Rye Field Model Tunisian Tiger

[thug626]

With the Abrams complete, and wanting to stick with the desert theme, I pulled the RFM Tunisian Tiger from the stash. I was wanting to build one up with and interior, but this kit is sans interior. It's been a few years since I built a Tiger, i figured it was time to build another big cat.

[TRM]

Looking forward to the carnage Dave! I am suspecting you will love this kit over the last Tiggy!

[thug626]

T, good evening. The last Tiggy I built was Tamiya’s mid production. This one doesn’t have an interior, but one can see the groundwork for an interior.

[panzerjager2]

Dave, way to step up to the "armour plate".... A TIGER. I can't wait to see what you do with this monster 
PJ2

[thug626]

Good to see you PJ2. Stay tuned. I got some work done on the turret. I’ll get some pics up later.

[Leon]

I'll be following along Dave! I love a good Tiger build.

[406 Silverado]

Looking forward to seeing how this one comes together. They have some nice kits, tons of parts.

[thug626]

Leon, It's good to have you along on the build.
Rob, It is also good to have you along. I've been taking some notes from your book. Thank you.

The start of the build! The barrel and brake is a six piece assembly.



This was RFM first kit offering, and the interior of the cupola has detail that suggests a future offering for an interior. Which they did. After the glue sets up, the grab handle will be cleaned up, and weld detail added.


Now this was a nice, and unexpected addition. A resin bin. There are also some other resin goodies included that there is no indication on the box or instructions.


Todays detailing. I added Bronco castle nuts and lead wire. The lead wire is a bit over scale, but the next size down of anything I had that was easy to work with would have been lost visually.

[Leon]

Off to a good start Dave! A lot of nice detail there.

[Deleted]

This is looking good!

I really enjoyed building this kit. I want to do another one soon.

G

[TRM]

Looking great already Dave! I am working on the Mid RFM...with the interior. They did a pretty good job I thought. Tons of extra parts for different variants both in and out.

[thug626]

Leon Thank you kindly. There is detail in this kit, that carries over to their Tigers with a full interior, that just begs to be built up into a maintenance dio.
G Thank you kindly my good man. It's good to see you are still about. I decided to build this kit, instead of the Initial Production one with the full interior. Getting used to a manufactures quirks.
Rob Thank you very much good sir. I'll be taking notes on your Mid Production.

[thug626]

A bit more progress today. I had to take a break from working on continuing education to maintain one of my certifications.
The detail on this kit is amazing. I am glad that I started with the non-interior Tiger first, as all manufacturers have their quirks....more on that in a bit.

The final drive and sprocket mounting plate. As you can see, there a some EPM that needed dealing with. These were easily remedied, so, not a deal breaker for me. The detail in the kit more than makes up for it.


Outer and inner detail on the sprockets.


The hull is taking shape.


This is why I am glad I started with the non-interior kit first. I cut the tabs on the swing arms to allow them to travel, and in theory, allow the suspension to "self level". What I failed to realized is that there is not a lot of surface area for the torsion spring to glue to. Fearing these would break after the hull top is glued on, I cobbled up some styrene to allow a larger surface area to glue to. It is not pretty, but it isn't going to show either. The suspension will still have some travel.

[thug626]

Here are some of the resin correction parts included in my kit.
The exhaust tops without the top cover. As you can see by the styrene part where the rods glue in at. One could fill them in, but it would be a pain.


Dimensionally the resin bin is larger than the styrene part. The bin should go from pistol port to pistol port, which this on does.



There's a lot of mass on the rear hull plate. The lifting lugs for the exhaust armor will get filled in, and retextured with some stippling.


Now this detail will never be seen on this kit, but I thought I'd share it anyway. The hatches articulate like the real thing. I left of the locking latches as, this will not be visible when it is buttoned up. I am looking forward to building the kit with the interior.


The final drive backing plates parts were never called out in the instructions. They are shown, just not called out. They are parts B54 and B55.
Here is a link that was shared with me for corrections to the RMF kit.
tiger1.info/models/products-page/RM5001

[Tojo72]

Your details are outstanding as usual.I enjoyed the Dragon Tunisian Tiger.Have you ever used David Bryden's Tiger site,lots of good info,he's quite the Tiger guru.

[Leon]

That's a lot of nice detail there Dave!

[TRM]

Been living at Bryden's site for a while I think...LOL These kits are pretty nice and worth the time, money and any effort if you ask me! I seen the epm's on the final drive plates too, looked like the sprockets were going to cover...and after the tracks, well, you do the same as a bunch of us and fill them anyway...LOL She's looking hot brotha'! In much better shape then the wreck I'm working on!!

[panzerjager2]

Dave, Tiger is looking real good. Great details on this kit. I have never done a Rye Field kit....looks great. Also, GREAT catch on the details for the S-mine/Smoke Launchers and the Turret Stowage Bin...most people forget the support arm underneath..... 
PJ2

[thug626]

Tojo72. Thank you my good man. I have his site bookmarked from some time ago. I've got some Tiger references here, but one of my books seems to be missing.
Leon There certainly is with this kit. I can't wait to build the kit with the interior. Well.....I say that now.
T I've had Byrdens site within quick reach for a bit with this build. One certainly gets a lot of "bang for the buck" with these kits. Unless I am 100% certain the epm will not be seen, I'll fill them. Just like I did for the front fenders. Thank you for the compliment my good man. Yours has reached the terminal end of it's usefulness. This is just going to have some mileage on it. I am planning on using the hairspray technique on this one.
PJ2 Thank you for having a gander my good man. This is my first Rye Field kit. The instructions are not quite 100%, but far better than Dragons instructions. The mounting brackets for the bin were included with the resin goodies. I figured where that bracket was supposed to go. Even then, I might have added one if one was not included. That seems like an awfully big span not to be supported in some fashion

Detail abounds on this kit. The sidewalls on the road wheels are no exception. I roughed up the road wheels with a Dremel



Here is a mock up of the drive sprocket, road wheels, and idler.



It is easy to see why the interleaved setup would easily get clogged by mud.


it is all ready for primer....


.....the primer is laid down on the wheels, and sprockets.

[dierk]

Looking good!
I suppose there were some licensing issues that caused RFM to leave out the 'i' in Continental?

[thug626]

Thank you. I’m sure there would have had to be a royalty check involved, had they spelled “continental” properly. Wasn’t it Dragon that spelled it “continentau”?

[dierk]

Feb 23, 2018 8:28:16 GMT -5 thug626 said:

Thank you. I’m sure there would have had to be a royalty check involved, had they spelled “continental” properly. Wasn’t it Dragon that spelled it “continentau”?

Yes, it was Dragon - easier to turn a 'U' into an 'L' than to insert an 'I' Conti could've really done with the royalty cheque: they've just been hammered with a multi-million euro fine for breaking anti-cartel regulations

[406 Silverado]

Some very nice detail in this kit, really like the welds. But man who thought of doing the lifting lugs on the exhausts like that! A simple pin that goes in a hole works best.

Overall she's looking good.

[TRM]

Moving forward with the wheels!! Looking great! A little wear-n-tear goes a long way! I ended up trading in the rubber for the steel as mine convert out to a late...I thought the kit tires, sprockets and idelers looked pretty nice though! Seeing primer is an awesome thing!!

[thug626]

Feb 23, 2018 12:06:29 GMT -5 dierk said:

Feb 23, 2018 8:28:16 GMT -5 thug626 said:

Thank you. I’m sure there would have had to be a royalty check involved, had they spelled “continental” properly. Wasn’t it Dragon that spelled it “continentau”?

Yes, it was Dragon - easier to turn a 'U' into an 'L' than to insert an 'I' Conti could've really done with the royalty cheque: they've just been hammered with a multi-million euro fine for breaking anti-cartel regulations

Dierk Sound like someone got the royal corporate spanking.
Rob The weld lines are nicely done. I can see your point about the pins. With lugs, there is one less thing that the maintenance battalion has to remember to bring along.
T Thank you kindly good sir. I usually go with the lived in to lived in for a while look. One of these days, I need try my hand at a used up hulk....or a burnt out hulk. The later is what I'll use my Tamiya T-55 for one of these days.

[TRM]

That is a great thought! It's just a different type of building is all...like switching from armor to ships or whatever for the break. Some of the best kit for this are the smack-down deals at shows! Always easier to justify cracking a 10 or 15 dollar kit over a $70 monster...LOL

[thug626]

T I am looking forward to building up a burnt out hulk. That'll be a first for me. I agree with you, I really don't want to experiment on a $70 kit.....

Last nights bout of insomnia wasn't wasted after all. I got the remainder of track run built up. The first run, at least half of it, ended up rather "stiff". I refined my process, and the second run is just right.


Each link has five parts. Ninety six links per run....times two....


Todays progress. The Feil air filters.


Most everything on the rear hull is done. I am holding off on the tool box, as the mounting brackets are a bit delicate. They are the resin correction parts.


You can see the drilled out intake for the left side.


I remember that I had some 3D printed tool clasps from Shapeways in the parts bins. Far easier than the multi parts PE offerings in the kit. Not that those are bad, but I only have so much sanity to go around.

[panzerjager2]

Dave the "lil" kitty is coming along very nicely..... I really like the details on the Feifel air cleaners 
PJ2

[dierk]

That's some great looking parts in that kit!
But, five parts per link? I get all sweary when all I've got to do is glue guide horns to links...

[Leon]

Nice progress on the tracks and air filters Dave!