in forums. I remember the smoke launcher brackets were undersized, and I think the length of the gun was wrong.
David
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