UBB.threads Forums General Interest Other Hobbies and Collections, like sports cars, movies, music,etc DAK Tiger 142

Schwere Panzerabteilung 501 is most commonly known as being the first Tiger unit in North Africa. The battalion was originally established on 10.05.42 in Erfurt Germany and was originally to receive the Tiger (P), in August 42 an order was signed which changed the unit over to the Tiger (H). The Porsche design had proven to be problematic and would be relocated to training duties for the immediate future.

Tiger 142 was the number 2 tank in the 4th platoon of the 1st company of Schwere Panzerabteilung 501 as of October 1942. At this point it was one of the first batch of 45 Tigers to be produced for combat. Just like the 502d Tigers, the hulls had no fenders or mud guards, not even fittings to attach them to. Basic tools were supplied, in a grate, few were attached to the hull. No tool boxes on the turrets either, and they came in dark gray.

But unlike their cohorts in the 502, the German tankers of the 501st decided they needed some creature comforts so the lads made their own fenders and mud guards, made their own tool boxes for the rear of the turrets too. Already noting that headlights were being smashed left and right by traversing of the main gun, the 501st crews also fabricated homemade headlight mounts and relocated the headlights down lower on the hull. Only Tigers to have these unique style of mountings, fenders and tool boxes.

They also painted the tanks dark yellow but with the dark gray base coat some turned out a little more brownish dark yellow.

Tiger production is very low at this point in time and the two original companies were never fully outfitted with Tigers. With the exception of the first platoon in each company (company C.O. was in 1st platoon) each platoon has only two Tigers and two Panzer IIIs. The Pz IIIs used in the original formation were Js and Ns. So as of October 1942 the battalion has 20 Tiger tanks and 16 Pz IIIs. On 23.11.42 the first three Tigers would arrive in Bizerta, the Afrika Korps now had Tiger tanks!

This DML Dragon 1/35th Tiger is a very faithful rendition of the original DAK Tiger 142. This was the first in a line of pre-built and finished kits released in an attempt to compete with the much more expensive Tamiya pre-built kits. Fit and construction were very good however the finish was not. The dark yellow was too pea-green and the weathering was basically black, everywhere, just black. Didn’t like the finish at all. However, attention to detail is fantastic with only a couple technical errors that could be corrected if one so desired.

Two additional disappointments in the product, gun barrel dose not recoil and the tracks are of the rubberized type. Still turned out good when I re-painted and re-weathered them, just think that the recoiling barrel feature and metal tracks would make these an even better pre-built display piece that any collector would like to add to his office or bunker.

Now on the 2nd one of these I purchased the painting and weathering was noticeable better but this one I would redo from top to bottom. Everything from re-painting to completely re-weathering to create what you see now.

Rick

Dry transfers are the only way to go!

The tow cables are metal, look nice when you highlight them with a Prismacolor pencil.

Silfor grass was used on the base, a little raw MIG pigment worked in for soil. A dusting of MIG African soil mixed with water was used in the airbrush to brown the tops of the taller grass.

A heavily thinned mix of dark yellow was airbrushed over the more open surfaces to tone down the oribinal greenish black finish. A MIG filter was applied to blend the touch up paint with what remained of the original finish. Paint chips and all other redos were completed before adding the MIG filter.

I love weathering!

Not bad for rubber tracks either! Raw MIG pigment and turpentine were used to create the heavy dust build-up between the links. An HB drafting pencil was used to touch-up the high spots.

One more from the right ....

... and one more from the left. Sorry about the darkness of the pictures, the rain was just about a mile up the road when I took these.

Man, there's nothing like a Tiger to get the old adrenaline pumping. Especially one weathered by my buddy Rick.

First time I note the vented exhaust guards. Must have been only on the very early Tigers.

Awesome! Thank you for showing. JohnJ

Rick, excellent job. You're an artist!

I've always wondered why the Tiger (and Panther too)was designed with the commander and gunner on the left of the main gun, which meant that the poor loader would have had to load the 88 with his left hand dominant. That had to adversely affect the rate of fire.

Thanks gents, my pleasure. Dwight I never really thought about it, I guess that’s what they trained on and learned with so they must have been O.K. with it. An even bigger problem was the smoke generated in the fighting compartment by the spent rounds. The loaders were always doing double duty between loading and tossing out spent cases, even in the middle of an exchange!

Good eye Bernie, actually the covers with the shark like vents were only found on the early 1st Kompanie Tigers. And wouldn’t you know it there’s about three variations! Along with many other bits and pieces, the covers were fabricated by the 1st Kompanies maintenance shop in preparation for duty in North Africa.

One other feature that only the first 45 Tigers would have are the dual pistol ports facing the rear sides on each side of the turret. The port on the right side would be replaced by a dedicated hatch for the loader.

Rick