Years ago I'd started converting an Italeri Elephant to a Porsche Tiger-1 but put it aside as Italeri had then released their complete kit. Now that I had the rocket-missile parts & interior left over from the Tamiya SturmTiger (see my SturmJäger build -
http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=1828.0 ), I wanted to use up the old cut-about kit.
Here's my "concept" photo using another old chassis -- that chassis will be returned to an ammo-carrier (the third re-build conversion for that model !!) after being made into a Porsche Tiger II prototype based on the only crude drawing then available.I found that the upper superstructure looked better reversed so it sloped back - it still fitted the hull quite well and the large Sturm mantlet fitted better.
I decided to open up the roof & back like a Marder SPG in order to best show off the interior, so after cutting the circular rear-plate out & fitting the mantlet, I cut the superstructure roof & back away. I then built & fitted the mortar, cutting a new aperture in the superstructure front for the gun-sight. I wanted to fit an mg for self-defence & chose to retro-fit an old shield & MG-42 from a Stug-IV when the model is ready.
I cleaned up the cut-about lower hull, glueing new sections to the rear sides & back. I juggled the interior parts for best positioning & fitted the Tamiya floor which was just a smidge narrow, filling the gap with some Plastruct angle. Next was the front bulkhead from the Tamiya kit, suitably cut 'n' shut as the Tiger hull is wider here -- it didn't fit perfectly at the top & bottom so gaps were filled with plasticard strips. The real Elephant has very roughly-cut scrap plates covering the rear electric drive-motors so I reproduced these with more plasticard. Next was the rear shelf for loading the ammo from card plus two separate angle-brackets from the Tamiya parts. Next I assembled & positioned the ammo stowage-racks, modifying the bottoms of two to sit better in the sponsons. The shell loading-cradle will need repositioning further aft so I cut new bases from Plastruct.
More later ....
