SleeperService

@Mig Eater is exactly right. Thanks for the swift response and my apologies for any confusion. Ouch!! I hope it doesn't stop you for long.

Multiple projects are a theme of this GB and circumstances have conspired to allow me to join in. From my other build plans I have this lot and a spare lower hull kit to hand along with an etch set and gun barrel that was intended for it. First job is to go through the wreckage and sort out what can be refurbished or modified for the task at hand... Here are the parts that have received attention so far with three road wheel arms fitted two as seen on the LHS with the other central on the RHS. Get these all aligned and fitting the rest is easy. The hull rear plate was damaged beyond repair so the details are removed ready to be applied to a new part. Mudguards thinned and patching under way, final drive mounts built up to avoid the tracks toeing in at the top, gun mount and cupola for the turret. The hull top is a bit Frankenstein with the front section from the JagdTiger kit fighting compartment from the wreckage, and a spare engine deck being stripped to modify shortly. The strip is to get the turret ring and engine deck in the right relationship. Clamped to a piece of tool steel to keep it aligned until glue solid. A lesson learned the hard way.... I'm using the Jentz and Doyle book for reference and will show the drawing when I can get my scanner and computer to be friends again. Thanks to the Mods for permitting this, to you for reading, and prayers to the styrene Gods that this all works out.

I have mentioned elsewhere my method for masking off inside boxed out grilles so I have prepared an image to show what I do Exhibit 1 In the main image the first and second bulkheads from the rear have a 1.0mm gap at the top which would normally go to the outer edge of the grill. However A couple of longitudinal pieces were needed either side of the turret to avoid damage so one piece was tapered out to the full width then an 'L' shaped piece was used to fill the gap and pass into the turret area just visible on the RHS in the insert image. I used PVC electrical tape for this as it's flexible and won't be as likely to tear when removed. If a straight pull masking tape stuck inside the hull top is perfectly OK. Further to my last entry I have modified my approach as the steel road wheels didn't appear until 1944 and will now use the rubber tyre wheels instead. This means all the Tiger II parts are available for another entry to use up the incorrect gun barrel and etch set I already have. I shall start a thread.

Similar thoughts for me too. In 1/48 aircraft I thought I'd see a Fairey Battle before the Hampden but I'm very happy this has finally been announced by a producer who is doing quite well at the moment. Just a 1/48 Bristol 188 to go now. I agree about Bomber Command getting some attention - long overdue. The Trumpy Wellington is a bit of a curate's egg in my experience as it lacks the positive location of most of their offerings. The wings need some attention with filler primer and IPA to reduce the sagged fabric look which isn't hard. However there is something odd about the engine nacelles/main undercarriage. The Haynes manual has some factory(?) drawings that indicate the nacelles are undersize. I hope this Hampden does well for ICM and encourages more slightly different choices.

Nice job on the grills and a good alternative to it's Henschel equivalent. They really bring the hull to life which is good, the original seems a little toy like. It's also good to see more prototypes being covered. At least I think so

I'm happy you approve as it will clear quite a few items from the Mountain of Doom and keep me focused until the etch brass I ordered arrives. This GB seems to be going quite well so far with some great stuff being built, well done to all I say. For your future reference I misread a source about the steel road wheel's introduction with them actually arriving in January 1944 I think VK45.02 would have had the rubber tyred wheels for several months at least. After that the steel wheels at 3 per axle could be introduced.

Looking at the contents of my smashed Tiger 2 and what will be left of the Porsche turreted kit I've robbed the turret from would a Tiger 2 as would have been built in August 1945 be acceptable? The modifications were all drawn up and would include: periscope main gun sight rangefinder in turret no commanders AA machine gun mounting ring 3 hatch engine deck with louvre vents hull mg34 replaced by plug for the stg 44 assault rifle kgs 73/800/152 single link track with 18 tooth sprocket and the changes in progress as of March 1945 As with my current build the markings will be speculative with the dark green base coat paint scheme. If this is too much of a stretch then I'll be cool with it. All information from Jentz & Doyle Germany's Tiger Tanks: VK45.02 to Tiger II

Be aware that the Tiger repaint (and others at the Tank Museum have come under criticism for accuracy. The 'pea green' Tropen scheme just refuses to die for example. From Jentz & Doyle Tiger 1 book I offer I'd take this as pretty solid and one of the Panzertracts series has paint chips. On 29 November 1944 the base colour became RAL6003 with the brown and yellow sprayed with sharp edges effective 1 March 1945. Armour suppliers were to to start using RAL6003 according to orders issued by 20 December 1945. I hope this helps somebody.

There are many more parts in those photos than a Tamiya and a Skybow 1/48 pair. things have moved a long way from Matchbox. Glad to read about recovering from your unavoidable error I have a Mountain of Doom full of such projects.... the tracks look most impressive from here. Nice work.

Now found your third build and equally impressive good attention to detail as well.

Just had a look for this but at 200USD and up it's way beyond my budget. A sacrifice to the Gods of re-printed books may be called for.

I assumed that the vehicle was the one in the photos above If it wasn't the same then my mistake and I apologise. My point was that a piece of shrapnel might have torn off a piece of the AA machine gun ring at the same time the commander was injured.

You're doing well with this - at the paint stage already! Or you could make the VK45.02(H) from it... just saying.

Certainly an interesting vehicle to choose. That's a good spot I've not noticed that before, could it have been damaged by the near miss, possibly the cause of the guy's nose injury?

Howdy Folks! Thank You for the kind comments. Without further ado Both side plates now fitted and a quick check of the turret fit revealed that the air intake cover fouled the bustle good job I checked that. After some head scratching I scraped away from beneath to free the housing then made good with card, filler and very careful sanding. I did the same on the rear plate to remove the mudguards before adding extra card to fill in the gaps created by the sloped hull sides. The top glacis plate is in position after much careful measuring and adjusting to get a good and square fit, this adds a lot of strength to the hull and is worth taking time to do. I then refitted the front roof keeping the crew hatches as far forward as I thought reasonable to maintain strength in the area. Then it was time to think about the running gear so I looked in the box holding the remains of an old build This triple-damned model fought me tooth and nail, finally finished it went on the display shelf which collapsed three days later. The hull from this project was going to provide parts for this but then I re-read the Tank Encyclopedia piece and started to think how the suspension would cope with the extra weight, as the standard Tiger I needed almost constant road wheel replacements it could be an issue.... So I have decided that the author's argument for triple wheel axles is solid and that the steel wheels would be developed rapidly with 3 per axle to spread the load across the track more evenly. So I have started modifying the donor wheels for their new life by removing the Tamiya axle spacers and adding in a section of tube to allow me to drill out a centered hole for each of them. Then it'll need some work on the hub centres and they'll be good to go on this. I'm intending to build the lower hull up completely before popping the superstructure back on, my reasoning is to have the three parts separate to make progress easier. We shall see. However there is plenty to go at including preparing the hull for the etch sets I've ordered. Hope all is going well for you as well. Until later.