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Well I received the last 5 issues of this monster today!! I will be starting the build very soon, watch this space!!
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 Rank: Elite        Groups: registriert, Registered Joined: 20/03/2011 Posts: 2,356 Points: 7,122 Location: UK
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Look forward to seeing this one progress mate  I'm thinking of getting the HobbyCraft one for £60...I'm pretty sure it's a good kit.. Spencer
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 Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Very nice indeed Daran, looking forward to watching your build of this biggy with eager anticipation my friend!! 
Kev
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 Rank: Super-Elite  Groups: Registered
Joined: 24/04/2010 Posts: 5,787 Points: 17,662 Location: Stafford, United Kingdom
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Nemesis wrote:Well I received the last 5 issues of this monster today!! I will be starting the build very soon, watch this space!! Hi Daren, I have collected up to 100 so Far Kind regards Mike MWG BUILD DIARIES: HMS VICTORY, SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS, SAN FRANCISCO II, HMS HOOD, HMS ENDEAVOUR LONGBOAT, HMS VICTORY X-SECTION, 007 DB5, NISSAN GTR, CUTTY SARK, RB7, AKAGI, BARK HMS ENDEAVOUR, HUMMER H1, MITSUBISHI ZERO.
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Hello Mike. Thanks for looking in. I did see that you were collecting this one! This is a nice kit, and even building as is, will make a stunning Tiger. But there are a lot of mods that can be done to make it 100% right and I will be modding as I go. I will post the mods in detail and where I sourced the parts.
Daran
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Rank: Super-Elite Groups: Registered
Joined: 24/04/2010 Posts: 5,787 Points: 17,662 Location: Stafford, United Kingdom
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Nemesis wrote:Hello Mike. Thanks for looking in. I did see that you were collecting this one! This is a nice kit, and even building as is, will make a stunning Tiger. But there are a lot of mods that can be done to make it 100% right and I will be modding as I go. I will post the mods in detail and where I sourced the parts.
Daran Hi Daran that would be a big help Military is not a strong suite of mine. I will watch your build with interest Kind regards Mike MWG BUILD DIARIES: HMS VICTORY, SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS, SAN FRANCISCO II, HMS HOOD, HMS ENDEAVOUR LONGBOAT, HMS VICTORY X-SECTION, 007 DB5, NISSAN GTR, CUTTY SARK, RB7, AKAGI, BARK HMS ENDEAVOUR, HUMMER H1, MITSUBISHI ZERO.
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Looking forward to seeing you build Nem
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Ok, so here we go. Before we start lets look at what we have in the kit and see how and where we can improve it. There are some issues, and I will do my best with the knowledge I have and the references from books and other sources to deal with these as I build.
what time frame does it represent?
During the production run of the Tiger tank, a span of almost two years, there were over 80 visible external changes to the Tiger. On examining a Tiger that is clearly photographed, we can give an approximate time of when it was built. The same should apply to a model of the vehicle.
What historical date is represented by the Hachette Tiger? This is relevant to any modeler wishing to paint it as a Tiger in a certain time and place.
The cupola has features that point to June 1944; the presence of drainage slots in the cupola and lack of crane mounts on the roof were modifications in June 1944, so this turret must be around that time frame.
However, there are details elsewhere on the model that are not consistent with this date.
The rear idler wheels appear to be the larger ones, 700mm in diameter, that were phased out in February 1944. So we would expect a June 1944 Tiger to have idlers 600mm in diameter.
There are brackets on the front plate for holding a shovel. These were removed in January 1944.
The tracks are not of the flat type and have the ice cleats, these were introduced from October 1943. These have been supplied in the kit, so it must be a 1944 Tiger?
The model therefore represents a June 1944 turret on a January 1944 hull. Since the German repair shops would mix and match hulls and turrets from damaged tanks, this is not an impossibility.
Another issue that is incorrect for the date is the Muzzle Brake. This came in two sizes; a small one introduced in April 1944, replacing a large one which is what this kit provides. Therefore the kit's muzzle brake conflicts with the rest of the turret.
What I have done is replaced the barrel and muzzle break and the idlers and sprockets.
I started with the barrel and muzzle brake. The barrel supplied with the kit is to thick and and has no detailing. I replaced this with a Schumo 1 piece turned aluminium barrel. The muzzle brake is to big, the late Tigers, which this is meant to represent, had the smaller version. A Schumo hand crafted part, made from brass, is being used to replace this. Also I will be adding the muzzle break securing screws a bit later in the build.    I had to get the new barrel and muzzle brake machined to fit, the barrel was a full option version, and way too long, and the Schumo muzzle brake didn't fit a Schumo barrel...............go figure!!!!! A local machine shop did it for me for a reasonable price, and did a stellar job of it too!!!!! The idlers and sprockets need some minor work, and they can do those as well!!!    The idlers are being replaced with the correct size for the late version. The sprockets in the kit are ok but lack some detail.     All the update parts so far were supplied by Welsh Dragon. They are a 1:16 specialist and were really helpful.
Thats all for now, thanks for looking
Daran
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Hi Nem Some interesting and informative posts there, looking forward to the rest of your build regards Andy Current builds:-C57,Zero, Lamborghini Countach, Caldercraft HMS Agamemnon,Robi,R2-D2, MFH Cobra .
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Muzzle brake, barrel and mantlet assembled, prepped and ready for a coat of primer!  
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Hi Daran, don't know how I missed your update from a couple of days ago but found it now and a very nice start indeed my friend!! This has the makings of a top build and I will definitely be watching for more updates - can't wait to see it take shape?  
What a difference the Schumo parts make and I really don't know how Hachette can get away with their rubbish excuse for a barrel!!  
Top build mate - well done so far!!
Kev
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Hi Kev and thanks for looking in and your comments. I must admit the barrel was a bit of a shambles considering, but then I suppose it is meant to be a build for everyone, but hey ho!!!
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Rank: Super-Elite Groups: Registered
Joined: 24/04/2010 Posts: 5,787 Points: 17,662 Location: Stafford, United Kingdom
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Hi Daran thank you for building this model so that it is accurate I will follow your build Kind regards Mike MWG BUILD DIARIES: HMS VICTORY, SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS, SAN FRANCISCO II, HMS HOOD, HMS ENDEAVOUR LONGBOAT, HMS VICTORY X-SECTION, 007 DB5, NISSAN GTR, CUTTY SARK, RB7, AKAGI, BARK HMS ENDEAVOUR, HUMMER H1, MITSUBISHI ZERO.
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MWG wrote:Hi Daran thank you for building this model so that it is accurate I will follow your build Kind regards Mike Thank you for your kind comments Mike, I will do my best!!
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Barrel and mantlet now in primer. 
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Turret roof prep work done ready for some parts and primer, this is one monster of a kit!!!  
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Watching this build with interest. looks like a late production will be interested in the level of detail. “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”
-Mark Twain
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Hello Jase, thanks for looking in. The kit in its base for is a bit of a mix up, and I think Hachette could have researched it a bit more!! As you can see it has the early muzzle brake and 700mm idlers, also the shovel on the front plate, yet it has late cupola and late tracks with ice cleats and steel wheels. I am going to change parts and modify the build to represent a late June '44' Tiger. Fingers crossed it should come out ok!!
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Great stuff Daran, with your skills on the military models, I just know this is going to be worth watching - well done mate and keep those updates coming!!
Kev
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