Tiger ausf. E : Building Tiger S02

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Building Tiger S02

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The kit's decals have an option for a Tiger "S02". This is the Command Tiger of "Das Reich", originally numbered "801" and briefly "802". It is well-known from photos.

But the kit does not build up S02 exactly because this Tiger had some unique modifications.

Tiger S02 rear

Tiger "S02" lost its rear mudflaps, so the crew built some replacements for it. As this photo shows, the new mudflaps didn't exactly resemble the old ones. In particular they didn't have hinged outer sections.

Another change made to this Tiger was that a Fu 8 radio set was added to it somehow. The unit had lost their Command Tiger and they converted this one to the role.

A storage tube for the "Star" antenna was therefore added to the rear wall of the tank, arrowed in this photo. I don't believe that the Border kit has this tube, although it does have four mounting points on the rear wall.

Tiger S02 side

The "Star" antenna was not put in its usual place on the right-hand side of this Tiger, because that was needed for the original Fu 5 radio set, which was retained in the hull. Instead a new antenna mount was added to the left side of "S02", as this photo shows. I have never found photos to show exactly how this was done, but an Fu 8 antenna needs a tuning coil and an insulator immediately below it, so it's likely that the standard armoured "pot" was added to the roof here.

All of these changes were made in the Spring of 1943, before this Tiger received the number "S02".

 
 

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