RE: need help for historical reference
There were some late Tigers with single digit numbers. I recall a photo of a late tiger from PzAbt 508 in Italy with a "1" on the turret bin. So I think it may be possible for an 8 to have existed.
Your writing on the front plate, I have seen that before in a photo. I forget what Tiger it was.. I like the camera angle on your front-side photo.