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.

Gimme a break, I'm doing this whilst at work as it is. Dulux! peasant, I only use Crown. Plus I'm not getting into brush size arguments with someone I barely know 😁

OK, here is todays offering. I have to admit though, I'll be slowing down a lot going forward. Need to work out the order I paint this. The engine and transmission are only in to check the fitting in this pic, I'll paint them separately I think. I'll probably do the fuel tank / blowers as separate items but I need to get some paint. Red Oxide, grey blue for the lower hull and the elfen white as a minimum. 29th December not the ideal time to do this. There's a slight bend on the front cross member. It's mentioned on a couple of YouTube builds and filing it down is not a problem (it's also not glued yet). I did however notice that the lower glacis did need the sides squeezing together a fair bit to fit. May be that the cross member is the symptom but the glacis the cause? I've started the ammo racks to go in the middle but I want to scratch build the correct non-ammo storage bin on the LH side so that stops everything in the middle for the time being. Need plastic card too. The shopping list gets bigger. John

Right, lets see if this works. Todays efforts There are a couple of seams to take care of especially around the bottom right of the picture. Surprised you spot so much more although I have been staring at it for most of the day already. John

Morning All, Glue has hit plastic and I've about completed up to the drivers and radio operators seats. The PE along the base is as fiddly as everyone says and so far only failed to fit one small piece. I'll come back to it if I find it's actually visible. Two questions. First off can anyone recommend a picture hosting service. I've tried a couple but cannot seem to get them to work. Secondly, I thought I'd have a go at the tracks bit by bit rather than in one sitting. Completely stuffed about 8 links, the pins seem to melt away, anyone tried metal pins instead of the supplied ones? (or a good aftermarket set?) John

Enjoying being here, Merry Christmas everyone. I'd post a saccharine picture but can't get it to work. Next job!

Test3 Test3

Test Test2 https://i.imgur.com/6qZDChEundefined.jpg

Been watching too many Youtube build videos. The RFM 5050 doesn't come with the optional side of the turret that has the escape hatch on it. Doh! Must stop posting so late at night

I know I'm stretching things to fit my narrative but that is easier than changing chunks of the model. This is my second tank in two years and also my second tank in twenty five years. I still want to try to make sure the box model is as correct as possible which will mean some scratch building (per Tiger1.info) but as I am not sure how I am presenting the finished article, as many hatches open as possible, seems like a good compromise. Not sure if they were replacements or Tigers that were meant to form part of the full compliment but I have seen a version of the 501st unit diary showing their tank deliveries and two arrived 05/03/43 although it doesn't say if for Coy1 or Coy2. Now it may be that these were from Paderborn without the escape hatch but I feel comfortable thinking maybe not. Thanks for the input though, it is all really appreciated and helps to fill my Tiger note book John

As ever, Thanks, makes sense now.