I decided to try my hand at a Tamiya kit for my first IR battle tank to get me up to speed as quick as possible. I haven't constructed a model since 1973 so wasn't sure how this was going to go but it's finished and fully operational in less than 3 weeks since UPS dropped it off. I now can start a few weeks of weathering it which I do enjoy. I was originally going to build it as an early Leningrad 502 model but doing surgery on the turret and mantle and front mudguards was a bit too daunting and would have taken forever to get everything needed so I went with a early 1943 grey hull LSSAH example with two tone camo. My first airbrush was just no good so I have done this with brush and spray cans. It came out far better than I hoped for and I'll use the weathering to transition the camo colours

That is excellent! 
One way to start at freeing up some room in the hull is soldering the Y battery harness together and getting a smaller battery connector. Like a deans connector. This gets rid of those big Tamiya connectors.
Cheers!

Very nice indeed. Where about are you in Toronto ?

the only thing i can see you may need to do is make the hatch door detachable so it doesn't shield the IR receiver (the apple)

Great Job can't wait til the summer

Hey guys thanks for the compliments. @Mike C I'm at Yonge and Eglinton (Roselawn and Duplex)

@ Negaduck I was thinking about that when I put the apple in. But I bought this tank to get into the IR battle so if I have to remove the hatch so be it. My main concern is mounting the IR emitter. I would prefer not to drill the mantlet but I thought the TBU would come with a barrel clamp that I see some tanks running around with and I can't seem to find anything on the internet. I really need to bring it to the field for you guys to show me how to place it if this stay at home nonsense ever ends

the tiger one is the only tamiya tank i know that isn't a barrel mounted IRE. at the very least its real easy to mount it inside at a later date and drilling it out doesn't take away from its over all look

You're always welcome to have a look at my one since i take it to the field most often just keep in my i went stupid with its paintjob so everything is hard to see on it https://can-amrctankclub.canadian-forum.com/t1382-tiger-i-of-a-different-camo

That is just fantastic. How long did that take you? I had the sides of the hull and skirts done with brushing but then I had to wait for a day with no wind and some sun to do the top of the hull and the turret with spray lacquer outside which finally was last Saturday. It took a 12 Judas Priest record marathon in the background to keep me focused on all the dimensions on the striping with putty. Another problem beside the wind here is picking a day when  living in North America's biggest construction site it isn't kicking up dust over the whole neighbourhood as you can see on my table

I really need to see your Tiger

Abteilung 506 wrote:

Hey guys thanks for the compliments. @Mike C I'm at Yonge and Eglinton (Roselawn and Duplex)

@ Negaduck I was thinking about that when I put the apple in. But I bought this tank to get into the IR battle so if I have to remove the hatch so be it. My main concern is mounting the IR emitter. I would prefer not to drill the mantlet but I thought the TBU would come with a barrel clamp that I see some tanks running around with and I can't seem to find anything on the internet. I really need to bring it to the field for you guys to show me how to place it if this stay at home nonsense ever ends

Cool I used to live on Duplex just south of Eglinton. Not too far from that now at Yonge and Summerhill.

What is your concern with the mantlet ? My Tiger has the IR emitter mounted in the coax MG port and its working fine. Also Tamiya comes with the barrel clip anyway for the IR emitter.

Negaduck wrote:

the tiger one is the only tamiya tank i know that isn't a barrel mounted IRE. at the very least its real easy to mount it inside at a later date and drilling it out doesn't take away from its over all look

You're always welcome to have a look at my one since i take it to the field most often just keep in my i went stupid with its paintjob so everything is hard to see on it https://can-amrctankclub.canadian-forum.com/t1382-tiger-i-of-a-different-camo

Russ, really ? So where are you suppose to mount the IR ? I didn't build mine so I have no idea what the IR emitter situation is with the barrel clip then ?

The dude that did my tank basically glue the emitter case (like the one you have on the barrel) into the spot where the coax MG spot and that's it. There is some space between the emitter and the exterior but not too sure if it is 9mm/regulation. At least it is recess and exposed.

Sorry about that last quote post. I thought I knew how every social media platform works but this one is new to me. I mean I'm willing to drill it but does that spacing make it right for this club's battles?

We are not that strict yet. As long as your IR emitter is ***NOT*** spraying like a shotgun you are good.

MikeC with the 2 KT and Sherman I've built all the IRE where clip on. my Sherman is now mounted in the manlet and my Porsche KT is crapply mounted on top

Abteilung 506 i think i had 40 hour plus into that one but at the same time i have a nice painting booth i made from carboard inside so weather and dust isn't a factor but i do plan to add a venting fan at some point

MikeC wrote:

We are not that strict yet. As long as your IR emitter is ***NOT*** spraying like a shotgun you are good.

Actually Mike, 
the club has always had the rule that tanks should have their IR emitter recessed 9mm in a tube. This narrows the beam and prevents a spray shot. That means that the tip of the IR emitter is 9mm from the opening of the tube it is mounted in.

Also, your IR receiver should not be obstructed in any direction by a turret hatch or any other objects. 

Stince wrote:

MikeC wrote:

We are not that strict yet. As long as your IR emitter is ***NOT*** spraying like a shotgun you are good.

Actually Mike, 
the club has always had the rule that tanks should have their IR emitter recessed 9mm in a tube. This narrows the beam and prevents a spray shot. That means that the tip of the IR emitter is 9mm from the opening of the tube it is mounted in.

Also, your IR receiver should not be obstructed in any direction by a turret hatch or any other objects. 

Yes of course.........

I just measured the length if you put the IR emitter inside the coax MG port and it is actually 16mm deep (that damn thick Tiger I mantlet) so it will be more than regulation of 9mm.

The hatch obscuring the IR receiver is a different problem on the Tiger I. You will have to do some mod to make the hatch over lay flat.

Looking at some Danville Tigers it seems most guys have the turret hatch fully flat so I'll just remove the stopper piece and see if that works. If not I'll just have it unhinged and just drop it into place when not using the apple. The emitter I'll have to see what others have done as a solution. I imagine there are no shortage of Tiger battle tanks at the field. Hopefully if customs at Gateway ever get around to processing my board I can start working on my Panther G as a battler. They have had it since April 8. 

Stince wrote:

Also, your IR receiver should not be obstructed in any direction by a turret hatch or any other objects. 

unless its a fix gun. part of the reason i have a stug lol

Negaduck wrote:

Stince wrote:

Also, your IR receiver should not be obstructed in any direction by a turret hatch or any other objects. 

unless its a fix gun. part of the reason i have a stug lol

We really need to revisit this. If we are insistent on 9mm tube and not shotgun spray we have to remove this from our battles.

Like Dean I have mounted my IR emitter i the top of the turret and magnets on the inside of the turret so no need for drilling or modifications to the tank. I use two small magnet in line so the emitter doesn't rotate (thanks for the idea Dean) I am converting all my tanks this way. The other way is on the barrel its self if you want elevation

treemagnet wrote:

Like Dean I have mounted my IR emitter i the top of the turret and magnets on the inside of the turret so no need for drilling or modifications to the tank. I use two small magnet in line so the emitter doesn't rotate (thanks for the idea Dean) I am converting all my tanks this way. The other way is on the barrel its self if you want elevation

The Tiger turret is perfect for that, with the turret top plate nice and flat ! I used the Tamiya square block and stick one magnet in there, but it does move around unfortunately so 2 is better like Tom says but you will need another type of mount.