IMPORTANT: the Tiger photos are courtesy of Musée des blindés at Saumur, copy or publication are prohibited whitout the authorization of the museum.

DRIVER

Driver's compartment :

The most notable change in the driver compartment is the steering wheel which is now like the one fitted in the Tiger II.

click to enlarge
DRIVER'S COMPARTMENT

Photos

Description

The driver's compartment, with the seat support, the steering wheel (on the floor ), and the instrument panel. In the middle, the gearbox; the sheet metal panels that covered it are missing (except one lying in the back right ammunition bin !). These panels have two fonctions: protection of course, but also they have a role in ventilation to remove the heat of the gearbox and the brakes via a duct system on the floor . (for the gear box, see also here and here )

The driver's ammunition bin, this one can hold six rounds. On the right, the gyroscope support (twisted). The gyroscope is missing .

Two views of the instrument panel : the first one is very interesting because it shows an electrical panel which is not in the Bovington Tiger (which was damaged precisely at this place ), this panel is the same as fitted in the Panther A at Saumur. ("Panzers in Saumur" n°2 page 13) On the extreme left , one can see the ventilation duct which goes to the fan in the hull roof.

Top right; the driver's radio headset box is horizontally fitted over the instrument panel (this box is of a standard model found in most panzers ). On the early model, it was fitted on the small floor panel behind the driver seat (see next photos). It seems that these boxes were manufactured in black (inside/outside), but in the tank factory they received ivory paint on the outside (the inside stayed black ).

Two views that show the difference in height between the front hull and the fighting compartment. In the small floor panel behind the driver, there is a tool box closed by a cover (missing). On the early Tiger, the driver's radio headset box was behind the little lever that comes out of the plate .

Another view of the same area, we can see on the right the lower part of the roof brace and behind, one of the vertical ammunition bins in the floor. The fighting compartment floor is made with plates that can be dismounted. One of these plate is visible (with a hole ); under the floor are the torsion bars and their lubrication system.

The rear of the gear box , the protection covers are missing.

The driver's place, here you should have a seat .On the floor the supports for the emergency steering levers .On top, the pedals: clutch brake and accelerator.

Two views of the driver's bumper, behing a gasmask support, the interior of the tool box in the floor was apparently painted in ivory.On the extreme right, the hand brake lever.

The same area, I found the tool box covers in the fighting compartment, near the engine bulkhead, so I put them back in their correct location.

The driver's visor, the vision block is really small, driving a 56 tons tank with such a small window was certainly terrific. During displacements, the CO helps the driver.

A closer view, the design of the wheel is different in the early model, this wheel open or close the vision slot with two armour blocks. The circular strip with a hole under the wheel is a support for a warning lamp (if the temperature in the engine is too hot )

BACK

IMPORTANT: the Tiger photos are courtesy of Musée des blindés at Saumur, copy or publication are prohibited whitout the authorization of the museum.

click to enlarge	DRIVER'S COMPARTMENT
Photos	Description
	The driver's compartment, with the seat support, the steering wheel (on the floor ), and the instrument panel. In the middle, the gearbox; the sheet metal panels that covered it are missing (except one lying in the back right ammunition bin !). These panels have two fonctions: protection of course, but also they have a role in ventilation to remove the heat of the gearbox and the brakes via a duct system on the floor . (for the gear box, see also here and here )
	The driver's ammunition bin, this one can hold six rounds. On the right, the gyroscope support (twisted). The gyroscope is missing .
		Two views of the instrument panel : the first one is very interesting because it shows an electrical panel which is not in the Bovington Tiger (which was damaged precisely at this place ), this panel is the same as fitted in the Panther A at Saumur. ("Panzers in Saumur" n°2 page 13) On the extreme left , one can see the ventilation duct which goes to the fan in the hull roof.
	Top right; the driver's radio headset box is horizontally fitted over the instrument panel (this box is of a standard model found in most panzers ). On the early model, it was fitted on the small floor panel behind the driver seat (see next photos). It seems that these boxes were manufactured in black (inside/outside), but in the tank factory they received ivory paint on the outside (the inside stayed black ).
		Two views that show the difference in height between the front hull and the fighting compartment. In the small floor panel behind the driver, there is a tool box closed by a cover (missing). On the early Tiger, the driver's radio headset box was behind the little lever that comes out of the plate .
	Another view of the same area, we can see on the right the lower part of the roof brace and behind, one of the vertical ammunition bins in the floor. The fighting compartment floor is made with plates that can be dismounted. One of these plate is visible (with a hole ); under the floor are the torsion bars and their lubrication system.
	The rear of the gear box , the protection covers are missing.
	The driver's place, here you should have a seat .On the floor the supports for the emergency steering levers .On top, the pedals: clutch brake and accelerator.
		Two views of the driver's bumper, behing a gasmask support, the interior of the tool box in the floor was apparently painted in ivory.On the extreme right, the hand brake lever.
	The same area, I found the tool box covers in the fighting compartment, near the engine bulkhead, so I put them back in their correct location.
	The driver's visor, the vision block is really small, driving a 56 tons tank with such a small window was certainly terrific. During displacements, the CO helps the driver.
	A closer view, the design of the wheel is different in the early model, this wheel open or close the vision slot with two armour blocks. The circular strip with a hole under the wheel is a support for a warning lamp (if the temperature in the engine is too hot )