RWG686 37,798 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 Is there a 1/48 kit which would enable me to build the Tiger I at The Tank Museum ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gorby 20,040 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 There's a few Tiger I in 1/48. You best bet would probably be the one from Tamiya, although I don't know if there is anything special about the one at the museum. https://www.scalemates.com/search.php?fkSECTION[]=Kits&q=1%3A48+tiger*&fkTYPENAME[]="Full kits"&fkCATNAME[]="Tanks"&fkTYPEGROUP[]="Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger I" 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Brown 9,066 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 I would be looking at one of the Tamiya kits, they offer initial, early and late production - not sure how that fits with 131. They're not all current. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gorby 20,040 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 I should add.... Damn your eyes - one has just fallen onto my wish list. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Brown 9,066 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 I'd happily buy all of the Tamiya 1/48 AFV kits, they're delicious things. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tolvcat 4,495 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 Tamiya kit 35259 would be the best start as it was the Afrika Korps specific boxing. You'd still need to source decals as 131 isn't one of the options in the box and I'm sure someone somewhere will have a list of "Ah but..." details but it'll be close enough. It's not in the current range and I'm struggling to find one for sale. Option B would be kit 35204 which is the very early production one. Since a lot of them were built for North Africa before being diverted, you'll probably find that the only difference between this kit and the earlier one above is Tamiya swapped the diecast lower hull for a plastic one - the important bits on the outside should be fine for 131. I'm currently building this one in the Feline Fancy GB and it's going together really well. Andy 2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mac1677 5,962 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 I agree with Andy, 131 is an early Tiger, the mid and late did not have smoke dischargers on the turret sides. There are other differences, but for me that is the most obvious. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mad Steve 23,561 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 35 minutes ago, Paul Brown said: I would be looking at one of the Tamiya kits, they offer initial, early and late production - not sure how that fits with 131. They're not all current. As others have said Richard, this is the one for you... Looking at the 131 decals, I'm sure you might have the odd set of red numbers laying around in your decal vault that you can use. 17 minutes ago, Paul Brown said: I'd happily buy all of the Tamiya 1/48 AFV kits, they're delicious things. Give that man a Beer 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tolvcat 4,495 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 (edited) 17 minutes ago, mac1677 said: I agree with Andy, 131 is an early Tiger, the mid and late did not have smoke dischargers on the turret sides. There are other differences, but for me that is the most obvious. Smoke dischargers, 'dustbin' cupola, pistol port (which affected the size and shape of the turret bin) and those huge great air filters. 131 has the later front sprocket with the domed centre too, but all the parts in the photo are in kit 35204. The pic Steve posted shows much bigger exhaust shrouuds, but I can't see them on 131 so you can safely ignore them. Tamiya added both those paint colours to their range recently too, so they're a one stop solution really. Andy Edited May 7 by Tolvcat 2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RWG686 37,798 Posted May 7 Author Report Share Posted May 7 3 hours ago, Tolvcat said: I'm currently building this one in the Feline Fancy GB and it's going together really well. Yes and it's entirely your fault that this mad idea has crept into my brain. This is the only Tiger I've seen so if I do build one ,it will be it. I am slowly gathering photos of her at the time she was captured so any build is a long way off. Thank you all for your advice. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RWG686 37,798 Posted May 7 Author Report Share Posted May 7 Having seen that the 1/48 kit is more expensive than the 1/35th, I may go big. This kit as the basis do you think? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mad Steve 23,561 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 Did you know - 131 was featured in the film Fury? I didn't, but I just read the blurb from the Tank Museum, impressive 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mad Steve 23,561 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 6 minutes ago, RWG686 said: Having seen that the 1/48 kit is more expensive than the 1/35th, I may go big. This kit as the basis do you think? I dont think it has the big exhaust covers for an AK kit. This one poss? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drichc 646 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 Seek out the Haynes manual Richard. It’s great for researching 131. Also have you seen tiger1info by David Byrden? Well worth a look, as he is Mr Tiger 1. I have ‘The modellers guide to the tiger tank’ which covers all the changes and mods by date. If I can help, just ask. rich 2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tony Oliver 494 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 An ‘afrika korps’ boxing is too early to recreate 131. those boxings contain parts that are unique to 501’s field mods. although having owned one of those kits many years ago I think it’s just and additional (and if wanting to build 504’s 131) unnecessary sprue added to what is the ‘standard’ early tiger parts. 2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RWG686 37,798 Posted May 7 Author Report Share Posted May 7 2 hours ago, Drichc said: tiger1info by David Byrden? Well worth a look, as he is Mr Tiger 1. I just lost a fair amount of time there! Excellent site. For others who don't know about it : https://tiger1.info/ 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tony Oliver 494 Posted May 8 Report Share Posted May 8 9 hours ago, RWG686 said: I just lost a fair amount of time there! Excellent site. For others who don't know about it : https://tiger1.info/ Yeah it’s great. Was my bible 10 years or so ago when I was into afv’s 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drichc 646 Posted May 8 Report Share Posted May 8 Just had a quick look at my refs. Tony is bang on. The Tamiya kit 35216 'Early' will give you a pretty decent 131. She appears to be a February 43 build and the kit has the right drive sprockets and mantlet in the kit. The 'Afrika' tiger has different track guards which are of no use and it looks like the sprue needed for the front glacis plate has been replaced by an Afrika Corp specific one that includes the track guards, which would be wrong for 131. As I say just shout if you want any pics taken from the book, but just build 35216 from the box and you won't be far off. Just don't put the turret mounted track spares on and leave part F42 off. Hope that helps. Damn you! I want to do a Tiger again now!!! Rich 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drichc 646 Posted May 8 Report Share Posted May 8 Oh yes. And don't fit the headlights or S mine dischargers (Step 12 in the instructions). Rich 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drichc 646 Posted May 8 Report Share Posted May 8 Looks like you get 131 decals in the kit. Just missing a cross on the rear bulkhead, but I’m sure you’ll have lots lying around. Rich 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RWG686 37,798 Posted May 8 Author Report Share Posted May 8 1 hour ago, Drichc said: but I’m sure you’ll have lots lying around. Now if it had been Fleet Air Arm or RAF ,I'd agree. German AFV stuff..no. Bound to have something in the gash box though. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Miggers 8,320 Posted August 18 Report Share Posted August 18 (edited) 131's rear panel with those exhausts My own R/C Tiger's back panel Edited August 18 by Miggers 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tolvcat 4,495 Posted August 21 Report Share Posted August 21 (edited) If you're still thinking 1/35 then the Airfix boxing of the Academy early Tiger with the 131 markings in the box is back on special offer at Jadlam and currently a few quid cheaper than the Tamiya 1/48 with free postage and no decals to source. Cheap Tiger Andy Edited August 21 by Tolvcat 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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