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Forums - Modelling / Painting |
The painting forum is for the discussion of techniques on the painting, decalling and weathering phases of AFV modelling and the tools and materials used. |
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| Messages | 6951 |
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| Subject: | Which early Tiger I? |  |
| Date: | Jun 18, 2005 |
| From: | Michael Withington | |
The answer to your question depends a lot on how early a version you're talking about. You mentioned it was the version before the Feifel system was fitted - that probably means a pre-November 1942 version, which would have had the circular pistol port on each side of the turret, and may or may not have had smoke dischargers. The '3-colour' secheme didn't appear until early 1943 (although there are photos of vehicles in dark yellow in late 1942), so a Tiger produced before November 1942 would almost certainly have been dark grey.
If this is the version you're doing, you're looking at units that used the earlier versions of the Tiger. In the East, Tigers first appeared on the Leningrad front in August 1942 with Heavy Battalion 502. These were very early models without the track-guards on the side or muffler guards. They were dark grey, with whitewash added once winter arrived. Tigers were also used in the Kharkov offensive by several units; there, you get variations in types (depending on which unit they are with), but they all seem to be dark grey. Some have whitewash over the grey, and some don't.
Another early Tiger unit in the East was Heavy Battalion 503. Many of its Tigers had Panzer III or IV turret stowage boxes instead of the standard one.
An early Tiger that survived into 1943 would have had at least some dark yellow applied once the switchover to the 3-colour scheme was in effect - either a complete re-spray, or bands of dark yellow with grey left showing. Many older SS Tigers had a rough overspray of dark yellow by the time of the Kursk offensive, often with another colour as well.
Most, if not all, of the Tigers in North Africa had the Feifel system (it was designed for that climate). Heavy Battalion 501's Tigers were quite distinctive; virtually all of them had a unique pattern of front mudguard and muffler guard, repositioned headlights and an early pattern stowage box. Some vehicles that arrived later seem to have been slightly later versions, with the 'standard' front mudguards and additional armour on the mantlet. Heavy Battalion 504's Tigers seem to have all been slightly later early versions. So if you're painting your model as a North African version, you'll want to do some research. The colours of North African Tigers are also a little controversial, and would take another post to explain.
I hope that helps. |
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 | Tiger I Early: which camouflage schemas? - Robert - Jun 15, 2005 |
| . . . Re: Tiger I Early: which camouflage schemas? - dominic miele - Jun 15, 2005 |
| . . . . . . Re: Tiger I Early: which camouflage schemas? - RC Hill - Jun 15, 2005 |
| . . . Re: Tiger I Early: which camouflage schemas? - RC Hill - Jun 15, 2005 |
| . . . Early Tiger Camo - Chris Smith jr - Jun 16, 2005 |
| . . . . . . Re: Early Tiger Camo - RC Hill - Jun 16, 2005 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: Early Tiger Camo - Chris Smith jr - Jun 16, 2005 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: Early Tiger Camo - Robert - Jun 16, 2005 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . So do I need photos of straight panzer grey ones - Luke Pitt - Jun 16, 2005 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: Early Tiger Camo - Sami Rask - Jun 18, 2005 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Early Tiger Camo - Robert - Jun 19, 2005 |
| . . . Which early Tiger I? - Michael Withington - Jun 18, 2005 |
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