Model Engineering Exhibition Front 2013
Made the mistake of sending Steve Roberts and Shea Murray's photos to the Model Engineer magazine. The editorial team (Ms Carney and Mr Law) twisted my arm to exhibit the Tiger at the annual Model Engineering Show in December. It sounded like a good idea at the time.
That is until the freight forwarders realised the Tiger had a real V12 petrol engine and metre long gun. These small facts instantly placed it into the Dangerous Goods catagory which automatically triples air freight costs. After much gnashing of teeth, a comprehensive check list was created which documented preparations that included running the engine until empty, draining all oils and certifying to British Customs that the gun could not be ' easily converted to discharge a projectile or pyrotechnic whilst under remote control'
The November issue of the Model Engineer ramped up the pressure when it said the Tiger was already in the UK. It got there in the end, proving that all problems can be solved if you throw enough cash into the mix. Was it worth it - absolutely - the show was fantastic and the people I met even more so.
Mike Sayers and his good looking lady, sorry, Bentley car motor.
Mind blowing build standard and a gorgeous exhaust note. What's more, it didn't throw a conrod all weekend.
Another Mike, this time Mike Tull, builder of two, that is TWO radials - one to show, the other to run.
Mike also nailed the first problem on the Tiger - a loose distributor rotor button.
Mike is also the only the second Tiger driver.
Fellow conspirator, Ian Cable, builder of a beautifully crafted V8 RAF aircraft engine.
I cannot find my photo of the engine AND his neat cam grinder. If anyone can, send it along, it will be uploaded.
And another Mike. Mike Parry took me along to see Manchester United play Newcastle.
In the words of an Australian Rules Football fan, 'They went down fighting!'
Mike very kindly allowed me to setup and test the Tiger at his factory, Trac Measurement Group in Telford which is west of Birmingham, (UK, not Alabama.)
Death Of A Tiger.
It It had to happen. After 31 hours starting and running and dripping oil and smoking, the Tiger blew its guts at the show. The first problem was traced to a loose distributor rotor button which killed the left 6 cylinders. The photo shows the cam covers off, which is a sign that all is not well - not well indeed.
Once fixed, the engine ran well for the next day, then grenaded big time. I suspect the stint running on the 6 cylinders may have cracked the crankshaft. Still, it started and banged and clattered in the hope of gaining fame as the first V12 to self destruct in the 106 year history of the show.
It's all over. A documentary of the last gasps of the Tiger's V12 engine.
With thanks to "British Legion"
But before it died, the Tiger did its best on the Model Engineering Show Front in freezing conditions and surrounded by its most respected enemy - the British.
A visitor to the show, Steve Chesher took the short video.
The mighty 88mm gun opens up and hammers the show visitors with - Johnson's Baby Powder
I tried acetylene/oxygen, propane/oxygen, starting pistol caps but none could match air blasted Johnson's baby powder replicating the muzzle blast and white smoke of the Tiger in WWII German newsreels.
Tiger in the Model Engineer Magazine
Shea Murray's B&W photograph was gently colourised by the magazine that well, several readers were convinced it was a real tank.
