Titan's Octopus Tiger ***FINISHED***

[Titan]

Sprue shots to follow....

[jssel]

Hey, Mark. Welcome. Intriguing thread title.

[Titan]

Thanks Jeff, this should make the title of the thread a little clearer.



Whats in the box.... this lot that's what.














As you can see this is not a kit with a low parts count but it's nicely detailed and big.
I got this seconhand that is why the decals have been hacked which is fine as the octopus camo does not need them as there are no markings at all to be seen and the actual tank.

Apparently there was only one known tank with this type of camo and it didn't have any zimmeritt coating so that won't be an issue with this build.
I found some photos of it on the net.




I will be making it as it was before it met it's end but may take some chunks out of the fenders but that will be all, I will add the figures though but no diorama setting.

Regards
Mark (who's just itching to get started on this brute.)

[TobyC]

Cor!!

[Jagewa]

Is that a shell hole in the turret in that second to last piccie? I've not seen a shell hole in a Tiger turret before, I wonder what hit it?

I wonder if it might have brewed up? going by the rust on the side of the turret.

Seeing disabled tanks, always makes me wonder what happened.

This'll be a cracker Mark.

[Migrant]

I wonder if it might have brewed up? going by the rust on the side of the turret.

I guess the turret being full of tea might account for the rust.

[Titan]

LOL Mike.

Is that a shell hole in the turret in that second to last piccie?

Here is some info that I found from the net but I would say most certainly that is a shell hole.

"This was one of 7 freshly builts tanks that came straight of the assembly lines in Kassel and given to Schwere Panzer Abteilung 501.The tank was destroyed/disabled in early May 1945 while in the process of firing so apparently you can see that the gun is not fully recoiled.Some of its crew members came back after the war to pose for pics in front of the rusting wreck....It doesn't say what its ultimate fate was only that it was still in the same spot until the 60s...Was probably turned into scrap metal."

And a little more maybe to explain the gun not being fully recoiled..

"The Germans cut the hoses/pipes to the hydraulic damper when they only had one shell left, then they shoot at something. This way the enemy couldn't use the gun because its impossible to fix without cutting the gun apart. You can see this on lots of pictures on German and abandoned tanks."

All pretty interesting stuff on this particular tank.

Regards
Mark

[Jagewa]

Haha, I thought it would be ersatz coffee..

That's interesting stuff, always makes you wonder what happened when you see pic of disabled tanks.

What an interesting subject.

Cheers
Jim

[ShaunW]

Excellent subject and a great bit of history. I wonder if it copped a 17pdr round - that would have sorted the bugger out, these tanks were big but not completely invincible.

[Titan]

I managed to get started on this today all be it a bit later than I hoped as I have been faffing around with the rino so the photos are not that great( bad light and all that).
started on the turret top and added the hatches etc.



There were a few choices to make so I had to be aware of which part would be used for open or closed hatches and making sure the seals were the right way around.

Next I started on the gun.....a bit over engineered for what will be something that can't be seen especially if the commander is installed or the hatches closed( obviously) or even if the hatches are open I feel that it will be a tad too dark in there still it's done now so.....


Regards
Mark

[jssel]

Pretty good start. I like the dimples on the turret sides for the individual track links to hang.

[Dirkpitt289]

Watching this one with great interest

[ShaunW]

Good start Mark and there is some nice looking detail to the gun breech and hatches.

[Spearjig]

I have this in the stash. Did somebody on here build it? I remember something about the octopus decals having to be sorted out in sizes. Anyway, were ever I saw it, it was a cracking looking model when it was finished.

[Titan]

Indeed, I think you will find it was JRatz but I can't seem to get the link to the build working....

Quick updates
I did some more work on the turret and deck.


Enclosed the turret and tried it on the deck.


Added the rest of the gun and there are just a few more small bits to add to the turret.


Time to start on the deck and get those lumps and bumps on to it.



I will get the front MG inserted next and finish adding the cupola and various grab handles added onto the turret as well, also the pe mesh can be added to the rear of the deck.

Regards
Mark