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Are there really Tigers in Tunisia? Completed 15/Dec/17


Gazzas

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Hi Everyone,

    This is the kit I won at my club's monthly raffle a few months ago.  It's Dragon's Tiger 131.  I, however will complete it as Tiger 111.  Why?  I'm glad you asked.  TBH I hate modeling things that fell too easily into enemy hands.  Here is the one known photo of Tiger 111.

 

et89it.jpg

 

The kit has limited interior details for both turret and hull.

154049.jpg

 

The DS tracks were airbrushed with artist acrylics thinned with Future.   Then I used a BIC silver pen to highlight raised detail on the tracks.

154104.jpg

 

I've used oils to modulate the color of the running gear, as well as give a beginning impression of dust. 

 

154121.jpg

 

Physically, there aren't many known differences.  By the time of it's capture, Tiger 131's headlights had long been broken off, and it had a unique step welded to the front of the hull.

 

Thanks for looking!

 

Gaz

Edited by Gazzas
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"TBH I hate modeling things that fell too easily into enemy hands"

 

Why is that, may I ask?

 

Looks a very detailed kit.

I'm not sure exactly why. But it definitely saps my fervor for completing the kit. I still have an Italian cruiser that went down with her guns in their traveling positions, not even aimed for a fight, sitting on my SOD.

 

Analyze that if you can.

 

Gaz

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I'm not sure exactly why. But it definitely saps my fervor for completing the kit. I still have an Italian cruiser that went down with her guns in their traveling positions, not even aimed for a fight, sitting on my SOD.

 

Analyze that if you can.

 

Gaz

 

I'm guessing that it's because that though it was designed and built as a war machine, it has no history as such, and is therefore somewhat uninteresting as a consequence.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I'm guessing that it's because that though it was designed and built as a war machine, it has no history as such, and is therefore somewhat uninteresting as a consequence.

 

Tiger 131 was abandoned by its crew after a fire fight.  It has battle damage on it.

 

A round was lodged in the turret ring area preventing the turret from traversing.  Best guesses are this spooked the crew and so they abandoned the tank in nearly perfect condition.

 

I'm not sure abandoning a machine after it is damaged in combat is "easily" falling into enemy hands, but who am I to say.

 

The model is coming along nicely, Gaz!  

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Keep up the good work. I believe there is much controversy about the camo colors of the Tunisian Tigers according to Tiger historian David Byrden.

 

I'm pretty sure the colors on "131" are pretty spot-on at this point. They put a lot of work into getting the restoration correct as possible.

 

Perhaps you are thinking of the rumored green Tigers?

 

From what David has posted on his site, my take is that after abandoning the tank they hoped to return and recover it, but the British forces moved close enough so that such an attempt would have been too risky to the recovery crew.

Edited by CATCplSlade
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Keep up the good work. I believe there is much controversy about the camo colors of the Tunisian Tigers according to Tiger historian David Byrden.

Guys, thanks for the kind words!

 

Nothing against Mr. Burden, but I will always face the dilemma of who to believe. Either A German officer who was there and quoted as saying US paint stocks were used on a few Tigers after Kasserine, or a today's most quoted expert on the Tiger tank in the English speaking forum universe.

 

I wouldn't use a scheme unless I had seen a photo of it, and Tiger 111 will wear a scheme very similar to Tiger 131.

 

But I will still tend to believe the words of a man who was on the scene.

 

Gaz

Edited by Gazzas
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Guys, thanks for the kind words!

 

Nothing against Mr. Burden, but I will always face the dilemma of who to believe. Either A German officer who was there and quoted as saying US paint stocks were used on a few Tigers after Kasserine, or a today's most quoted expert on the Tiger tank in the English speaking forum universe.

 

I wouldn't use a scheme unless I had seen a photo of it, and Tiger 111 will wear a scheme very similar to Tiger 131.

 

But I will still tend to believe the words of a man who was on the scene.

 

Gaz

 

The problem is, Tiger 131 as depicted in the Dragon kit was with the 504th sPzAbt, whereas it was the 501st that fought at Kasserine. There was a 131 in the 501st, but the trend of German numbering systems meant there were plenty to go around. These are two separate tanks.

 

And it has been proven time and again that memory is not as dependable as one might hope, especially with the passing of time.

Edited by CATCplSlade
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s I understand it WW2 

 

Tiger 131 was abandoned by its crew after a fire fight.  It has battle damage on it.

 

A round was lodged in the turret ring area preventing the turret from traversing.  Best guesses are this spooked the crew and so they abandoned the tank in nearly perfect condition.

 

I'm not sure abandoning a machine after it is damaged in combat is "easily" falling into enemy hands, but who am I to say.

 

The model is coming along nicely, Gaz!  

As I understand it German tank crews were required to abandon their tanks only after destroying it themselves.  They were also supposed to stay with a tank if it was not on fire and still in running condition. Wait for rescue or, if drivable, try to drive it back so it could be salvaged or repaired. Rules obviously written by some REMF 1000 miles behind the front lines. 

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