johnccc

OK, quick update. Work has intervened in my modelling. I wouldn't mind but even though working from home I'm busy, I've even had to cut down on World of Tanks as well. January huh! The cheek though, I'm expected back for two days a week going forward with rumours of three! So... all of (most of) the interior lower hull bits are on skewers ready to undercoat and then with the blue grey. I will post piccies when I've done this as it will show real progress. What doesn't show real progress is the 38 ammo pouches I am half way through painting - see not just doing nothing. They are as fiddly as hell though. Yes to the rivet counters, there are 40 in the kit but two went "ptwang" when cutting off the sprue. They are really tiny. Hope to do lower hull parts this weekend and then after will start with pin lining and details on the radio and drivers "dashboard". One step at a time

Jeez mate, I bottled out of doing it on 35th so hats off for this.. One thing, at this scale, I would think that having the impression of what you are going for is more than good enough. If someone looks at it and knows it's zim, what more do you need (unless your determined to get it accurate although by the sounds of it, the model might be holding you back more than your skills on this one). Take a step back for a few days, regroup and decide how to proceed. I can see continuing on working as well as a putty restart. John

Evening All, Not had a chance to do the interior blue/green yet, MOT issues and work etc so here is a pic of the primer now that it seems to be done OK. There are a few helmets, gas mask cannisters, canteens etc. that I've been doing on the side. I'm happy with most of these although I think I may have overdone it with weathering the helmets and the jerry can is basically pants. Hope to do the blue this week but before I go much further I need to modify the LH lower storage bin which means cutting into piece K62 and fixing it. Nervy stuff. John

Waste of good alcohol if you ask me! So second coat of rust red primer (Vallejo) gone on like a treat. Will leave to cure and do the blue/green lower interior and post pictures. Probably later this week. Definitely not one to dilute, this layer looks just as I'd expect. John

Evening All, Update - So, have primed the hull, transmission, engine and fans today. Awful, so no pictures 😒 I know where I've gone wrong and hope to fix it tomorrow afternoon (playing on the railway in the morning). It was the first time I've used this primer and not only did I probably overdilute, I was lazy and the water wasn't probably that clean or the plastic washed. Schoolboy errors and am kicking myself. Steep learning curve and was trying to do it in a limited time! I can either do the primer properly (best option) or go to a rattle can I know works. It was thin coats today so I think I'll try the primer again (undiluted) although the rattle can worked really well on some figures I was (am) using for practice. The hull wasn't too bad, but I did that first, I wonder if the water mix increased as I went on and that resulted in the blotchy mess. As I said though, they were really thin coats so very fixable. Really kicking myself. John

That clears up a lot, I thought I was being treated to the best/worst newbie prank ever. I've not looked so hard at Tiger rears ever all the time thinking "no, I cannot see grey" John PS I will still take you up on your offer when I work out which Tiger I'm actually modelling.

Morning, I've not decided on a numbered tank yet. Since my earlier thoughts about getting the escape hatch were blown away I think I've settled on any number that doesn't include a 4, 6, 8, 9 or 0 as I'm making my own stencils to paint the numbers. That's about as far as I've got. I don't really have to make a decision until I'm doing the exterior (specifically the tools, damage etc) when any specific reference pictures will be relevant. Thanks for the offer on the books, I may take you up on that although I'll let you know which ones I have first to save time. Can't do it now coz at work proper and they are on my PC at home Regarding the Feifel conundrum, I have found a reference in "Germany's Tiger Tanks: D.W. to Tiger I" That the Feifels and the Tropen scheme were applied at the factory (it's in the appendices). No specific mention of colour for the filters though. Hans "Fritz, kommen paint ein Tiger" Fritz "Mit Grunbraun unt Graugrun?" Hans "Ya but whatever you do, not der Feifels." Fritz "Huh?" I suppose they could be later replacements in standard grey or even that because it was unusual with grey filters more people took pictures of it. Perhaps they worked better in grey John

Well, back at work so only managed about a couple of hours looking into this. I cannot find anything definitive either way although up until yesterday I'd never seen anything anywhere to suggest they were anything but the same colour as the hull. Will keep on digging. John

Not sure I can go with that based on the BW picture. I'd Presumed they were put on at Fallingbostel along with the tropical camo so would be the same? I can possibly see them being done in grey initially but by the time they'd gone through Fallingbostel and the local unit for the 501st that moved the headlights, I would struggle to see them left Grey John

"you probably you couldn't have too many" - ??? about tinnie three "If you don't die with the gas" - of the gas you muppet - tinnie five What can I say, my sincere apologies, my mother would have thought better of me.

Ho hum, bored and distracted so decided to do some smaller stuff whilst I wait to pull my finger out and buy paint for the main model. Thought I'd do some of the little bits. So far I've found six water bottles (it's Tunisia, you probably you couldn't have too many but that's one bloke being greedy). Three gas mask containers - ooh, two of you guys are going to have to hold your breath). No canteens? If you don't die with the gas, the hunger will get you! I'll be painting these over the next few days. I've still to go through the sprues in detail though so may have missed a few (I've had a couple of tinnies) but surely each crew member should have one of each at least. (Spares from the lads will come to the rescue). BUT this leads me on to.......... In a way of making this a bit of a "lived in" tank I've had a few ideas (always dangerous). Anyone had experience in... Maps in the Commanders bin Photo's of sweethearts next to crew members positions A copy of the Tigerfibel lying around or in a bin Copies of German newspapers / magazines etc Tinned food / bottles etc (I've got a few bottles already) Chocolate or Pervitin packages I've got images for the first four off t'internet in MS Word reduced in size and I'm thinking of taping a sheet of white tissue paper (like you wrap xmas presents in) to an A4 sheet and sending it through the printer at work (when I can get back there) so the scale looks ok for the thickness of the paper. Anyone done anything similar? I'm sure I've seen an image for Pervatin but it was more a poster than an actual pack (similar with chocolate) it may be too small to actually put in a model though I'm no guru in this, so anyone else got any ideas of any impromptu crap crew members would have lying around, please shout up John

Ooh thanks, I think I'll get a set but not sure if I'll use them as yet. As you say, a lot to do, especially if not much are going to be visible.

How much! Seriously though, thanks, whilst I have not done this for a while, my sons have a load of Tamya paints so I'm really just filling in the gaps. Also, not sure of the colour of the engine air pipes. Red per the box art in the second link doesn't look right to me. I have the RAL codes for the interior and exterior and it's finding what folks think are the best matches. This is not a question, I understand discussing German colour shades is strictly taboo on here The majority of the weathering will be done in oils which I also have a small set of. Not sure about the interior decals though. There doesn't appear to be any available in the UK and I may just use paint to suggest the presence of the words. Plenty still to think about. John

No update today, just two radiators done. Really need some paint. Will do the petrol tanks and the rear firewall but then grind to a halt for a bit. JC j

The beauty of working from home 😵 And don't worry, Dunkelgelb is coming nowhere near my model. I don't even know the woman.