Tiger ausf. E : Mast antenna

Technical information on the Tiger and related tanks

 

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Mast antenna

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The mast antenna

A "Command" Tiger had a few external features that were not present on a normal Tiger. They included a group of small items at the middle right of the hull.

Mast antenna holders

This is a sketch of the right-hand hull side. There are two holders for the tall "mast" antenna. One is fixed to the wall, and one is on the hull roof. The antenna sits in the bottom one and is clamped by the top one. (This antenna is very long and is not included in this kit, nor in any other Tiger kit.)

Now, look at the position of the antenna. We can fix it exactly from photos because we know exactly the spacing of the skirting bolts. On the sketch, I have drawn and numbered the bolts. Using that as a measure, the antenna's position is about 7.6.

Mast position in the kit

And here is the side wall from the kit. The skirts are accurate, so we can use them to measure again. And we find that the mast is slightly out of place.

You can improve the accuracy of the kit by filling this hole, and placing the mast antenna holders at the correct position. They are parts Q18 and Q21, mentioned in Step 20 of the kit's instruction book.

Real Command features

But if you ignore this problem until that moment, you will run into trouble. The parts will collide with the holders for the gun cleaning rod, which you already installed in Step 16. The German designers solved this problem easily; they simply welded those holders a little forward of their usual position, as we see in this museum Tiger. But you will want to fill holes in the kit's top deck if you move part P11 forward.


The generator chimney

The Command Tiger had two other small items on its hull, which I point out in that last photo. They are a chimney, unrelated to the mast antenna holders. All four items were installed together, so their relative positions should always be the same.

Test shot Command features

This kit keeps the items together, but the kit's mast antenna is out of place, therefore the chimney is also too far back.

 
 

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