Further reports:
Summer 2023
Winter 2022/23: Working on the turret
Winter 2021/22 and summer 2022: Working on the turret
Winter 2020/21 and summer 2021: The electrical system and hull
Winter 2019/20 and summer 2020: Turret and the electrical system
This years work focused on the turret. We restored the ammunition supports in the rear of the turret, put them back in place and have started to revise the central turret traverse.
In the rear section of the turret, mounted on a separate steel sheet, there are ten ammo supports on each side which provide space for a total of 11 rounds on each side distributed on three levels. The rounds are fixed at their position by foldable wood pieces and partly with straps.
The wooden pads in the supports and the fixation pieces were mostly in a rather good shape and could be used again after superficial grinding and painting. The metal parts were sand blasted and repainted in light ivory, the color used for the turret interior and later for the upper section of the hull.
Like we already did previously when disassembling the turret ring gear, we again found traces of former lodgers. Apparently some insects used the tiny drilled holes on the bottom of the pads as breeding place and pantry. It will forever remain their secret how they made it through the very narrow gap between metal and wood.
After finishing the installation of the supports the day of uploading the turret with rounds approached. We purchased a certain number of plastics repros of the rounds. They appear very real, not only because of the detailed labeling. Accuracy fanatics, though, will find reasons to complain.
22 golden shots
Eventually it becomes obvious that the job of a loader in this tank, probably as in any tank, was far from being a desirable position. Moving the rounds, which weigh up to appr. 20 kg, in a stooped posture in a moving tank must have been particularly strenuous
As described in the previous update, there is a gun port in the rear hatch which is closed by a heavy metal cone. It is left to one’s imagination and flexibility of the shooter how this port may be pushed open and how aiming and firing may have occurred even in a turret which was not entirely uploaded with rounds.
The turret traverse is the superstructure which holds the working platform for the turret crew and the gear components for rotating the turret. The lower horizontal section was in parts severely corroded and we decided to cut off the rear section and rebuild it with new sheets.
This rear section houses the cylindrical container for the pressurized air. An air compressor is located under the gunner’s seat. With the engine running, the compressor is driven and fills the cylinder and the entire piping system up to a regulator valve with pressurized air. After each shot and discharge of the empty shell, the regulator valve opens and the compressed air blows the gases in the barrel out to the front. The regulator valve is located on the upper left hand side on the deflector shield.
The air container was severely corroded, though still tight as its walls are very thick. We have welded a thin steel sheet around it and filled the gaps with putty. The large air pipe was too rotten to be used again and will be entirely replaced.
Finally a benefactor gave us something we didn’t even know existed: A cover for the turret fan to be fixed outside on the turret roof.
‘I have 10 pieces made, you never know!’ said the donor. With respect to the fact that only 8 King Tigers still exist, that seems a very bold position. But, as the guy said: You really never know ….!
In february we had the pleasure to welcome Fabio and his mother Michaela as special guests.
Fabio has chosen the King Tiger as topic of a thesis in school and approached us for help. We were of course happy to support such a project to the best our abilities and so, on a cold saturday morning, Fabio visited us and after a warm tea interviewed us. He questioned the legends and prejudices about Tiger tanks and proved an excellent and well-founded knowledge of the matter.
Michaela basically accompanied him as his driver, but after we presented to her the Tiger in all details and also other vehicles, we hope to have raised a little interest in her as well.
We wish both of them all the best and to Fabio good luck with his work, and hope to welcome them again, … not only because of the fantastic Cantuccini biscuits which they have made for us.