I normally don't do Axis armor. But I'm doing the Tiger II with the Atak resin zimmie on it. Which of the two Armorscale turned barrels can I use?? B48-13, or 014?? I know they are the right caliber, aren't htey?? But is the barrel profile correct for a Tiger II AND the Jagdpanther?? If not, does anyone do a turned barrel for it?? TIA, Dave

Hi Dave; It all depends on which Tiger you are building. The single piece barrel with the larger muzzlebrake was identical for both the early Jadgpanthers and the early PORSCHE Kingtiger turrets. The two piece barrel with the smaller muzzlebrake was seen on all Henschel Kingtigers and later models of the Jadgpanthers. Note; you will see some pics of the PORSCHE Kingtiger with the two piece barrel as well...probably replaced after the earlier single piece barrel wore out. If I were you, and didn't have much in the way of books etc, on this vehicle; I'd do a GOOGLE search on the KT and also check out all the modelling website galleries to look at other folks work. Try MISSING LINKS and TRACK LINK and even ARMORAMA. There's probably 50 to 100 entries on Tigers/Panthers between just these websites alone. You can't go wrong by looking at other peoples work. Good luck. Chris Schwach

Thanks Chris, I'l go looking!! It's the Porsche turreted version, if that helps at all.....I want a turned barrel, and no one (that I can find) makes any labelled for the KT's....Dave

Hello there! Armorscale makes a turned barrel for the Porsche KT...item number B48-013. You may want to check out FineMolds as they produce 1/48 turned barrels also.

Ken

Chris, I did what you suggested...and I'm leaning toward the number B48-013, as Ken suggested. BUT, the Tamiya kit and all the kits I find built, show a smooth barrel. The Henschel version has the "notched" transition (only way I know to describe it) from the shorter fatter segment to the longer rifled barrel. I guess that may be the difference between the one piece and two piece barrel..?? If so, then I think all the AM barrels are the two piece kind. I can't see the picture of the Fine Molds barrel to see if it is different from the other Armourscale ones.....Garfield, maybe you can look at both and chime in??
I have no problem using the two piece barrel...they probably WERE swapped out....but the drawings and few photos I have show the barrel the way the Tamiya kit has them.....
Anyone else want to jump in on this weighty discussion???
Dave

Dave:

Both Armorscale barrels model two piece barrels - the stepped section on the tube represents the connection between the two pieces. The two piece barrel was easier to make, and used on all later King Tigers. As noted on their site, the difference is the muzzle break B48-13 has the earlier version, B48-14 the later type.

I don’t recall anyone making a one piece Kwk43 L71 (the gun used in the King Tiger and the Jadgpanther) barrel in 1/48 yet, but the Tamiya kit comes with the one piece barrel out of the box. You can use B48-13 to modify the Tamiya kit to a slightly later Porsche turreted tank with a two piece barrel if you wanted to.

One option to upgrade the Tamiya parts would be to replace the muzzle brake on the plastic barrel with the Armorscale parts from B48-13, but that is a bit expensive since you toss their barrel into the spares box. You might want to just carefully clean up the kit part and use it. I find adding the missing barrel nut spanner cuts with a drill and putting on small disc of styrene to represent the retaining nut makes the Tamiya parts look presentable.

If you really want a metal barrel to go with the Armorscale parts unfortunately, for the moment, you will have to turn your own to match the profile of the kit part.

Konrad

As a slight digression I would like to comment that I was (and am) looking for a replacement barrel for my Bandai Elephant. This also had a smooth single piece barrel.

Heres a link to the Perth Military Modelling Site for a review of Tiger II/Jagdpanther barrels. It shows the finemolds up against Tamiya's kit barrel and Track 48's barrel.

http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/48/track48/track48jadg.htm

Enjoy.
Peter

I've also thought of checking the profile of thetubes for some 1/35th barrels...ie. an SU-85/100, or ones like that. I can use the kits flash suppressor....but may just use the Armourscale one and be done with it. Thanks for all your help guys....Dave

Hi,

not sure if it's on sale already, but the instruction sheets from ABER's 1/48th scale PE set for the Tiger II do mention and early Kwk43 barrel as item 48-L-13. This probaly is the one piece barrel you need. I would suggest to drop them a mail and ask for more info.

Also, you should look into this thread while building your Tiger II with Porsche turret:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/571595/thread/1191806190/last-1191806190/Turret+types+with+numbers+in+3-503+summer+1944.

Because of the tanks have had Tiger I type exhausts and Michael Kenny has given 2 turret numbers proven by pics. See here Tiger II 3-3-4 on the LHS:

http://www.panzernet.net/panzernet/stranky/galerie/tanky/pz7/galeriepzkpfwVII50.htm

Yet 3-3-4 has the two part barrel:

http://www.panzernet.net/panzernet/stranky/galerie/tanky/pz7/galeriepzkpfwVII1.htm

HTH

Frank

I just noticed, that Set 48034 GERMAN HEAVY TANK Pz.Kpfw.VI, Ausf.B TIGER II Porsche Turret 1/48 update for Tamiya model in fact includes all the necessary parts to convert the Tiger II exhaust Tamiya kit to the version with Tiger I exhaust. Nice idea from ABER. In return the Tiger II Henschel turret gets the anti-aircraft armour plates for the grills.

Best

Frank

Frank, You da Man !!!!! Those pictures really help, and do allow me to use the two piece barrel. Very helpful pictures...camo schemes also. I'm a happy man !!! Thank you for posting them!!! Dave