DML 1/35 Tiger I Initial

[deafpanzer]

VERY CLEAN workbench means only one thing...


I am starting another build... I have chosen Dragon #6600 Tiger I Initial as my tenth victim. I blame Hinksy and Wouter but they are still my friends. ;D




Got plenty of goodies too...


It will be my first attempt using Voyager set...


Now I am having second thoughts about using this Alpine figures set...


They don't look dressed up for the winter in Russia. Gonna look around for appropriate set... always liked one with funny winter hat from Alpine.

Already started working on the wheels... nothing exciting or sexy for me to take and post pictures.

[wouter]

Hi mate, I'm glad you blame me ;D, after all this is a lovely kit

Some lovely goodies you got there, I got thesame Friuls for mine, but in the end I didn't use them because my Initial one had mirrorred tracks and the early style ones aren't. But later on these were mixed. (Friul recently released the mirrorred tracks as well...)

Anyhoo, I'm defo looking forward to this buddy, have you got a certain Tiggy in mind?

Cheers

[deafpanzer]

Thanks Wouter!!!

I recall reading somewhere about those 'mirrored' tracks on those Initial Tigers and I need to learn more about this. My kit comes with three DS tracks so I understand why now. I am going for #3 Tiger of course so does it mean I can not use my Friuls #25 for this?

[spud]

sweet, i built one not long ago. still needs a few bits done to it, looking forward to this Andy

[wouter]

well, maybe you can, initially the tanks were equipped with mirrorred ones but in the end the crews started to mix the right and left handed tracks so I think there is a possibility they had non mirrorred ones. And even if it wouldn't be realistic...who cares I guess ;D

Haven't you started yet?

Cheers

[deafpanzer]

Spud- It will be a PLEASURE having you tagging along!

Wouter- I have so much to learn about Tiger in depth so I am really looking forward to research I can find about early Tigers. Yep, already started working on the wheels... not my exactly my favorite part.

Dicky- LOL!!! I am sure you know about Tigers more than I do since your country has more Tigers than we do here in America.

[spud]

i used the same tracks on mine, if it looks good its good enough

[WigWag Workshop]

Looking forward to this build, looks like a nice assortment of aftermarket parts.

-Steven

[deafpanzer]

Only ONE?!?!?! I believe America only has one too but it is on loan to UK for Wheatcroft Collection at this moment so there's none here right now.

[robbo]

Oh Tiger with lots of shiny bits. I'm in mate

[deafpanzer]

Chris- Good enough to ban Wouter from the forum? Nah, I am so glad he got me into buying this kit. It was a Christmas gift from my boys but I placed the order of course. LOL

Spud- I am with you... I took another good look at DS tracks. I don't think I want to use 'em so I will use the Friuls set I already have.

Steven- Glad to have you aboard!

Robbo- LOL! Can't wait to turn Tiger into a pimp version tank!

[wbill76]

Wohoo! Finally a build that you can't blame me for! ;D

Will enjoy following along for #10 Andy!

[deafpanzer]

LOL! Bill, I figured you needed a break. I still have that DML #6210 Tiger Protocol kit in stash I brought while you were building yours.

Always happy to have you tagging along!

[bigjohn]

Its tiger time! Pulling up my chair with a bottle whisky in hand!

[deafpanzer]

bigjohn- LOL May I ask what kind of whiskey because I do enjoy those too... happy to have you aboard. Working on those wheels right now for almost two hours. It made me realize I'd rather to be dealing with Pz IV wheels than Tiger wheels!

[bigjohn]

"Knob Creek" Its Jim Beams finest!!

Have fun with those wheels, LOL

[bbd468]

Hey Andy,

Bud...i cant even say how excited i am to see you build this kit! You got all the Goodies, tha man cave, and the skills to make this a epic build my friend. Im all in Andy....LETS DO THIS!!!

Gary

[wouter]

Sept 26, 2012 15:10:57 GMT -5 @dickyf said:

Where dya think I live Andy?? The only native Tiger we've got is 131 at Bovvy

yeah well ;D ;D, at least it's the only one in the whole friggin' work which is still running ey

glad I can take the blame though ;D

And Andy, you rather deal with Pz IV wheels than Tiger I's??
That's just plain blasphemy!!!!! ;D

btw, the company Quick Wheels Mask have some great masks (re-usable!) which make paintwork of the rubber tyres much easier, I used them on this Tiggy

cheers

[Deleted]

Hiya Andy, always up for Tiger I! At the risk of a bit of p#$$ taking from the lads, I've not seen this kit before so it's all new to me buddy ;D

Have fun with the wheels....

[bullardino]

I'm not into german AFVs, but sooner or later a Tiger will land on my shelf.

I'll follow this build, it looks so promising BTW, where did you get that Danger sign?

[deafpanzer]

bigjohn- Please save some of that for me! LOL

Gary- Always happy to have you aboard. Be sure to brew plenty of iced tea...

Wouter- You are DAMN right... Bovy has the ONLY running Tiger! Visiting that museum is on my bucket list and my wife knows it! I will even ask Dicky to be my tour guide but I am afraid I can not afford to pay for the beer he consumes?

Are you kidding me?!?!?! Pz IV has fewer wheels. I built one not long time ago and took me only one night. With Tiger almost two nights... I HATE wheels now and I am having nightmares now.


Steve- Hey! Glad you could join... I think the kit was released last year so its pretty new. Finally I am building a recent release kit this time and I am really enjoying this already.

Bullardino- I suspect there is a hidden rule that every modeler has to build a Tiger, right? It will be my pleasure to have you aboard.

I brought the Man Cave metal sign at a small shop in Canada not far from Niagara Falls. I found one on eBay but its not the same one.

www.ebay.com/itm/Warning-Man-Cave-8-x-12-Metal-Sign-/350609798933?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51a1f8f715

I couldn't find an exact match so I will take a good look at the sign when I get home. Yep, I am goofing around at work right now... LOL

[spud]

Nice start Andy. its always good to get the wheels out of the way first

[danb.]

Hey Andy the Tiger is looking good you say you dont like the wheels imagine being the mechanic of the beast they say in repairing the panzers if you had to repair or change a inner roadwheel you had to remove 8-10 outer and mid wheels insane piece of engineering!!!!! also the crews removed the 1st roadwheel as ice and mud build up and would damage the track and wheel and i would not worry about the track problem as spares were short at times so anything would make do if you have not got it i would purchase the repairing the panzers 2 so much info and a interesting read on the tigers i will be following this build as Tigers are my thang!!!!!! keep up the good work buddy

Dan B

[deafpanzer]

I am afraid I have gone crazy... I want for my Tiger to look very weary and dirty of course to make the boss Rob happy! So I created chips on the rubber rims...


My books don't have any good pics of wheels at closer shots. Internet was not much help either but found some good pics...


This pic is the best proof I can find... the third wheel.



The third Tiger at bottom shows chipping...


Hope I didn't go too far... LOL

[spud]

alot of the outer wheels would have been chipped from rubble and rocks but i wouldn't go mad on it tough

[deafpanzer]

Spud- All wheels are complete... I hope I didn't go overboard last night so I will look at them again tonight. LOL

danb- Thanks! Now I think I know the real reason why the Germans lost the war... late war tanks were way over engineered. Believe it or not this is my FIRST Tiger build... I never build one when I was a kid so I have so much to learn. I will definitely holler for you if I ever need help. ;D

There's another thing that made me wonder about the Tigers last night... unlike Pz III and IVs, Tigers didn't carry spare wheels, huh? Why? Assuming because resources were scarce or to keep weight minimal because it is already way too heavy?

[danb.]

Andy you are spot on with the spare wheel question buddy Tigers had terrible fuel consumption and reliability problems with transmissions weight had to be kept to a minimum Tigers were never to far away from the Werkmiester's (mechanics) so carrying stuff was pointless and there was strict rules on transporting troops if you were found carrying men you would get a stiff talking to!!!!! hope this helps buddy

Dan B

[deafpanzer]

AHHH! Completely makes sense now... that explains why I haven't seen a Tiger loaded with excessive stowage especially in the rear. Thanks buddy!!!

[wouter]

Sept 27, 2012 15:11:10 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

AHHH! Completely makes sense now... that explains why I haven't seen a Tiger loaded with excessive stowage especially in the rear. Thanks buddy!!!

can't find it immediately but there are some shots of Tigers carrying spare wheels on the engine deck, but indeed it wasn't a common feature

Nice work on the chipped off wheels, looks good to me

Carrying men on the engine deck wasn't always a good idea as well. Otto Carius (also part of the 502) mentions in his book 'Tigers in the Mud' (interesting read btw) that once he was carrying heavily wounded soldiers on the engine deck, only to found out later on that they died because of Co2 intoxication

Cheers

[Hinksy]

Andy Deafpanzer says "VERY CLEAN workbench means only one thing... "

Yeah, he's about to take a photo of it!

I loved this kit mate but I still ask you to reconsider your choice of #3 Tiger with the Pz III rear turret bin.

Build the Tiger with Elephant ears - you won't get another chance! Well, unless you buy the kit again!

Saying that you have the wrong Friuls now if you want to be truly accurate

A good start to a GREAT kit buddy - are you going for a box art number 3 Tiger or something a little different?

Ben