1:35 AFV SturmTiger prototype conversion

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Steve Hutchinson
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Re: 1:35 AFV SturmTiger prototype conversion

Post by Steve Hutchinson »

A belated update chaps

I have received these from China, I knew I would need some conical bolts for the Sturmtiger, and as the label says for the Ferdinand, Elephant and VK4500 (P) Tiger too.

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The surprise was the zimmerit tools :o

From a zimmerit virgin to having 2 sets of tools, with the set that comes with the RFM BergeTiger 8-) .

They will be useful, and not quite as scary to use after Philipp's SBS,

Thanks Philipp ;)

Just a little bit of an update, working on the rear and engine deck.
Checking references for the correct layout is part of the Tiger story.
S-mines?
Brackets in Dec '42, but the launchers installed in '43
Plans with them on, but no clear photos?
What to do next?
References are reasonable but there is a predictable overlap from each change, which does allow a little artistic license.
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And the research, to support a December '42 production which will have S-mine brackets but no launcher tubes
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Engine deck layout B
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SturmTiger prototype rear
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Just some tidying up to do and back to the citadel and getting the mantel on the barrel sorted out, along with a cast iron finish all over
The mantel took a little scratch work.
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I have some PE,
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but as there are only a few track cable brackets to add, and the headlight bracket, I shall save them for another build

Thanks for popping by

regards

steve H
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Philipp Gross
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Re: 1:35 AFV SturmTiger prototype conversion

Post by Philipp Gross »

Excellent progress Steve! The rebuilt gun mantlet is really impressive!

As for the S-Mines, it seems the prototype had the launcher tubes at the rear corners:

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Good luck with the Zimmerit :D

Philipp
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Steve Hutchinson
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Re: 1:35 AFV SturmTiger prototype conversion

Post by Steve Hutchinson »

That is a good resolution photo, Philipp

Launcher tubes to be included ;)

Just trying to get the freifel filter canisters to sit properly, then I can add the S-mine launchers

Always good to get additional input on any Tiger project ;)

There will be plenty more to come 8-)

Thanks

Steve H
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Raoul Kunz
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Re: 1:35 AFV SturmTiger prototype conversion

Post by Raoul Kunz »

I'll have to second Philipp on the gun mantlet! It's awesome! :D

Generally speaking, this project is awesome, it's already a fairly weird contraption to begin with and you are building the weirdo older brother :D .

I'll probably go into the well trodden yet complicated field of Tiger research when I get around to building one of the many other Tiger I have here :lol: . Maybe as a shelf queen since I started the DML zimmerited late model Tiger ages past and then it got stuck when my arm went numb ;) .


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Steve Hutchinson
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Re: 1:35 AFV SturmTiger prototype conversion

Post by Steve Hutchinson »

Yes it is the older less sophisticated sibling, Raoul ;)

Thanks chaps, still struggling to get the 2 parts to marry up but nil desperandum:evil:
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The citadel is warped, which isn't helping, you can see it from the rear shot.
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I always thought I wouldn't bother with the different number of exhaust holes around the barrel, but as the prototype has 20 and the production version as 31, Not a chance
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After a little superglue, some fancy micro drilling to come :roll:

I hope to have this one sorted by 010418 and onto another build until I can get the AB powered up.

The garage door blew open in one of the several snow storms, my AB station was buried under snow for a week!

I'll have to let everything dry out thoroughly before switching it on :? :lol:

Hopefully more next weekend

Happy Easter to one and all

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Steve H
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Re: 1:35 AFV SturmTiger prototype conversion

Post by Adam Durrant »

Awesome build Steve, its building into quite a monster! Not being as game as you I'm waiting for RFM's production version kit with interior to come out :D

Do you know anyone with a drill press? It would make the drilling of multiple parallel holes easier.

Adam
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Re: 1:35 AFV SturmTiger prototype conversion

Post by Mark Aldrich »

That is coming along most impressively.
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Re: 1:35 AFV SturmTiger prototype conversion

Post by Steve Hutchinson »

Thanks Mark & Adam
Yep a real beast, I need to have a pointing officer for scale LOL
The RFM kit is the later steel wheeled version, though a full interior would be cool.
I still have to build a RFM Tiger of any flavour, and am looking forward to it as my next project GB's pending.
I am going to "convert" the RFM Tunisian Tiger into the Bovington 131 OR
the VK4500 prototype...
Still to decide after the short retro GB and getting some paint on the Breda.
More to come hopefully over Easter
Thanks for popping by

Steve H
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Re: 1:35 AFV SturmTiger prototype conversion

Post by Raoul Kunz »

The garage door blew open in one of the several snow storms, my AB station was buried under snow for a week!


:o :shock: :? !

You could use some rubber bands to force the citadel into place and put it into a moderately warm (say ~90°C) oven repeatedly to remove the tensions and fix it in the new location... while avoiding melting... though that's a bit weird I admit, it's more of a solution that comes from work, since we occasionally have to deal with different polystyrenes, primarily when modifying cheap shoes :roll: :lol: .

Though it's still better than having to deal with assorted ultra-cheap thermoplastics that just melt when confronted with a belt grinder let alone an ultrasonic cutter... happened today and was reallyweird... it just started melting around the blade... lightsaber-esque :lol: :o :lol: .



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Steve Hutchinson
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Re: 1:35 AFV SturmTiger prototype conversion

Post by Steve Hutchinson »

Opps, sorry Raoul

Its been longer than I thought, and 1 Stug III G 10.5cm later, there is an update,

Though your experiences with melting plastics are fascinating, I take it, you did find something more suitable to use?

I figured out how to settle the citadel, it didn't have enough "width" to sit comfortably and then have something to bond on to the base with, so I added two pieces of plastic card on each side.

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and an extension to the front of the base to cover up where the Tiger I becomes a Sturm tiger

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And before you know, its all finished, well except for the shell lifting crane, which is a mini PE puzzle all on its own.

I tried to put the wheels and tracks back on for a photo shoot, but they were difficult with the citadel, so , I'll prime and base coat them, then assemble everything, yet again, when the weather changes :evil:

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More soon with paint?

Steve H
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