COMPLETED! Tiger I Ausf E c/w Zim (15.12.12)

[Hinksy]

Hi guys,

Here is the usual Saturday update - I've been kicking some serious butt out of this kit today

Cheers for the link Jack but as soon as I opened it the old spyware spotted something on that link as malicious and wasn't too keen on opening on it so I haven't seen the photos as I decided not to proceed!

Anyway, I've made some kick a$$ progress today. The hull is a very basic assembly - last week I'd fitted all the Suspension arms and got the exhaust stacks in place.

Today the top deck is now in place, the Jack has been mounted on the rear along with the 'C' connector (there's another on the top deck up front. I've fitted the basic radiator gear and fans but not the PE surround - none of it will be seen but it all adds to the final weight.

The plastic grab handles on the rear engine cover were replaced with Brass rod bent to size and the Zim coated side walls fitted.

Up front the ball mount MG has been fitted along with the single centre mounted headlight with blackout cover and the supplied piece of bent-to-shape wire leading to the outlet on the deck. I was going to leave it all separate but after perusing the instructions and future steps I decided to take the plunge and get it all assembled and fixed. This wasn't easy but with a bit of brute force the whole thing just 'clicked' into place and sat pefectly. I've noticed a few missed areas of plastic that need cleaning up on the photos which I'll do tomorrow. I also need to get the two rear fan covers fitted and the PE grills on top of them. There's a few things that I need to get done tomorrow like fitting the side track guards and cleaning up a few bits and filling a couple of gaps which will leave me ready to start on the complicated parts - mainly the turret! I reckon that overall I'm about 20% done!

All tow cables and tools will be left off until after painting as per my usual method of building. The rear convoy tube will also get fitted later as that is supplied as a clear plastic tube which I plan to paint with transparent colour.

I'm in two minds as to build this totally OOB using the kit barrel and DS Tracks. Aftermarkets will cost me £25 for the tracks and £10 (inc. post) for an RB barrel. The thing is I've just received my latest stash edition (Dragon Kharkov Pz IV from my buddy Spud which will definately get the 'full treatment' as I'm yet to buid a Pz IV! We'll see!

Here are the photos from my work today but please see if you can help with any of the questions that I'll putat the bottom of this post:











Quick questions: There are two large holes on the front fenders above the drive sprockets (see the above photo). What are these for? SAre these meant for putting poles into for erecting a canopy over the tank? Also, I would like to show the side fenders a bit beaten and a couple missing BUT Dragon have supplied them in one length - would it be easy enough to cut these up into four pieces, bend the corners using a hot lamp and leave a couple off? That's the only way to do it imo?

Thanks guys - update tomorrow!

Ben

[Deleted]

Hey I'm new and this is my first post. The holes are for mounting a small swing arm with a pulley on it for lifting the drive sprocket off the final drive.

[deafpanzer]

Looking real GOOD!!! Now it is starting to look like a Tiger... there is always risk turning fenders into soft plastic but it can be done. My old Tamiya Pz IV fenders didn't do well when I tried to soften it up because it was way too thick.

[Hinksy]

Sept 29, 2012 21:49:29 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

Looking real GOOD!!! Now it is starting to look like a Tiger... there is always risk turning fenders into soft plastic but it can be done. My old Tamiya Pz IV fenders didn't do well when I tried to soften it up because it was way too thick.

Cheers Andy,

I'm building this as a relatively tidy Tiger I - not covered in mud and cr@p as per my usual builds but instead some sensible weathering, pin washes, LIGHT chipping etc to show off that interesting paint scheme.

Having just received my Kharkov Pz IV from Spud I'll be building that next and will be hitting that with Friuls and a new barrel from RB so I'm hoping I'll be able to make the DS tracks with this kit look good and upgrade the barrel only. I have some spare Friul links for the turret spares.

Ben

[spud]

Very nice Ben, these tigers fly together

[Hinksy]

Sept 30, 2012 7:31:27 GMT -5 spud said:

Very nice Ben, these tigers fly together

They do indeed Spud old chum!

What a corking build! I honestly don't think I've come across any issues yet either with the instructions or the kit itself i.e. part fitment etc.

I've just ordered a Late version RB Tiger I Barrel for it. With the Pz IV build coming up I'll be hitting that with lot's of extras so I'm hoping the DS Tracks can be made to look acceptable and a touch of glue in the right places should aid with the obtaining the correct sag.

I want to show the sidewall mounted track guards as they would have been fitted i.e. in 4 separate pieces so I'm going to have to invest in a decent razor saw and chop them up and fit them so each guard looks all separate and offset against the other ones.

Cheers Spud and many thanks for the Pz IV

Ben

[spud]

Looking forward to it Ben, and your welcome

[wbill76]

Making good progress Ben! Can't help with more photos of the scheme you're looking at, unfortunately the crews at the time weren't very helpful to modelers in terms of what they did and didn't capture for reference. My suggestion would be to try to think like the crew would and just carry over the pattern as best you can from the sides to the deck...keeping in mind that the crew would be interested in breaking up the profile/contours particularly in terms of being viewed from the air. Keep up the good work on this one!

[Hinksy]

Hi guys,

Cheers Bill - Good advise as usual - I'll be doing exactly that! I have White & Blu-Tacks and some Silly Putty that Andy sent to me. I reckon the Silly Putty lends itself to this harder edged scheme? I had a mess about earlier on an old kit that didn't make it past the assembly stage - it's that IC Firefly of mine that got launched, I'm keeping it to make up a future knocked out tank dio/vignette. I recall hearing that people had masked their build with SP and then found that it wouldn't come off and got in a right mess! I think they were advised to freeze the SP to get it removed! Andy sems to do okay with it - is there something I should do to stop my SP doing this should I use it?

Sunday update: following my marathon build session yesterday I wanted to get the hull assembly completed. When assembling Dragon kits I like to study a particular section and plan where to start and make an aim point where I can build to and then finish there. Basically this weekend I've been able to get the entire first few sections all done (minus the wheels, track guards and tools). The track guards will go on next weekend after I've chopped them into sections, the wheels will be painted separately during main painting and the tools will be painted separately to be fitted at a later stage, after painting of the tank and prior to weathering.

I've made the decision to go with the DS Tracks and an RB Barrel. I've ordered the RB Barrel on-line this afternoon. I'm sure I can get the tracks looking decent but I won't settle for 'okay' as this kit deserves the best. If I'm not happy I'll have to upgrade to some ATL-06 Late Friuls but that's a while off yet. I've also ordered some RB Brass 'U' Shackles to add that little bit of extra detail - only a couple of pound for 4 shackles.

Today I've fitted the coolant fan covers, added the PE Brass mesh for the engine deck covers, intalled the two round hatches up-front for driver and co-driver and fitted the seats in the Turret shell. I'm thinking about going to town on the turret and building up a really attractive main gun assembly, painting the interior in off white, showing the hatches open and definately having the escape hatch at the back of the turret posed open with a few Brass spent shell cases scattered on the rear deck and suitably blackened.

Perhaps I might even grow a pair and buy a decent Commander figure from Alpine like Andy Deafpanzer uses, paint him and have him posed in the turret?

So, here we are - next weekend the turret goes live!:









The Build Guide - The blue line shows where I'm up to so I'll be starting the turret assembly afresh next weekend



Thanks for looking guys,

Update next week!

Ben

Note: I have a box of new 38t (Hetzer) Friuls that I won't be using anytime soon. If anyone has a box of Friul Tiger I Late tracks (ATL-06) that they'd like to swap or know someone who would please, let me know. Iirc, Friul include a pair of white metal drive sprockets and mountings should you want to use them.I have posted this swap offer in the sales section too

[bbd468]

Great build ben! Man them Tigers get my goose bumps goin'. Beautiful kit but them DARN instructions!!! ;D

Gary

[wbill76]

Nice work with the PE details Ben, the addition of the barrel ought to dress it up nicely as well. I've never used SP so you'll have to consult the experts like Andy on its uses.

[spud]

oh Very Nice Ben Starting to come together now,

[panzerman75.]

Very nice work Ben you gotta love those big cats and it looks great so far keep up the great work:)

Phil

[danb.]

Wow Ben your speeding along with this big cat if it was me i would still be cleaning the wheels im so slow!!!!!!hahaha looking good buddy keep it coming

Dan B

[panzerman75.]

Hey ben quick question where did you get those cables i would like to pick up a few of them.

Phil

[robbo]

Looking very good mate, the detail on the kit is great

[Hinksy]

Oct 2, 2012 13:04:47 GMT -5 panzerman75. said:

Hey ben quick question where did you get those cables i would like to pick up a few of them.

Phil

Hi guys,

Robbo - cheers for dropping by buddy!

Phil - I'm assuming you are referring to the Lion Roar ones that I posted that you make the ends up on yourself? They are superb - I played around with one to see how they build up. the end simply slips through the round collar, around the eyelet and back into the collar where it is sealed with a bit of CA. The collar then pushes up to make a really nice tow cable. Then simply cut off the other end and make that up the same. Voila - a perfect tow cable made from all metal and the wire used for the cable is very soft so will sit flat and won't twist up.

It's made by Lion Roar - I picked this pack up at a model show at Hinckley in the UK in March. I'm sure any Lion Roar stockist will have some. I want to find some more.



Hope this helps!

Ben

[panzerman75.]

Hey Ben thanks i will definately look on there site for them they look great thanks again.

Phil

[406 Silverado]

Man that kit looks sweet. Might have to stock up on some tigers. Very clean build so far, looking good.

[Hinksy]

Oct 2, 2012 21:55:41 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Man that kit looks sweet. Might have to stock up on some tigers. Very clean build so far, looking good.

Cheers SM,

Looking forward to starting this turret assembly. This build has been strangely straight forward and simple for a Dragon 'big' kit (so far)?

I'm NOT expecting the turret assembly to be the same - I'm glad of that!

Ben

[bbrowniii]

Hinsky

This is great. You and Andy building a late and early Tiger simultaneously...

It's almost enought to make a guy go down and crack open a T-34 to add some balance!!

You're doing a hell of a job. Thanks for posting such a detailed WIP for this!

[Hinksy]

Thanks Brownii!

I'm glad you like my blogging style. It takes a while to do as I blog on here, FSM and on the UK site MilMod - i have good friends on all three and like to keep things updated to the best of my ability!

Re mine and Andy's builds: Andy and I seem to share tastes - i.e. anything Pz III based, Friuls, metal barrels etc Unfortunately I haven't acquired his skills of figure painting - yet! I wish I was minted and could fly to America to visit him and Indiana. After seeing his Facebook Photos etc the view from his house looks beautiful - I wonder if all of Indiana is like that? I've already built his Initial kit and it was a great build! I thought a very late Tiger I next to it would be the best option.
As mine is going to be marked up for Italy 1944 would that make it an Anzio Tiger I (Abt. 508)?

As for me - well, Turret assembly on my Big Cat starts tomorrow and, just in time for the weekend, my order from 'Armour Models' for a Late Version Tiger I RB Barrel arrived this morning along with some Brass Shackles x 4 with fully working and threaded nut and bolt on each shackle. I also ordered a mix of 1.4m and 2m German Brass Antennae (see links below):

www.armour-models.co.uk/product_catalogue/tiger_i_late_model_/index.html

www.armour-models.co.uk/product_catalogue/shackles_4pcs_123/index.html

Btw guys, just 'for the record', my username is HINKSY! Everyone thinks that my username is HINSKY! Everyone get's this wrong and all the time too)
You see my surname is Hinks and it's a take on that - my workmates and all my old school mates call/called me that too. I might just change my username on here and on FSM to Hinsky, that might be easier! LOL! ;D

Cheers guys,

Turret update tomorrow!

Ben

[406 Silverado]

We'll just call ya Ben, how's that.

A Tiger in Italy, will keep an eye out for that.

[wbill76]

Could be worse...they could call you Bensky...

[Hinksy]

Hello chaps,

Obviously only messing re the name thing - you can call me whatever you want - within reason!

The Italy thing. This Tiger, iirc, is from Abt. 508 which I think was at Anzio.

Can anyone confirm this for me? I've decided that when I actually knock out a model that's good enough and warrants it, I'm going to have a Brass nameplate made up for the base i.e. "Anzio Tiger 1944".

Cheers lads,

Ben

[Hinksy]

Good evening chaps,

First off-great attention to detail Carl! Very nice

Having had to pop into the office for the bulk of today my anticipated several hours of build time was cut-down to two! Ahh well it's all overtime and with the UK Scale Modelworld Show nearly upon us Brits (November 11th) I'm keen to have some money to spend!

When I got home I decided to look at the instructions and see where I thought It minght be a good point to get to so I could start afresh tomorrow at a decent point. I thought that I may as well get the RB barrel assembled and fitted and the new Brass shackles on and leave it at that - I'll be able to start tomorrow with a shiney new turret to assemble

As I'm planning (but still undecided) to have the rear turret loading/escape door 'ajar' with a couple of spent 88mm cases on the engine deck that have been chucked out of the door I'm probably going to do a very basic internal turret paint job.

I know it's not a lot but here is todays little bit of progress. I cannot believe how quickly this Tiggy is building up. Either I'm getting bettter, Dragon kits are getting simpler or perhaps a bit of both I'm in no way rushing this build so I can rule that out straight away! A lovely kit that, so far, has been a real pleasure to assemble.













Thanks for looking guys!

You'll have a proper update tomorrow!

Ben

[406 Silverado]

oh sweet update. Very nice clean building so far Ben, she looks great mate. Haven't gotten any PE on my Tiger yet, but soon.

[TRM]

Making headway Ben!!! Keep it coming!!!

[Hinksy]

Cheers guys!

You've gotta love this kit!

[spud]

Very Nice Ben