Sd.Kfz 181 Tiger 1 SUPERTHREAD

[ShogunBallistic]

Finally finished. Should get some better pics...

 

 

IMG20221001164903 by Patrik Grundström, on Flickr

[Muchmirth]

Look fantastic. Really top notch colours and pattern. Agree with Stef with the fading too… can I ask why do you use the retarder when airbrushing, what does that offer, just curious? 

[Stef N.]

7 hours ago, Muchmirth said:

Look fantastic. Really top notch colours and pattern. Agree with Stef with the fading too… can I ask why do you use the retarder when airbrushing, what does that offer, just curious? 

It slows drying down a touch and is useful for acrylics in laying down a smoother finish. It also cuts down tip-dry, where paint dries on the needle tip, which can lead to spitting etc.

Tamiya Lacquer thinner and Mr Levelling Thinner have it already added which makes spraying very easy.

 

Don't ask me about the science of it though.😀

[Maddoxx77]

That looks great!!!

[Muchmirth]

2 hours ago, Stef N. said:

It slows drying down a touch and is useful for acrylics in laying down a smoother finish. It also cuts down tip-dry, where paint dries on the needle tip, which can lead to spitting etc.

Tamiya Lacquer thinner and Mr Levelling Thinner have it already added which makes spraying very easy.

 

Don't ask me about the science of it though.😀

Cheers just curious. I use it for figure painting but didn’t know you could use it for airbrushing (as a hairy stick chap).

[glibble]

3 hours ago, Muchmirth said:

Cheers just curious. I use it for figure painting but didn’t know you could use it for airbrushing (as a hairy stick chap).

I add a tiny bit of retarder to prevent the Tamiya acrylic from drying mid-air and forming a rough surface. It is especially useful for spraying base colours as I tend to spray at a longer distance.

I learned this trick from Plasmo's videos.

 

By the way, Mr. Aqueous Color Thinner ( T-111) got me a smoother finish than Tamiya's own X-20A. It probably has the same leveling ingredient as Mr. Leveling Thinner, but without the smell!👍

[Longbow]

An interesting shot…

 

[Muchmirth]

1 hour ago, Longbow said:

An interesting shot…

 

Could be your entrophy entry next year wink wink 😉 

[Longbow]

One of the first S.Pz.Abt. 502 vehicles. 

 

[echen]

On 11/27/2022 at 1:55 PM, Longbow said:

An interesting shot…

Certainly emphasises the difference in armour thickness around a Tiger. Pity the Shermans and Cromwells couldn't fly inverted and shoot downwards! 

 

If, that is,  they couldn't achieve the view displayed in @Longbow's second picture of "One of the first S.Pz.Abt. 502 vehicles."

Edited November 28, 2022 by echen

[Longbow]

What happens, when this happens ?

 

[echen]

Internet shopping or the local model store gets some attention?

[Muchmirth]

@Longbow get something in that space sharpish!!! You’ve been MIA for too long my friend. 

[Stef N.]

One for @Longbow to get his modelling teeth into??

 

https://www.jumbliesmodels.com/plastic-kits-c3/military-kits-c5/1-16-sd-kfz-267-268-ausf-e-tiger-i-early-production-wittmanns-command-tiger-3-in-1-model-military-kit-p21152

[Longbow]

1 hour ago, Stef N. said:

One for @Longbow to get his modelling teeth into??

 

https://www.jumbliesmodels.com/plastic-kits-c3/military-kits-c5/1-16-sd-kfz-267-268-ausf-e-tiger-i-early-production-wittmanns-command-tiger-3-in-1-model-military-kit-p21152

It’s a 3 in 1, but you can build it 2 ways ?

Color me confused

 

 

[Longbow]

 

 

 

[Stef N.]

It does look good, especially those tracks and pins. I'd need a larger airbrush/spraygun though. And large amounts of paint.

[Longbow]

Interesting vertical Zimmerit on a Totenkopf Tiger.

 

[Longbow]

Leutnant Zabel... reported this attack near Ssemernikovo kolkhoz:

 

The combat group Sander had to face a very strong enemy when attacking the

collective farm west of Ssemernikovo. The Tiger attacking as advance platoon

left the lighter tanks behind, and attracted all the enemy fire. The tanks received

hits on the front and to the right-hand side. The enemy, with tanks, AT guns and

AT rifles opened fire at a great distance. My Tiger received a 7.62cm hit in the

front of the driver’s position. The spare track links fixed there with an iron rod

were ripped off. In the tank we noticed a bang and a slight shaking. The nearer

we came, the stronger the bangs and shaking from the 7.62cm hits became.

 

At the same time we noticed considerably high dust clouds from artillery ground

impacts near the tank. Further on, the crew noticed a somewhat lighter bang

followed by a burst of yellow smoke, most likely a hit from an AT rifle.

 

A short time later we received a hit from a 4.5cm AT gun on the cupola.

The brackets of the bullet-proof glass were smashed. The glass vision block

jammed and became opaque caused by heat from the explosion. A further

hit destroyed the brackets and the hatch fell into the turret interior. There

was dense smoke in the fighting compartment and the area became very hot.

The loader’s hatch was jammed and stood slightly open and it received a number

of hits from AT rifles demolishing the hinges and brackets.

 

After the battle two 4.5cm AT guns and 15 AT rifle hits were counted on

the cupola.

 

On both days of the attack the enemy destroyed our machine guns. The

smoke dischargers on the turret were also destroyed. The smoke in the turret

caused so much trouble that the Tiger was not ready for action for some time...

...all crew members nerves were frayed, we lost our sense of time. We felt

neither hunger nor any other needs. Despite the fact that the attack lasted for

more than six hours, all men in the tank felt the time had gone by in a flash.

After a further 7.62cm hit on the mantlet the gun mounting bolts sheared

off. The recoil brake lost its fluid and the gun barrel remained in rear (recoiled)

position. Due to electric problems the breech block could not be shut. Due to

shocks inflicted by further hits the radio system failed and the steering levers

were jammed. When the exhaust cover was destroyed, the engine caught fire.

 

This fire could be extinguished by the fire-fighting system. Further hits loosened

some turret ring screws. The turret traversing system failed temporarily...

We counted 227 hits by AT rifles, 14 hits by 5.7cm AT guns and 11 hits by

7.62cm AT guns. The right suspension was heavily damaged by shelling. The

connecting pieces for several running wheels were ruined, two torsion bars were

broken. A rear idler wheel bearing was damaged.

 

In spite of this damage the Tiger was able to be driven for further 60km. The

hits inflicted cracks to some weld seams. A fuel tank began leaking due to the

heavy shocks. We noticed a number of impacts in the track links, which however

did not particularly impair mobility.

 

Subsequently, it can be said that the armour on the Tiger had come up to our

expectations...

 

Signed Lt. Zabel

 

 

The tank “231” of Leutnant Zabel from sPzAbt 503 was hit 252 times by fire from all calibres during combat near Ssemernikovo.

The tank was able to be driven a further 60km and returned to the unit. Later, the tank was returned to Germany (note thetransport tracks) 

but it is not known whether this tank was repaired.

(Anderson)

 

Sources: Thomas Anderson - "Tiger" and "Tigerfibel"

 

 

Hauptmann Lange, commander of 2/sPzAbt 502 in his report dated

29 January 1943:

 

…Fire fight:

 

The most favorable distance is 1,500m with well adjusted weapons we got clear

hits only. Impact and penetration is so far without any complaint. The ratio

between HE and AP rounds must be 1:1…

 

From an after action report of sPzAbt 503 dated 15 March 1943:

The following experiences of the Abteilung are available:

 

1.) 7.5cm (Kurz) Granatpatrone 38 Hl (as used with the PzKfw III Ausf N)

2.) 8.8cm Panzergranate

 

1.) Success against enemy tanks at minimal ammunition consumption was

possible only at ranges under 1,000m…

 

2.) Success against enemy tanks was possible at any ranges, the most favourable

range was between 1,200 and 2,000m. At 2,000m the first round will be a hit, a

second round was only occasionally necessary. It is possible to engage enemy tanks

in clear visibility at more distant ranges. One PzKpfw VI destroyed five T-34 (three

crossing in front) at ranges between 2,500 and 3,000m. Only 18 rounds were fired…

 

An after action report of 13.Kp (Tiger-Kp) of PzRgt “Grossdeutschland” dated

27 March 1943 reveals:

 

The 8.8cm KwK proved to be a reliable and effective weapon. No faults or

damage to the electric firing mechanism or similar occurred. No more than

three rounds were necessary to achieve direct hits on marching artillery columns

at 5,000m range using HE shells. Horses and men lay in the snow immediately.

At ranges of 1,500m and more we achieved many hits on T-34 using the Panzer-

Kopfgranate (AP round) with low ammunition consumption…

 

…General and technical experiences:

 

During a scouting missions two Tigers encountered some 20 Russian tanks

frontally. Further enemy tanks attacked from the rear. An encounter developed,

in which tank and weapon performed outstandingly. Both Tigers received ten

or more hits at ranges between 600 and 1,000m, for the most part from 7.62

cm guns. The armour protection withstood from all angles. No penetration

was achieved. Even hits in the running gear, which tore away torsion bars, did

not cause a breakdown. While the hits struck the armour, the commander,

gunner and loader could designate, aim and fire at targets unchallenged.

Weak smoke emissions and flakes of interior paint could be extracted by the

turret ventilator.

 

Result: Kill of ten enemy tanks by two Tigers within 15 minutes.

Most times the first shot was a hit at ranges between 600 to 1,000m. At these

ranges the Panzergranate produced an absolute destructive penetration to the

frontal armour, and demolished the engine in the rear, too. In only a few cases

the T-34 was torched. Hits at the same ranges to the sides or rear led to an

explosion of the fuel in 80 per cent of all cases. Even at ranges of 1,500m and

more, with favourable weather conditions, similar results were achieved with

low ammunition usage. Experiences with HE shells could not be made due to

the severe shortage of this ammunition.

 

The Paderborn training courses (Tiger-Lehrgang) noted proudly in a report

dated 29 May 1943:

 

….The KwK 8.8cm shows extraordinary good impact and penetration. The

most favourable firing ranges are around 2,000m. In one case in Russia, a Tiger

with good observation and raised slope position managed to destroy five T-34

(three in parallel movement) and a 7.62cm AT gun at ranges between 2,200 and

3,000m using only 18 AP and HE shells. In North Africa, the General Sherman

(M4) was destroyed at the following ranges: 3,400m frontal penetration in the

gearbox; at 600m punched penetration and torn out exit at the rear. All other

emerging enemy tanks were penetrated as well. The crews are fully satisfied

with this gun…

 

Optics

 

sPzAbt 503 in a report dated 15 March 1943:

…The optical equipment on the Pzkpfw VI fully meets the troops´ demands.

We suggest the following improvements:

 

1.) The exterior glasses of the double telescope often show condensation

and accumulation of dirt. We demand a wiper for the optics, leather is better

than felt.

 

2.) The rigid graduated range plate in the left tube of the double telescope

should be moveable as is the right tube, so both tubes of the stereoscopic

telescope can be used separately when one is damaged…

 

3.) The gunner needs a telescope [in the turret roof] near the turret lamp, as on

the T-34.

 

 

Alfred Rubbel, a veteran of sPzAbt 503, remembers that his unit never

suffered any ammunition shortages:

 

If the supply was low, we tankers helped ourselves from stocks of Luftwaffe and

Heeresflak units. Although the primers for the 8.8cm FlaK ammunition were

different, we had learned to change them. The wise Tiger tanker always had

many electric primers at hand…

[Longbow]

Liebstandarte at Kursk....

 

28 June 1943: The company is alerted for movement. Road march to Olschany and

assembly area in the village. One tank has damage to its carburetor and another one suffers

an engine failure.

 

30'June- l July 1943: Operational tanks: 11. Just prior to Operation "Citadel" one

more Tiger is delivered from the II. SS Panzer-Korps.

Total tanks: 14.

 

2 July 1943: During the night, the company is ordered into its forward assembly area

for Operation "Citadel." Eleven Tigers operational.

 

4 July 1943: Assembly area south of the road Tomarovka-Bykova near Point 222.3;

twelve Tigers operational.

 

5 July 1943: Advance on Point 228.6, attack at Hill 220.5 and penetration of a defensive

line (1 Tiger hit from the rear by an antitank gun). After the high ground is taken,

advance on Bykovka. Two Tigers, those of Wittmann and Wendorff, are immobilized. Several

antitank-gun belts are eliminated; numerous enemy tanks and antitank guns are

destroyed. In the late afternoon, Bykovka is captured.

 

6 July 1943: Penetration of a fortified, mined enemy position with three Tigers east of

]akovlevo at Point 243.2; another assault at Pokrovka. SS-Obersturmfiihrer Schiitz is badly

wounded. During the two days of fighting, the 13./SS-Panzer-Regiment "Leibstandarte SS

Adolf Hitler" knocks out fifty T-34s, one KV-1, one KV-2, and forty-three antitank guns.

In the evenjng, SS-Obergruppenfiihrer Dietrich visits the company; among other

things, he decides that a badly battle-damaged tank-that of SS-Unterscharfiihrer Brandtis

to be cannibalized for parts. In the night, one Tiger knocks out three T-34s that had

passed through Teterewino.

Total tanks: 13.

 

7July 1943: In the morning, attack at Teterewino. The company then supports the

advance of SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Das Reich" near Teterewino towards the east and

the north. One Tiger knocks out three T-34s in Teterewino. Fierce enemy counterattacks

out of Jasnaya Polyana and against the left flank northwest of Teterewino are repulsed.

 

8 July 1943: Assault from' the area of Teterewino towards Vessely via Gresnoye (east of

Hill 239.6) in conjunction with the armored group of the division. Two tanks suffer track

damage. Fighting for Hill 224.5 east of Kotschetovka. Several dug-in enemy tanks are

destroyed; two Tigers are immobilized.

Attacking enemy tanks swing in from the bend in the Pssel River to Teterewino.

SS-Unterscharführer Staudegger moves his battle-damaged Tiger 1322 to Teterewino

and knocks out seventeen enemy tanks. After the enemy concentrates again, he knocks

out a further five tanks and thus stabilizes a potentially dangerous situation.

The enemy tanks take to flight, panic-stricken.

Staudegger cannot achieve further success because he runs low on armor-piercing

ammunition.

The company's tally for the day: forty-two T-34s and three M-3 Lees.

 

9 July 1943: Advance on Rylsky, then Ssuch. Solotino.

 

10 July 1943: Attack of SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 2 with the division's assault-gun

battalion and the Tiger company against the line railroad bend-Iwanovski Wysselok forested

area southwest of the Komssomilez collective farm. Several enemy counterattacks

are repulsed. Operational tanks: 5.

 

SS-Unterscharführer Staudegger is awarded the Knight's Cross. The advance in the

direction of Prochorovka is ordered for the next morning; as a result, the company starts

about midnight for its assembly area to the southwest of Teterewino.

 

11 July 1943: Heavy thunderstorms soak the roads, so the scheduled beginning of the

attack at 0600 hours must be postponed until 1045 hours. After getting over an tank ditch,

four Tigers carry on the attack at the railway line Teterewino-Wesselxi. In the further attack

on Prochorovka, twenty-eight antitank guns and six artillery pieces are destroyed. During

these two days, twenty-four T-34s are knocked out. Four Tigers are operational.

 

The tank regiment is held back as a quick-reaction force in the area of Oserovskiy; SSUntersturmführer

Wittmann takes over acting command of the company, because SS Hauptsturmführer

Schutz is wounded.

 

12 July 1943: Fierce Soviet tank attacks from the direction ofJamki, Prochorovka and

Petrovka (on both sides of Kalinin) are pushed back. The II./SS-Panzer-Regiment "Leibstandarte

SS Adolf Hitler" and the Tiger company knock out 163 enemy tanks. One Tiger

is knocked out; nine Tigers undergo repair.

Total tanks: 12.

 

13 July 1943: At 1030 hours, the attack is stopped, because it proves to be impossible

to penetrate the enemy positions immediately south of the Oktyabrskiy collective farm.

Protection of the flank along the railway line Teterewino-Prochorovka. One enemy tank is

destroyed; nine Tigers undergo repair.

 

14 July 1943: The divisional armored group, located at Point 247.6 to the northeast of

Komsomolez, is directed to report directly to the II. SS-Panzer-Korps. The assault planned

at Yamki is called off.

The company has knocked out 150 enemy tanks up to this point in Operation

"Citadel."

 

15 July 1943: The planned southward advance towards Mal. Yablonovo cannot be realized,

since there are considerable delays during the approach march due to heavy rains.

Operational tanks: 8. '

The company is redeployed into defensive positions along the railway line. The order

to evacuate the Pssel bridgehead is expected for the night of 17-18July 1943.

 

16 July 1943: Nine Tigers operational. Five new tanks arrive.

Total tanks: 17.

 

 

source: "Tigers in Combat 1 - Wolfgang Schneider

 

 

150 enemy tanks destroyed for losing 3 Tigers completly, the other damaged ones were all repaired.

[Longbow]

1311 at Kursk, and after Kursk, with repairs made....

A new barrel was also required...

 

 

 

[Longbow]

RFM 5080 New late Tiger, with Full interior and Zimmerit parts. 
Decals for 6 vehicles. 
 

http://www.ryefield-model.com/thread-815-2.html

[Muchmirth]

https://www.das-werk-models.com/products/pzkpfwg-vi-tiger-i-late/
 

similar but without the pain of interior. Would look well in a Normandy setting!

[Maddoxx77]

37 minutes ago, Muchmirth said:

https://www.das-werk-models.com/products/pzkpfwg-vi-tiger-i-late/
 

similar but without the pain of interior. Would look well in a Normandy setting!

The kit i'm currently working on is from Trumpeter. I must say it's very good with great oob detail, good price too.

https://www.most-models.com/nl/modelbouw/1-35-trumpeter-09540-pz-kpfw-vi-ausf-e-sd-kfz-181-tiger-i-late-prod-w-zimmerit-plastic-kit/

Edited December 3, 2022 by Maddoxx77

[Longbow]

1 hour ago, Muchmirth said:

https://www.das-werk-models.com/products/pzkpfwg-vi-tiger-i-late/
 

similar but without the pain of interior. Would look well in a Normandy setting!

That’s actually the Dragon kit 6383 reboxed. 

Edited December 3, 2022 by Longbow