Tiger ausf. E : Radio op's sponson

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Radio op's sponson

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Radio operator's sponson

The sponson compartment to the right of the radio operator contained many items of equipment. The contents for a Command Tiger were very different to those in a standard Tiger. Ustar provide a Command sponson that is different to their standard Tiger kit, but they don't get close to being accurate.


Sponson floor

A number of boxes were stored in fixed trays on the sponson floor. Their layout in Command Tigers was different to the standard layout.

Ustar don't give us the Command layout in this Command kit. Instead they attempt the standard layout. But one of the standard boxes simply won't fit here, due to some items on the rear wall. Ustar solve the problem by omitting that one box.


Front wall

Radio sponson front and side walls

On the front wall, Ustar give us a box (arrowed). But there was no box here.

Front wall with ammunition bags

A German document, and a surviving Tiger in a museum, both agree that the front wall had the same ammunition bags as a standard Tiger. This sketch is looking forward inside the sponson. Three bags fit on the front wall.


Side wall

Side of radio op's sponson in Command Tiger

Ustar make the sponson side wall completely bare. In reality it had a rack for ammunition bags and a control handle. This drawing is based on German originals.


Rear wall

Radio sponson back wall

This CAD image is the back wall of the kit's sponson.It carries only two items; a transformer and a toolbox.

Rear of radio op's sponson in Command Tiger

But according to German documents, this is the real content of that wall. Ustar have omitted the smaller items, and the two that they give us are out of place.

 
 

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