Hello All,
Wanted to see if anyone can tell me the differences between the Tamiya Tiger I Early and the Tiger I Afrika.
I’m not familiar with the kits, but looking at the boxes, they seem to be almost identical.
Any and all help and comments would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Joe[:D]
Essentially the same. The obvious things that come to mind are the drum cupola and the feifel air cleaners on the rear deck. They were later deleted from non-tropical services tanks. The Afrika versions also had thinner mud guards. The Tigers of sPzAbt 501 also had the headlights moved down from the top of the hull.
The Tamiya Afrika has a slightly different turret stowage box and slatted exhaust shrouds, but the kit needs a bit of work in re-arranging the tool and tow cable stowage to make a true early Tiger 1 Afrika.
A later Tiger I in Afrika can be built from the other kit with no modifications.
Tamiya discontinued their Tiger Afrika version (Ausfarung Afrika - # 35227), so if you still can find one, get one! :
Hey Guys,
Thanks for the responses.
tigerman,
This is kit 35216 (early) and it does appear to have the drum cupola and air cleaners. Would there be two different styles of air cleaners?
heatseeker,
So you could just rework this kit and basically get an early version from it? I suspect the markings would be improper.
Model Maniac,
Great job! Really like the look you’ve achieved. Not sure I’d buy one just because they are hard to get, but it would be nice to have one in Panzer Gray and one in desert camouflage.
Thanks to all for taking time to lend a helping hand.
Joe
Sorry, I guess I didn’t read the post correctly before. Yes, they both have the drum cupola and feifel air cleaners. Other than a few of the other things mentioned, it most likely would have different decals for Afrika also.
Well I don’t know the Tamiya Africa kit, but I can tell what happened to the tiger in the first few months of its exsistance if that can help you.
The new front fenders were introduced somewhere between chassis # 250028 and # 250031 in November 1942.
The new side skirt design were the side skirts went in a straight line instead of following the curve of the hull, were introduced on chassis # 250085 in January 1943.
Starting in August 1942 guncleaning rods were installed, 2 on the left side and 3 on the right side. From chassis # 250122 February 1943 it was 3 on both sides.
In october 1942 the tow cable mounts were changed so the fasteners for the tow cable eyes were located on the front hull roof.
From chassis # 250055, December 1942 the hull was extended at the front, allowing the U-shaped tow shackles to pivot freely.
Feifel filters were installed from chassis # 250014, October 1942 and were discontinued in october 1943. All Tigers produced in this period had Feifels installed from the factory, regardless of what theatre they operated in.
Feifels with double upper chambers were used until march 1943 when the new simplified single chamber was introduced.
The twin K.F.F.2 drivers periscopes, the were visible when the armored cover for the drivers vision slit was lowered, was installed until chassis # 250122, February 1943.
Although prepared for it, the installation of the smoke dischargers on the turret did not start before october 1942.
Starting with turret # 46 the pistol port on the right rear of the turret was replaced with an emergency escape hatch. The pistol port on the left side remained until the new turret for the so called mid version was introduced in mid 1943.
Look for some of these things to know what version you have. I hope this helps just a bit.
I can recommend reading Thomas L. Jentz’s book. “D.W to Tiger I: design, production and modifications”
Jean Restayn’s “Tiger I on the western front” this also covers the african theatre of operations.
Wolfgang Schneiders. “Tigers in combat Vol. 1” this covers all the army units including those sent to the african theatre.
tigerman,
Not sure it’s your fault. I have difficulty in expressing myself clearly. Just going by what I know at this point, I think they are basically the same kit with only minor differences.
TMN1,
Thanks for taking the time to go so in depth on explaining the detail differences. Not sure it helps as much as confuses me [D)]. Not your fault. I’m just not the brightest bulb in the package, so it takes a while for all this stuff to sink in.
Basically, I just wanted to know the differences in the two kits. I still think that (regardless of minor detail differences) the early I have could be used to make a credible Afrika version.
Still am interested in hearing from others if you feel you have something to add or can clarify differences in the two kits.
Joe [:D]