rleete Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 I have embarked upon a project that some will find hopelessly mad, others dumb, and yet others downright silly. I am, in fact, attempting to make my very own scale Tiger I. Something along the lines of a large go-cart for big kids who have never really grown up. This was originally a dream of owning some authentic military vehicle. I know I am not alone in wanting this; how many of you, while playing with your plastic army men, wanted to drive a real tank? C'mon, 'fess up. We all would, at least for a day. Hell, that weasle that BTS has is just what I'm talking about. Lucky bastards. After countless searches, I had given this up due to the outrageous costs of these things. It isn't like you can justify them to the wife as a commuter car. And they aren't exacly common on the local used car lot. As an aside, there is a beautifully restored Hezter in Pennsylvania for only $125,000. Drool. Other tracked AFV's command similar prices, well out of my range. So, I decided if I couldn't buy one, I'd make my own. This project involves making a tubular steel frame, covered in plywood panels. Hey, it doesn't have to withstand bullets, just look good. I chose the Tiger I due to it's relatively straight lines, and face it, it's the coolest looking one. Before any of us knew about sloped armor and penetration tables, we had all seen a Tiger and thought it was the neatest, meanest badass tank. Due to the extreme rarity of Maybach 12 cylinder engines in my neck of the woods, it will be powered by two small (5-8 HP) gas engines. These will be coupled to the drive sprockets via a variable pulley belt drive, as is found on snowmobiles and some atv's. Track links will probably be cut from used tires, reinforced with steel angle. Aircraft cable will be bolted to the links to make a continuous track. Drive sprockets will be made from ATV wheels, with lugs welded on. As many parts as possible will be scrounged from local junkyards. I'm looking to build this on a budget, and functionality will (generally) take precedence over absolute realism. So, here is my quandry. I'd like to make this thing to scale. Somewhere between 1/4 & 1/3, or about 6-8 feet long. I have plenty of pictures of the real thing, but that doesn't convey the measurements. I need more info. Does anyone know of anyplace I can get scale drawings of a Tiger? Specs and dimentions are what I'm looking for. Engineering type drawings would be best. Also, any drawings, technical sketches or information on the suspension, drive sprockets and tracks would be helpful. Failing this, I'm going to take dimensions off a small (1:32?)Tamyia model I built years ago. If anyone has any scale drawings, technical information or detailed pictures my e-mail is in my profile above. If you know of any really good sources, please post. If you are in the upstate New York area, (and are also slightly mad) and would like to help with the construction, e-mail me and we can discuss it. I hope to post pictures of the ongoing and (eventually) completed project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Commissar Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 Sounds cool! Must admit I thought about similar stuff myself, with the only limitation being my total lack of knowledge on the subject of construction of anything more comples then a spice rack! I always dreamed of building and flying a to-scale WW1 fighter. Something about these things seems awfully romantic to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offtaskagain Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 This sounds kinda like one of my projects in school. Me and a buddy managed to convince our drafting teacher to fork over $210 for that 1/16th scale Tamiya KT, so this school year should be quite an enjoyable one. BTW, I have seen several sites of people who made 1/4 scale Panthers and Tigers. I can't recall their addresses, but it's certainly doable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Dorosh Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 Have you tried a google search yet? There is one website at least with complete online plans. Why not do 1/6 scale? There are kits out there already that can get you the basic dimensions, plus you can crew it with 1/6 action figures. Nothing more boring than a model tank without any sense of scale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mccooper Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 Hello The best place on the web for the information your looking for is David Byrden's Tiger I page at http://tiger1e.com/ Between this site and the various scale drawings available on the market you should find the info you need. As for large scale models there have been a number of modelers who have done the same thing. There is one guy who built a Stug III in the same scale your thinking of. If I remember correctly the model was so big that the guy had to build a garage. I have forgotten where I've seen the pic but if you post on Missing Links (http://www.missing-lynx.com/) or Track Links (www.track-link.net - this one is down until the end of sept) I'm sure some one will have the link. Later Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Oberst Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 I'll need to look for the sie reference at home, but there is a shop in Florida that makes replica AFV's. They have done a really cool German Scout Car (8 wheel-drive, etc, etc) for around 20-25K (a great retirement toy, no?), and last I read the site, they were looking into building a replica Panther. Now if I could just find that damn site again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvio Manuel Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 A month or two ago, there was a restored/refurb. SPW 251/1 Halftrack for sale on E-Bay for $18,000 US. I wonder what kind of gas mileage it gets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyD Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 I recently saw an article where someone did a 1:1 scale M2 Lee from plywood in his front yard (much to his wife's horror). It looks really really cool. For accurate Tiger plans do a search for books under the name Jentz and Doyle (or Doyle and Jentz). If there's anything out on the web there's book with quality Tiger I info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer_Meyer Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 Leet, that sounds awesome. I am only 19 and would love to have a replica of a tank in my drive way. I would go along with you on this, but I got very little money and time. I wish you the best and I hope you do build this thing. I am saving money on the side, for a future AFV of some sorts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
furryshark Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 This might be of interest... http://www.kitparade.com/features01/stugiiigds_1.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rleete Posted September 18, 2001 Author Share Posted September 18, 2001 Commissar, you are welcome to come up to this end of the state and be used as an unpaid laborer! No skills required, just enthusiasm. I already have a Tamiya KT, but it's too small. Unpainted but assembled and it was fun for awhile. The new T1 kit is nice, but way out there in price. I want something big enough to ride on, or preferably in. I'd go for full scale, but the wife has set a limit. Must be built in the garage, out of sight of the neighbors. I've done all the searches I can stand, but most "plans" are 1/35 scale drawings for making plastic models. The tiger1e.com site is great for pics, but I'm hesitant to purchase their plans until I can get a taste of what is included. That Stug is awesome, but he still can't ride it. I will be lucky to have mine turn out half as nice. Okay, updates: the steel subframe idea has been shelved in favor of laminated plywood, reinforced with fiberglass. There probably will still be some steel reinforcing in the floorpan, but the majority of the structure will be wood. Cheap, and easy to work. I have ordered 5 gallons (!) of epoxy, as well as fiberglass matting online. I have picked up 4 sheets of 4x8x1/4" luan plywood, assorted angle braces and hardware. Today I worked out a simple but effective suspension system using galvanized pipe. As soon as I decide on the scale, construction begins! [ 09-17-2001: Message edited by: R_Leet ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogface21 Posted September 18, 2001 Share Posted September 18, 2001 That is so cool!! I would love to one day have the time/money/skills to do that, so good luck, and let me take a ride in it when your done!! For the cannon, you could make a BADASS potato gun, just some PVC some hairspray and a mischevious peronality is all you need! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Bull Posted September 18, 2001 Share Posted September 18, 2001 Here is a page that covers the Bovington Tank Museums efforts to restore a captured Tiger1. Tiger Tank 131 They basically are restoring a Tiger to fully working condition. It has cost them £96,900 initially and a further £28,000 to cover some mechanical difficulties they have run into whilst installng a new engine in it. If you have some lose change, they are looking for donations. Lt Bull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyShot Posted September 18, 2001 Share Posted September 18, 2001 You might be interested in this CD ROM product from Tamiya: http://www.panzermodeler.com/tigercdrom.htm Apparently it has full plans and tons of tech data. And looks like it's only $35 at this site: http://e-hobbyland.com/newtamcdromp.html Good Luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy w/gun Posted September 19, 2001 Share Posted September 19, 2001 Can you make me one when you finish yours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desdichado Posted September 19, 2001 Share Posted September 19, 2001 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by R_Leet: [QB]the steel subframe idea has been shelved in favor of laminated plywood, reinforced with fiberglass. There probably will still be some steel reinforcing in the floorpan, but the majority of the structure will be wood. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Is this a static model or are you planning to actually drive this thing? I don't think fiberglass and plywood will hold up on anything but a driveway. How do you intend to steer it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoffel Posted September 19, 2001 Share Posted September 19, 2001 check on Amazon.com for the book,Panzerkampfwagen Tiger und seine abarten. its from Walter J spielberger and has all technological data and drawings you need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark IV Posted September 19, 2001 Share Posted September 19, 2001 Here is what furryshark was referring to: I guess it beats raising hundminen. Too bad Bobcats have the wrong road wheels... hmmm... [ 09-19-2001: Message edited by: Mark IV ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rleete Posted September 20, 2001 Author Share Posted September 20, 2001 More updates: I ordered several books, based on the recomendations here and on some of the sites. Thanks to all who contributed. To date, the biggest stumbling block is how to get fully proportional speed control. Right now it's either stop of full power. No, I'm not sure it will be strong enough to take the stresses, but if it doesn't, an inner frame can always be added. Only one way to find out! BTW, anybody out there like to help me with a web page for this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan Fredriksson Posted September 20, 2001 Share Posted September 20, 2001 Being very low on the tech-curve I am always impressed with people setting out to do these things. My compliments, and good luck! You must take photos as you go along. One simple way to publish them, is to get a Hotmail-account. From there you can create photo-albums *like that* (trying to snap fingers), even I managed it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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