Method of installing smoke generators in Tamiya’s Tiger1:

This job is easier on an unmade model, but a built tank can be modified. The smoke units are made by Graupner and can be obtained from Hobby Stores (Reading). They do mail order. Just phone 01189 580 030 and ask for smoke units for a Tamiya tank. They cost £12.99 each plus postage and packing (P+P). You will also need an on/off switch and a 6v rechargeable battery.

On an unmade model, when you get to stage 16, do not glue H2 to E23. The smoke unit sits in E23 and H2 fits over it. Drill a small hole through the side of E23 just under the bit that fixes it to the back of the tank. Fit the smoke units in E23 feeding the wires through the hole in the back of the tank. Fit but do not glue H2 over the smoke unit. E18 can now be fixed in place. Run the wires (which may need to be extended) to the on/off switch and plug the battery in. Fit D25/26 in place; lift off H2 and put smoke oil in the units (do not overfill, ¾ full is enough). Refit covers and turn on switch, after a few seconds, smoke will come out of the top of the exhaust. When moving, the effect is great!!
 

On a made model, parts D25/26 (the exhaust covers) and E18 and E23 have to be prised off. As long as you are careful, this can be done without damaging them (I know cos’ I did it). With a fine-toothed hacksaw, cut E23/H2 along the join where they were glued together. Then follow instructions for the unmade model.

Method of Installing smoke generators in Tamiya’s king tiger:

You will need 1 smoke unit and an on/off switch and a 6v rechargeable battery.

 For this model, I used only 1 smoke unit. This is mounted inside the tank behind the speaker unit. To hold it upright, I took a piece of balsa, 80mm x 25mm x 2mm with a block of wood 25mm square glued on top of it, slightly to one side to allow for the upper hull fixing MS4. Drill a 10mm hole through the block to take the smoke unit and a small hole through the balsa for the wires to go through. Fix the balsa wood to the torsion bar stays (I used super glue) place the smoke unit in the block and take the wires (which may need extended) under the speaker unit to the on/off switch, which I mounted in the turret base D17 by cutting another hole next to the DMD switch hole. When mounted, the top of the smoke unit is the same height as the exhaust pipe fixing holes. To get the smoke out takes a bit of fiddling. I took a TV aerial three way adaptor, removed 1 adaptor and drilled out the other two so the main block was hollow, then drill a hole in the bottom to just fit over the smoke unit.

Another 10mm hole I needed in the top to fill the unit with smoke oil. As the smoke wants to rise, rather than go sideways, I purchased a 40mm 12v fan from Maplins £4.80, this works OK on 6v and fixed this over the smoke unit, to the back of the speaker with double-sided tape. This blows the smoke down and out of the TV aerial unit. The kit exhaust pipes (part C8) are not hollow so I discarded them and made my own from 6mm copper pipe. Heated up, this bends OK without kinking with help from a pipe bender (bought from Hobby Stores, Reading). The bottom exhaust parts C9 and 10, I drilled out top and bottom after gluing together, to take the new pipes, and inside the tank, a combination of 10mm copper pipe from B+Q and heat shrink takes the smoke from the TV aerial unit out through the exhaust pipes. 

Hopes this helps you out,

 Jim (the smoke) Cusworth

This extra picture shows the view looking down a Tiger 1's exhausts and shows quite clearly the way the smoke generator units sit in the Tiger exhausts.

This article was submitted by Jim 'The Smoke' Cusworth and is pending his approval so watch this space for any improvements! If you would like further information about this project I'm sure Jim would be only too happy to help you out. E-mail him at jimcuswoth@hotmail.com