Mozzy19

Assembly of the turret is now pretty much done, just the .50 cal and antenna bases to add later. I’ve added some weld lines that appear to be missing from the kit using some plastic rod flooded with glue and then shaped with a blunt scalpel blade. I’ve also added the brackets to the turret bustle. Tomorrow I’ll turn my attention back to the hull. Sean

Ah yes, the little Sherman’s that packed a bit of extra oomph. You must have used some pretty potent glue on those duckbills as you seem to have a complete set on that run. Sean

This is the Firefly I’m trying to recreate: The tracks I have are the wrong type according to those instructions, but I can live with that. Any pictures of the real thing will be greatly appreciated. The kit comes with a little fret of PE with brush guards/grills etc The kit supplied springs for the hatches don’t actually look too bad but if they look naff under a coat of paint I’ve got some lead wire of various diameters knocking about so I can give your method a crack. Sean

Thanks Bob, I’m working off the profile in the decals and also the kit instructions which I know is dangerous but I don’t have any pictures to work from. Even if I hadn’t been forewarned of the pitfalls of DS tracks I’d have had to get some new ones anyway as the DS tracks in the kit have become very brittle in the packaging and snap every time they’re flexed. Your Firefly is looking rather nice there, it doesn’t look like it’s far off getting some paint on it? Sean

That’s the thing I like about Sherman’s, they had that many modifications and field add ons that it’s very difficult to be wrong. A quick browse on the web seems to indicate that Dragon did manage to give a fair representation of the antenna bases. Sean

I’ve continued on with the turret and left the hull for now. I’m not convinced the cheek armour was on the particular Firefly on the Star decals sheet, but it looks good... Now I’ve got some etch to add as well as a little bit of scratch building for the brackets on the turret bin. Then it’ll be back to the hull. Sean

It was a combination of vague instructions and vague fit, but I’ve cracked it now I think. The cutting mat is an A2 sized one so it is rather large but it’s helpful as my workbench is also the dining room table so it stops me covering the table in all sorts when I have a mishap... Sean

The suspension bogies are now finished as well as the drive sprockets. I’ve also been adding bits and pieces to the lower hull and I couldn’t resist dry fitting the upper hull to have a little look to see if any nasty surprises await. One area I have had an issue with is how the main gun mounts into the mantlet and the orientation of the various parts with the destructions not being especially clear in that area. Although as I’ve been typing this, I think I may have worked out how the gun is supposed to mount... Sean

No progress to report, but these goodies arrived today. The Battle of the Bulge decals are just in case this Sherman gets a friend... Sean

Thanks Darryl. There’s room for improvement with the trees, particularly with the adhesive for the flocking, but for a first attempt I’m pleased with how they turned out. Sean

Well I figured the forums needed something to tame the tide of Tiger’s creeping in. Thanks for the heads up with the tracks, I’ll probably end up gluing the tracks together in link and length fashion. Sean

There must be space on your shelves for one in this scheme

Thanks chaps, the eyes of Britmodeller seem to be watching Sean

With my previous two armour builds being a Tiger I and Tiger II. I figured I should restore some form of parity on my display shelves and build the Allies solution to the problem of the Tiger kind. It’s taken me a few hours to get this far with the suspension bogies, they’re not particularly fiddly just a lot of parts to locate and clean up. This is another kit with the dreaded DS tracks, so an order has been placed with Hannants for some Bronco workable replacements along with some more decals to give me a bit of choice. Sean

Thanks for the kind words fellas. Sean

Here’s my recently completed Tiger. The only extras used were some AFV Club “workable” tracks to avoid any DS track dramas and some MiniArt crew. Any comments and criticisms are welcome. Sean

As I said earlier, I’ve been planting trees tonight. And here’s the finished article, complete with Tiger in it’s hunting ground. Sean

Thanks Darryl. I got the grass and the gravel a few years ago so I’m not entirely sure which brand they are but I think they could be Expo. I got the materials for the trees from here: https://www.modelscenerysupplies.co.uk. I’ve been planting trees tonight so the base is nearly finished. Sean

While not a Tiger, I’ve begun creating its habitat. Looking at pictures of bocage, it’s very similar to the farm tracks and general area that’s local to me. So with that in mind I’ve used a block of balsa to represent the tangle of roots, mud and general detritus that’s found in the centre of the hedges. All being well I shall be creating and planting trees tomorrow Sean

Bush camouflage version 2. I’m much happier with this than yesterday’s efforts. The close ups haven’t been kind to the fella leaning on the barrel, not my best seam removal attempt... Sean

Thanks Bob. The “bushiness” of the stuff on the barrel is what had me unsure of the way I was going. No harm done though, it’s just wrapped around and held on with some lead wire so it’s easily removed and repurposed. Sean

I’m in need of some opinions please gents. As part of the diorama plan I have in my head I was going to add some of the foliage and brush camouflage etc to the Tiger. The pieces in the spare track links are there just to give an idea, I’ll add some bushier pieces if I think I’m going in the right direction but the barrel camo is what’s got me umming and ahhing. Sean

Unfortunately not, I don’t have another Tiger in the stash. But I do have a Meng Jagdpanther lurking somewhere so I may not be done with the German cat’s I’m planning on setting this one in a little bocage scene, so I’m not done with it just yet Sean

Those AFV Club tracks aren’t half fragile even when glued to create link and length sections. But they’re on and now I can build the diorama for it now the Tiger is pretty much completed Sean

That’s very much how I’m treating the second track. Although the road wheels are separated because I pushed them onto the suspension arms to test fit and then realised the only way some were coming off again was with pieces of the suspension That was my thought process. Especially as a set of metal tracks would be somewhat wasted when they get muddied up for the little diorama it’s going to sit in. Sean