gliderdwm wrote:He mentions this as mid-production but this has early tiger cuppola. Mid -production Tiger means the cuppola was changed to the one that comes up and swivels not the one where the lid hinges upward.
July 1943
New turret with revised cupola is installed.
Pistol port plug and uncut escape.
Zimmerit anti-magnetic mine coating is applied.
Great source for Tiger info:
http://www.alanhamby.com/tiger.html
I think it all depends when you think a early-production tiger was made. To me they are from July 1942-November/December 1942, but many people think of them as being from July 1942-July 1943. There are several reasons for mine and their opinion.
The model above is correct (to my standing) in the following ways:
The commander's cupola originally installed on the 21st tiger, the later one did not see installation on tigers until July 1943 as gliderdwm said, however, the tank portrayed here was made post December 1942-before July 1943, which i consider early mid-production), and saw combat during Operation Citadel. The reason I say post December 1942 is because it has the turret-side escape hatch in place of the pistol port present on early models, which began in december 42. Early models had two pistol ports. The gunner's binocular vision port being reinforced is also a sign of a mid production model (started being installed in Nov 1942). That means his title, pistol port, cupola, and mantlet are correct. The lack of Feifel air filters on his tank is not conclusive as I have many pics of s.pz.abt 503 tanks during this time with and without them, probably due to loss in the high tempo of combat.
Early tigers are distinguishable from mid-late ones in the following ways. 2 pistol ports on turret rear-quarters. Different style turret stowage bins, either on the side, or the smaller ones on the back (and sometimes even pz. IV ones). The bosche headlights mounted on the top of the front hull superstructure, as opposed to on the front plate, or just a single one in the middle. Thinner mud guards on front and rear (no hinged extensions). Also there were different exhaust covers used in the early ones. There are a few other differences as well.
I know I am kind of going against some sources opinions, but to me the differences between the tigers made from before November 1942 differ from the ones made from November 1942- in far more ways that those made pre-july 1943 and those post july 1943-August 1944. Again this is just my opinion, and what it really comes down to is whether you want to call the new cupola
or the new mantlet, smoke and s-mine dischargers, and the addition of the escape hatch the division between early/mid tigers. I am prone to go withe the latter.
Zimmerit was not applied until August/September 1943, and really isn't used to distinguish early to mid variances. Though the fact that he says he's portraying a Oct 1943 tank is troubling. He should have just done his research and saw that this would be better off as a July 1943 tank.
Other mistakes include: The absence of smoke dischargers and s-mine dischargers. From December 1942-November 1943 these were installed, and his tank has neither. And saying that there are pics of the real thing and they are quite evident in the pictures, this is a big oversight. Also, the Bosch headlight he left in the middle of the front plate is incorrect.
All that being said, the price is way too high.
Ok enough tiger talk for tonight, I'm going to drink a beer or 5.
-Kevin
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